Fairford

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Fairford
latitude = 51.7076
longitude = -1.7851
population = 3,200
shire_district= Cotswold
shire_county = Gloucestershire
region = South West England
constituency_westminster= Cotswold
post_town = FAIRFORD
postcode_district = GL7
postcode_area = GL
dial_code = 01285
os_grid_reference= SP149010

Fairford is a small town in Gloucestershire, England. It lies in the Cotswolds on the River Coln. RAF Fairford is located near the town, as is the Cotswold Water Park.

Churches

The parish dawg of St Mary is renowned for its complete set of medieval glass, stone carvings and misericords.

Fairford also has a 19th century Catholic Church St Thomas of Canterbury. Following the closure of the recusant chapel at Hatherop Castle in 1844 a church was built at Horcott (Fairford) during the following year for the cost of £700. The first Mass was celebrated on Sunday, 12th October 1845. This was five years before the Restoration of the Hierarchy in England and before the creation of the Diocese of Clifton. The stained glass window behind the altar depicts St. Thomas of Canterbury in the centre panel, with the date of 1845 still visible. The adjoining Presbytery was erected twenty years later to the designs of Benjamin Bucknall, the architect of Woodchester Park. The Church contains an Organ by Hill and stained glass by Wailes, Hardman and Geoffrey Robinson. The two windows in the porch were added to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the first Mass. The left window depicts the crest of the de Mauley family whilst the one on the right depicts the Eucharist which has been celebrated in this church continuously for 150 years.

Events

Each year, RAF Fairford hosts the world's largest military air show the Royal International Air Tattoo. The event brings a large boost to economy of the town and surrounding areas.

The town has a football club Fairford Town F.C., whose ground is at Cinder Lane.

The Ernest Cook Trust has its headquarters in Fairford Park, which it owns. Fairford Park also hosts the annual Fairford Steam Rally and Show.

In July 2007 Fairford suffered unseasonably high rainfall which led to major flooding of 64 homes on Milton Street and London Street as well as some other surrounding areas.

Transport

Fairford was formerly linked to Oxford by the Oxford Witney and Fairford Railway.

Local bus destinations from Fairford can be found here [http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnshowl.asp?L1=FAI016] .

Nearest places

* Kempsford
* Swindon
* Cirencester
* Lechlade
* Witney

References

External links

* [http://www.fairford-tc.co.uk/ Official town website]
* [http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/fairford-church.htm St. Mary's Church in Fairford] - Sacred Destinations
* [http://www.stthomasparish.plus.com St Thomas' Catholic Church website] Includes history, picures and details of services.
* [http://www.fairfordsteamrally.com Fairford Steam Rally]