The Old Courthouse and Regency Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

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1 The Old Courthouse and Regency Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 3 miles Circular 1.5 hours Easy Terrain The Old Courthouse sits in the heart of the town and provides the ideal place to enjoy refreshments before or after your walk. A 3 mile circular pub walk from The Old Courthouse, around the Regency spa town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. The walking route tours the town, taking in some of the key attractions and open spaces including beautiful churches, important historic buildings, several artworks and the stunning ornamental Pittville Park, with its magnificent Pump Room and lakes. Getting there Cheltenham is located in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds and adjacent to the M5. The walk starts and finishes from The Old Courthouse pub in the town centre, on County Court Road. If you are coming by public transport, the bus station sits alongside the Royal Crescent (this is directly on the walking route and just a 0.2 mile walk from the pub), whilst the train station is a one mile walk from the pub. If you are arriving by car, there are several parking options close to the pub, including the Portland Street car park which is opposite Trinity Church and directly on the walking route. Approximate post codes GL50 1HB (for pub) and GL52 2NX (for car park) Walk Sections Go 1 Start to Trinity Church Access Notes 1. The walk is relatively flat, with only a few gentle gradients. 2. The route follows a mixture of pedestrian thoroughfares, roadside pavements and surfaced parkland paths, making it ideal for walking in any weather. 3. There are no stiles, kissing gates, flights of steps or livestock on route, but you will need to negotiate a few simple parkland gates and footbridges. 4. With this in mind, the route would be suitable for pushchairs or disability buggies. 5. Dogs are welcome throughout the route, including in the park which is a popular dog-walking spot. 6. There are a few road crossings that need care, although many of these have pelican crossings. We start our walk directly outside The Old Courthouse pub which, you won t be surprised to hear, is housed in the former Court House buildings dating from The Court at Cheltenham was operational until the beginning of the 21st Century when it was closed as part of the rationalisation of the Government s estate. Get the ifootpath App for a smarter walking experience. Hundreds of walking guides in the palm of your hand with live maps that show your progress as you walk. Say goodbye to wrong turns! ifootpath.com THE OLD COURTHOUSE AND REGENCY CHELTENHAM!1

2 Standing with your back to the pub s front entrance, turn left to join the pedestrianised stretch of street which soon reaches a T- junction with the High Street. Turn left and then take the first right turn into Pittville Street. At the first crossroads, go straight ahead into Portland Street and, at the second crossroads (this one with traffic lights), use the pedestrian crossing to continue ahead along Portland Street. About halfway along this street, you will come to Trinity Church on your right (with the entrance for Portland Street car park on your left). 1 2 Trinity Church to Pittville Park Trinity Church came into being in 1824 as an overflow for the church in the town centre, which we will visit later. Now with around 1000 members, one article has cited it as being the eleventh largest church in Britain. Continue ahead along Portland Street to reach the crossroads with traffic lights. Turn right here into Clarence Road and, just a short distance along, you will see Number 4 Clarence Road on your right which is the birthplace of the composer Gustav Holst. The Holst Birthplace Museum was opened in 1975 and remains one of only two composer birthplace museums in England. Holst was born here in 1874 and educated at Cheltenham Grammar School. If you take time to tour the museum, you will see the piano Gustav Holst used to compose The Planets, his most famous composition. At this point, wait for a suitable gap in the traffic and swap to the left-hand pavement of Clarence Road. Continue for just a few more paces along the road and you will reach the beautiful, ornate, green metal gates for Pittville Park on your left. the continuation of Pittville Lawn. A few paces along, keep left at the first path fork, to follow the tarmac walkway ahead. You will have a beautiful row of terraced houses across to your right and the first stretch of open parkland on your left. To understand the background to this park, we first need to delve a little into the town s history. This formerly unassuming settlement was transformed following events in the early 1700s. The story goes that in 1716, a few townsfolk noticed that a particular flock of pigeons that regularly pecked near a local spring were thriving. It wasn't long before they decided to taste the benefits of the mineral spring water for themselves. Eventually, the owner of the land on which the spring stood took the entrepreneurial measure of installing a pump and charging people to take the waters. The Spa Town became popular with health tourists and visitors included Samuel Johnson, the Duke of Wellington, Jane Austen and King George III. Rival spas to the original were also established, including one here at Pittville Park. Opened in 1825, Pittville Park is the largest ornamental park in Cheltenham and features the magnificent Pump Room, ornamental and fishing lakes, aviaries plus play and leisure facilities (all of which we will see shortly). Just before this parkland path reaches a junction with the next road, Central Cross Drive, it swings left to pass a scout building on your left. Turn right at this point, passing a red phone box, crossing over Central Cross Drive with care and walking straight ahead into the main section of Pittville Park (passing the cafe on your right). At the end of this stretch of parkland, you will come to a crossroads with a wider tarmac path (with more park gates visible to your right). Walk ahead to reach the green railings ahead, then fork right to follow the path with the railings immediately on your left. Beyond these railings you will see the first of the park s lakes. Follow the path winding ahead alongside the lake, to reach a beautiful stone arched bridge. Turn left across the lake bridge and then stay with the main, wide tarmac thoroughfare. This bends left and then right, now leading you away from the lake and heading gently uphill towards the grand, honey-coloured stone building. At the top of the slope, emerge into a small parking area and turn immediately left to pass in front of this grand building, Pittville Pump Room. 3 4 Pittville Pump Room to Old Boat House 2 3 Pittville Park to Pittville Pump Room The jewel of Cheltenham s Regency architecture, the Pump Room is the grandest survivor of the town s many spa buildings. It was completed in 1830 and, when not in use, you can wander into the main auditorium to see its fine interior and sample the fountain s historically medicinal spa waters for free. It is the perfect place to step back in time: imagine the swirling dancers in the ballroom, hear the music playing in the bandstand and remember, when you taste the waters, that this was the reason for it all - an unpleasant tasting liquid that supposedly had the power to cure all ills! Turn left through the gates and walk straight ahead along the walkway of the access road, known as Pittville Lawn. At the first road junction, cross over with care and go straight ahead along When you have finished here, keep ahead to enter another small parking area (with a small bandstand on your left). Turn left here, heading downhill to pass the fenced area of playgrounds and bird THE OLD COURTHOUSE AND REGENCY CHELTENHAM!2

3 aviaries on your right (which you can visit should you wish). Continue ahead on the wide tarmac thoroughfare, keeping the play areas on your right. Beyond these, you will pass the public toilets before crossing an arched stone bridge back over the lake. Keep ahead for only 40 paces more and then take a sharp right turn to follow a tarmac path downhill and through a road underpass (this is quite low so mind your head!). You will emerge into the western half of the park, almost immediately coming to a fork with a large signpost. Take the right-hand branch, signed to the Boat House, which leads you over a small stream bridge and then swings left to pass the old boat house on your left. 4 5 Old Boat House to Clarence Square into the churchyard of St Mary s Church. Follow the tarmac path, passing the church on your left. St Mary s, also known as Cheltenham Minster, is the only surviving medieval building in Cheltenham. It has been in continuous use for 850 years, although between 1859 and 1877 it was closed intermittently for repairs. In the Domesday Book it was recorded as belonging to William the Conqueror s chancellor, Regenbald. 6 7 St Mary's Church to Neptune's Fountain Continue along the tarmac parkland path, with the lake on your left, until you reach the first lake bridge. Turn left to cross this and turn left again at the far side, heading back along the southern edge of the lake. As you draw level with the boat house on the far bank, turn right to follow a blue sign which marks a cycle path towards the town centre. Pass through the gate to exit the park and then keep directly ahead along the residential road called West Drive, passing the primary school on your right. Continue ahead along West Drive, ignoring any side roads, and you will pass Wellington Square on your right, a simple square of parkland surrounded by holly hedges. Beyond this square, you will come to a crossroads. Cross over the road to continue straight ahead and soon you will come to a second square of parkland, Clarence Square. Go through the parkland gate to enter Clarence Square and follow the tarmac path which leads you diagonally across the park. Cheltenham is famous for its Regency architecture and is said to be the most complete Regency town in England. Clarence Square is one of the town s typical Regency squares with a leafy, quiet sanctuary at its centre. The Duke of Wellington once lived nearby, and his former home is now a hotel. 5 6 Clarence Square to St Mary's Church At the far side, exit the park and maintain your direction, crossing over the road ahead and then bearing left into Monson Avenue. At the end of this avenue, you will come to a T-junction with a large leisure complex ahead. Use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road directly ahead and then turn left along the far pavement. Take the first right turn, into a small side road which runs alongside the leisure complex (which is now on your right). Ignore the road branch into the underground car park, instead stay with the left-hand branch, a quiet passageway which bends left to reach a crossroads. Turn right and follow the short shopping street to reach a junction with the High Street. If you look at about 1 o clock at this junction you will see a narrow passageway. Take this passageway and you will quickly emerge At the far side of the churchyard, keep ahead along the short, paved street, Well Walk, to emerge to a junction with a road. Cross over with care (there is a pedestrian crossing across to your left should you need it) and go straight ahead into Crescent Place. At the end of Crescent Place, bear right to follow the pavement that runs directly in front of the long arc of terraced white houses, known as the Royal Crescent (you will notice the bus station across to your left at this point). The Royal Crescent is a terrace of 18 houses, built around They were built as fashionable lodgings for visitors to the Spa. The Duke of Gloucester lived at Number 18 when he was visited by Princess Victoria in Number 11 was the home of Dr Henry Charles Boisragan, Physician Extraordinary to the King. It is the earliest important Georgian terrace to have been built in Cheltenham. At the end of the Royal Crescent, turn right, cross over the side road (Royal Well Place) and you will come to the Royal Well car park ahead. Pass to the left of this to reach the road junction with traffic lights. Turn left here (using the two pedestrian crossings) and continue ahead on the pavement to reach the next road junction. Turn left here and, immediately on your left you will see Neptune s Fountain. The Neptune Fountain was built in 1893 and designed by Joseph Hall. The fountain is probably fashioned on the Trevi Fountain in Rome and was carved by Boulton and Sons, a local company. Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, is shown with sea horses and tritons. The 1970s British sitcom Butterflies was set in THE OLD COURTHOUSE AND REGENCY CHELTENHAM!3

4 Cheltenham. Many of the town s properties and attractions were used as filming locations, including Neptune s Fountain. 7 8 Neptune's Fountain to End Disclaimer This walking route was walked and checked at the time of writing. We have taken care to make sure all our walks are safe for walkers of a reasonable level of experience and fitness. However, like all outdoor activities, walking carries a degree of risk and we accept no responsibility for any loss or damage to personal effects, personal accident, injury or public liability whilst following this walk. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that result from changes to the routes that occur over time. Please let us know of any changes to the routes so that we can correct the information. Walking Safety For your safety and comfort we recommend that you take the following with you on your walk: bottled water, snacks, a waterproof jacket, waterproof/sturdy boots, a woolly hat and fleece (in winter and cold weather), a fully-charged mobile phone, a whistle, a compass and an Ordnance Survey map of the area. Check the weather forecast before you leave, carry appropriate clothing and do not set out in fog or mist as these conditions can seriously affect your ability to navigate the route. Take particular care on cliff/mountain paths where steep drops can present a particular hazard. Some routes include sections along roads take care to avoid any traffic at these points. Around farmland take care with children and dogs, particularly around machinery and livestock. If you are walking on the coast make sure you check the tide times before you set out. When you have finished admiring the fountain, continue ahead along the shopping street known as the Promenade. Across to your right are the shops, whilst on the left are the lawns and flower beds. Cheltenham's famous Promenade dates back to 1818 when the avenue of elms and horse chestnut trees were first planted. Its colourful Long Gardens are laid out with an everchanging display of ornamental bedding plants. There are several statues and sculptures along the Promenade. First is a statue that commemorates Edward Wilson, born in Cheltenham and lost on Scott's ill-fated Antarctic expedition of Beyond this, you will pass Cheltenham's war memorial. As you reach a road ahead, cross over with care to follow the pedestrianised stretch of the Promenade. After just 50 metres, you will pass another sculpture, The Hare and the Minotaur. This was initially part of a temporary exhibition of the local artist Sophie Ryder in The overwhelming public response to the exhibition led to this sculpture being kept as a permanent installation. At the end of the pedestrianised stretch, continue ahead on the right-hand pavement for just 20 paces and then turn right into the small courtyard called County Court Road. Bear right to follow this small road, which swings left and leads you directly to The Old Courthouse on your left for some well-earned hospitality. THE OLD COURTHOUSE AND REGENCY CHELTENHAM!4

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