Longlevens

Longlevens is an area of Gloucester, United Kingdom. It was once (about 100 years ago) a small farmstead outside the city of Gloucester. The name is believed to be based on 'eleven elms' (as in elm tree) or 'along eleven elms'. Another possibility is that it was named after a row of eleven houses with long gardens (Long-Elevens). One of the oldest roads is 'The Avenue' which is shown on old maps as a number of farm cottages. The area is now part of the larger city of Gloucester but regarded as a more select area. Longlevens is home to the Longlevens Rugby Club, which over the years has produced many quality players, at a high enough level to play for Gloucester Rugby, and a select few have represented their country.

More information about this area can be found on www.mylonglevens.co.uk [http://www.mylonglevens.co.uk]

Longlevens was severely affected by the July 2007 floods, which caused Horshere Brook which runs through the village to flood many homes and roads, particularly affecting the Greyhound Gardens area and Cypress Gardens in particular.

Longlevens is primarily residential, and is home to Sir Thomas Rich's School, Holy Trinity Church [http://www.holytrinitylonglevens.co.uk/] , Longlevens Junior School, Longlevens Infant School [http://www.longlevensinfantschool.ik.org/] , an indian restaurant, a Chinese takeaway, Ruddys - the fish and chip shop and a co-op store.

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History

For more information, see "A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 4 refers to Longlevens as Wotton St Mary Without.." ['Gloucester: Modern parish churches', A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 4: The City of Gloucester (1988), pp. 311-317. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42313&strquery=longlevens. ]

Longlevens Rugby, Football and Dog Racing

At a national level the city became identified with rugby union football through the successful Gloucester Football Club, formed in 1873. The club moved its ground from the Spa to Kingsholm in 1891, and since 1896 many members have obtained international honours. In the 1970s the club won the national club championship several times. Of clubs playing association football the most important was Gloucester City Association Football Club, originating in 1889 and re-formed in 1925. From 1935 it had its ground at Longlevens and in 1964 it moved to a new stadium in Horton Road, which was later also used for dog races. A more important centre for greyhound racing was a track at Longlevens, opened in 1933 and closed in 1983.

Growth of Gloucester

Wotton St. Mary (Without), save for a few acres given to Barnwood and Churchdown, was included with parts of Barnwood, Churchdown, and Hucclecote in the new civil parish of Longlevens, north-east of Gloucester. Parts of Longlevens were added to Gloucester in 1951 and in 1967 when the remainder was re-formed as Innsworth civil parish.

Orcharding, which was increased at Innsworth in the mid 19th century, remained an important feature and in 1896 covered at least 172 a. in the parishes of Gloucester, Longford, Tuffley, Twigworth, and Wotton St. Mary (Without). The demands of Gloucester's growing population in the 19th century increased market gardening in the hamlets and by 1843 J. C. Wheeler's nurseries included a large area between Kingsholm and Wotton. In 1851 market gardeners were fairly numerous in Longford and Twigworth, and later there were several market gardens and nurseries at Longlevens (called Springfield) and Innsworth.

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