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Coordinates: 51°41'43?N 2°13'24?W? / ?51.6954, -2.2234
Nailsworth is a town in Gloucestershire, England, lying in one of the Stroud Valleys in the Cotswolds. It has a population of around 6,600 people (2005) and lies on the A46 road.
In ancient times it was a settlement at the confluence of the Avening Valley and the Woodchester Valley, on the Nailsworth Stream; among many notable historic buildings of medieval times in the area notable are Beverston Castle and Owlpen Manor. The ancient structures at Calcot Manor and Kingscote are relics along an ancient Roman road, indicating the prominence of this locale in early history.[2]
In the modern era Nailsworth was a small mill town and centre for brewing. It was connected directly to the UK national rail network between 1867 and 1947 with a station that was the terminus of the Stonehouse and Nailsworth Railway.
These days Nailsworth is sleepy and tranquil, visited in the summer by walkers, and holding a Farmers Market every fourth Saturday in the month. Up until recently it still had a local town crier, Vic May.
Over the past decade the small town centre has been reinvigorated and besides numerous high quality restaurants and cafes now boasts a number of unusual and high-quality shops, you will find two bakers, a delicatessen with a fishmonger, two hardware stores, two butchers, craft shops, bookshops, art galleries and a gardening shop. Nailsworth is a Fairtrade Town.
[edit] Sport and recreation
Nailsworth has a King George's Field in memorial to King George V.
Nailsworth is served by various public houses - The Brittania Inn, The Jovial Foresters, The George and The Weighbridge Inn. Brewing returned in 2006 in the form of a micro-brewery Nailsworth Brewery with an associated pub above, The Village Inn.
The local football team, Forest Green Rovers FC, are in the top flight of England's non-league pyramid, the Football Conference.
Every Spring, the town hosts the Nailsworth Festival, during which local artists exhibit in the windows of all the high street shops, there are numerous cultural and street events, and a free music festival ("Nailstock") takes place on one of the playing fields in the town, showcasing local bands.
[edit] Local council
Nailsworth Town Council has recently (March 2006) launched their own official web site which contains information on the Council alongside a comprehensive Town Guide.
Nailsworth is twinned with the French village of Lèves and an exchange visit takes place every year alternating between Nailsworth and Lèves.
[edit] Notable Nailsworthians
Sue Limb, Writer - Living near Nailsworth
Simon Kitson, Historian - Now living in Birmingham area
Kit Williams, Artist - Actually a Horsleyite rather than a Nailsworthian
[edit] References
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |