St. Mark's streets

ST. MARK'S

St. Mark’s is a residential area with the population of around 6,000. First housing was developed in this area to the north of Gloucester Road in the 19th century. The Lansdown Railway Station, built by the Gloucester and Birmingham Railway Company, opened in 1841 and in the early 1860s the church of St. Mark was built to accommodate the growing congregation. However, a major building project started after the First World War under the banner of the ‘houses for heroes’ motto.

St. Mark’s is a great example of between-the-war housing development, where different styles of houses complement each other. Some are terraced, others semi-detached, and the influence of Arts and Crafts movement can be found in their gables, rooflines and design details. Substantially built houses are set in good sized gardens along generous tree lined roads, which are characteristic of this area. The streets in this area are named after English poets, some of whom had connection with Cheltenham. In May 2001 St. Mark’s was designated a conservation area for its distinctive character.

Gloucester Road

Along Gloucester Road, near the railway station, a variety of shops, takeaways, a restaurant and a pub can be found, which serve the local community.

Western part of St. Mark’s area is called Rowanfield. Originally, this area was an orchard where apples were grown. The houses were built here after the Second World War and streets were named after southern counties.

HISTORY

Originally only fields, this area once was known in the mid-19th century as the Libertus Estate. The name does not seem to have long survived the formation of the parish of St. Mark's in 1862.