History of Chedworth

There is much evidence of Roman occupation in the countryside surrounding Chedworth but the first mention of it as a settlement appeared in the 9th century when ‘Ceddanwyrde’, or ‘Cedda’s homestead’ was listed. In the Doomsday book the settlement was recorded as Cedeorde. The church of St Andrew’s contains Early English and Norman features so the core of the village must have been well established by that time.

By the beginning of the twentieth century the population was still only a few hundred people but the Parish boasted several farms, at least five pubs, shops, post office, cobbler, blacksmith, farrier and many other trades.

The railway line from Cheltenham to Southampton ran through the village with a station near St Andrew’s School until its closure in 1961. It is still possible to determine the course of the old railway line through much of the village as it ran through cuttings, on embankments, over road bridges and through a tunnel below Hartshill and into Chedworth woods.

The village is geographically divided into Upper, Middle and Lower Chedworth, the titles reflecting the position of each settlement on the un-named stream that flows through the valley to feed the River Coln at Fossebridge. The parish of Chedworth also embraces the western part of Fossebridge, part of Fosse Cross and the outlying hamlet of Chedworth Laines within its boundaries.

Further historical information can be obtained from the Welcome to Chedworth Society Leaflet – click here.