There is evidence that there was an Iron Age settlement situated on the summit of Langley Hill. Locally, this was one of many such sites on prominent hilltops – Nottingham, Dixton, and Woolstone being other immediate examples.
The romans
A number of settlements eg. Spoonley Villa indicate that the Romans lived in this area. A fine copper coin in excellent condition was found in Gretton which dates from the time of Cominius III, Governor of Britain in AD70. A stone pipe, discovered during the laying of the sewage system in the late 1930’s, also suggests that there was a Roman settlement at Gretton. The number of natural springs issuing forth from the hillside would have been significant to any Romans looking for a place in which to settle.
The saxons
During this era the neighbouring town of Winchcombe developed into a substantial and important Saxon settlement, capital of the Mercian kingdom. It was at this time that Gretton derived its name probably from its location ‘a farmstead near Greet’. In early written accounts it is referred to as ‘Greeton’ or ‘Grettun’. The location of a settlement here was in many ways ideal as it was in a sheltered, horseshoe shaped valley at the foot of Langley Hill, at a point where natural springs produced a ready made water supply.
Medeival times
At a time of great turbulence due to invasion, civil war, plague, and yet more civil war, pilgrims were often seen passing through Gretton. It became fashionable to visit the shrines erected to the memory of saints such as Kenelm. Those travelling from the west would spend the night in one of two pilgrim rest houses situated at Stanley Pontlarge before heading further east towards either Hailes Abbey or Winchcombe. Gretton was not substantial enough to warrant a mention in the Domesday Book. It was situated within the Hundred of Greston although this name has no connection with Gretton itself.During the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272) the king rewarded the Knights Templar for their services by giving a grant of ‘a courtleet, with waifs and felons’ goods’ and land situated at Gretton. Later, during the early fourteenth century, after the Knights Templar were disbanded, it was owned by a succession of prominent people. Both Tewkesbury and Winchcombe Abbeys claimed ownership at one time or another. This sometimes led to disputes between the two. On one occasion an agreement was reached that Winchcombe Abbey could claim the Chapel and half the tithes whilst Tewkesbury Abbey received the other half of the tithes.As early as the 13th century a Chapel of Ease was built thereby becoming the central focus of the village. This chapel was extended in the mid 15thcentury with the addition of a tower paid for by Ralph Boteler, Lord Sudeley. The bell hung within this tower was inscribed ‘Ave Maria Gracia Plena Dominus Tecum’ and is thought to have been struck in about 1400. Several of the letters are reversed or upside down implying a certain degree of ignorance or carelessness on the part of the moulder. The bell was eventually transferred to the new church when that was erected during the Victorian era as a line of continuity between the old and the new.‘Abbotswyck’, now the oldest house in the village, was also built during this period. It was originally constructed as a hall house, a communal dining room that would have fulfilled many different purposes. Several other dwellings (now listed) were also built at this time implying a period of relative prosperity. At some point a tunnel was built between the Chapel of Ease and Abbotswyck but this has yet to be explained.The local economy depended heavily upon agriculture. In the 13th>century the inhabitants of Gretton paid an annual tithe to Winchcombe Abbey of 66 sheaves of corn. Both men and womenworked in the fields, cutting the wheat some 6 inches above the ground. The poor of the area, of which there were many, took advantage of this and collected any wheat ears left over in the fields.
The tudors
Gretton, now owned by the Crown, was by this time becoming a more substantial settlement. One of the last acts of King Henry VII, only a month before he died in 1509, was to grant the manor to Winchcombe Abbey for an annual rent of £60. Most of the dwellings were still the humble abodes of farm workers built of wattle and daub but local stone was also quarried in order to provide housing of a more substantial nature. At this time, local men were expected to practise their archery skills in preparation for any war that might break out; to this end a field was set aside at Manor Farm where archery could be practised every Sunday after church. This field then became known as ‘The Butts’.Henry VII’s granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth, continued to issue grants of land and messuages in the area. On one occasion the Queen actually rode through Gretton, the local inhabitants apparently pausing from their daily chores to cheer her and her retinue as they travelled by. She had spent the night at Dixton Manor as the guest of Lord Higham and was on her way to stay at Sudeley Castle, a place she had frequently stayed at in the past, when her stepmother Queen Katherine Parr lived there.
The stuarts
Gretton finally split from the Crown during the reign of King James I. A deed bearing his seal shows that the manor then became the property of Lord Sudeley of Toddington. A militia list of 1608 records that there were 33 able bodied men living in the parish ready to be called up for active service when and if needed. At this time Gretton was a hub of activity. Not only were people employed on the land but travellers passing through also left their mark. Many horseshoes, the design of which date from the 16th and 17th centuries, have been found and indicate how important horses were, not just in terms of agriculture, but also as a mode of transport as people passed through the village on their way to Tewkesbury or Winchcombe. The turbulence of the civil war would also have had an effect as loyalties were put to the test. During this time the Tythe Farmhouse (1635, now Gretton Farm), a dwelling in Gopshill Lane (1647), and what was then known as Gretton Farm (1656) were all built, reflecting a strong upturn in the local economy.
The georgian era
By the eighteenth century land was now partially enclosed. A swing plough called a ‘Smalls’ was used to turn the soil as it was more suitable for the types of farming in this area. When cut the local wheat was collected by a ‘lodder’ (often nicknamed ‘John the Lodder’) and taken to one of three local mills: Greet Mill, Town Flour Mill, and Coates Mill, all of which were situated on the River Isbourne. It was necessary for everyone to be involved at harvest time. The Dixton paintings of 1730 capture this yearly event in remarkable detail. One of the two pictures that were painted at this time depicts the harvest in fields to the south west of Gretton. After the harvest the workers would return to the village farmhouses and sit around the big hearth fireplaces smoking from pipes made of clay as they reflected on the progress that had been made that day. There were four main farms in Gretton during this period: Tythe Farm, Chestnut Farm, Gretton Farm, and Manor Farm. Bark from local oak trees was also in demand. Stripped off, it was transported to Winchcombe for use in the leather tanning industry.In 1816 the land was redistributed between local landowners when the Enclosure Award was granted. An important occasion for the villagers occurred in 1779 when John Wesley was expected to preach at the Chapel of Ease. This became even more memorable when the local vicar at the time had second thoughts about allowing such a prominent but controversial figure to speak within the church itself. At the last minute he changed his mind and John Wesley was forced to speak to the gathering in a local orchard instead. Later, in 1812, a Methodist chapel opened. The Sunday School which was based there became very popular partly due to the outings that were organised. It closed in 1953 and was converted into a house in 1974. The passage of travellers through the area over the centuries eventually turned the local roads into such a bad state of repair that a toll gate was installed. However, even this had limited effect. As late as 1856 James Agg, a rural messenger, reported that he’d trudged knee deep in mud along ‘Dirty Lane’ in Gretton.
Victorian times
By 1851 the population of Gretton was 395 inhabitants. The census of that year tells us that the main occupations for men were, as they had always been, predominantly agricultural in nature; a blend of crops, dairy, and fruit growing. The sheltered nature of the village gave rise to many orchards, providing perry and cider for the workers as well as for sale. All the farms nurtured their own herd of dairy cows and one day every week was spent making butter. However, there is also evidence of the local influence that the Dent family of Sudeley Castle had over employment. Several women and girls worked as glove makers, an industry in which the Dents had made their fortune. Dressmaking was another source of income which allowed women to work from home whilst still bringing up the children. There was also employment in the fields planting beans for one shilling a day. The arrival of Mrs Emma Dent at the castle in 1856 brought about influential changes in Gretton. Her philanthropic approach gave rise to the establishment of a school in 1862 and the building of a new church in 1868. In the decades that followed the people of Gretton always remembered how Mrs Dent had endeavoured to make a positive difference to their lives.The actions of Colonel the Honorable E.J. Forster of Gretton House also had a huge impact on the lives of the villagers. Traditionally, the local inhabitants had drawn water by hand or windlass from wells. It didn’t help that some of this water such as that at the blacksmiths and post office was salty due to a layer of rock salt in the geology. During the early 1880’s Col. Forster gave the order for a spring fed reservoir to be constructed above the village. This piped fresh water down into the village, accessible via 9 standpipes and an ornamental drinking fountain. At the official turning on ceremony Mr. A.H. Smith of Cheltenham commented that villagers would not be so ready to adjourn to the public house to quench their thirst, now that they had such an excellent supply of water at hand. Later, in 1894, further improvements were made, this time by using the skills of a water diviner, found to be a ‘very satisfactory’ way of pinpointing fresh sources. Conditions for villagers improved still further in 1892 when a brand new purpose built school opened. Parents had petitioned the authorities for several years about the appalling conditions the children were being taught in at the original school.
The 20th Century
A major development at the start of the century was the arrival of the railway in 1906 which linked Winchcombe with Cheltenham and beyond. Part of this development included a halt at Gretton. This opened up employment opportunities in all sorts of ways. At the cost of one shilling per ticket children were able to attend secondary school in Cheltenham, and their parents were able to seek work there too. Perishable produce such as fruit from the local orchards and hedgerows could now be transported to the jam factories or to Cheltenham and beyond for sale.All modes of transport became so popular that by 1920 Con New,Headteacher of the village school, decided to open a garage. He had always had a passion for all things mechanical and saw an opportunity to extend this hobby into a business. The garage remained a going concern for decades until finally closing in the 1990’s. Life in this period was tough for the local residents, many living on the breadline.The world wars had their impact on Gretton as they did everywhere. After World War I the decision was made to convert the water fountain into a war memorial. After four years of conflict the names of nine local men were inscribed on it. Later, after the Second World War three more names were added. Originally enclosed by two iron gates and railings these were later removed during World War II to aid the war effort.In 1939 work commenced on constructing a public sewer throughout the village. What we now take for granted was seen then as a huge milestone, making a marked improvement on people’s lives. World War Two brought an influx of evacuees, mostly from Birmingham. Some were official but others sought refuge in the village with relatives. None tended to stay for very long.The 1950’s and 60’s were another turning point in the history of the village as the young moved away in search of employment as horizons broadened. In the 1960’s there were two pubs – the Royal Oak and the New Inn, formerly the Horse and Cart but now known as the Bugatti. There was a shop, a post office with adjacent craft shop, a furniture restoration business, a garage, and four working farms. There was also a very successful football team that won Division 2 of the Cheltenham Football League. A surge of housing development changed the village’s appearance forever. Houses were selling for £26,000, a price too high for local people to afford. It became a very attractive place in which to live. Indeed, Phyllis Hall, onetime Olympian athlete, chose to make her home here. Gradually, any long term newcomers became integrated into the community. Gretton became substantial enough to warrant its own parish council. This was formed in 1994. Today, Gretton is an active community, aware of its past but conscious of the need to prepare for the future. The latest development in the form of the newly renovated and extended village hall should ensure this.
The Iron Age There is evidence that there was an Iron Age settlement situated on the summit of Langley Hill. Locally, this was one of many such sites on prominent hilltops – Nottingham, Dixton, and Woolstone being other immediate examples.
The Romans A number of settlements eg. Spoonley Villa indicate that the Romans lived in this area. A fine copper coin in excellent condition was found in Gretton which dates from the time of Cominius III, Governor of Britain in AD70. A stone pipe, discovered during the laying of the sewage system in the late 1930’s, also suggests that there was a Roman settlement at Gretton. The number of natural springs issuing forth from the hillside would have been significant to any Romans looking for a place in which to settle.
The Saxons During this era the neighbouring town of Winchcombe developed into a substantial and important Saxon settlement, capital of the Mercian kingdom. It was at this time that Gretton derived its name probably from its location ‘a farmstead near Greet’. In early written accounts it is referred to as ‘Greeton’ or ‘Grettun’. The location of a settlement here was in many ways ideal as it was in a sheltered, horseshoe shaped valley at the foot of Langley Hill, at a point where natural springs produced a ready made water supply.
Medieval times At a time of great turbulence due to invasion, civil war, plague, and yet more civil war, pilgrims were often seen passing through Gretton. It became fashionable to visit the shrines erected to the memory of saints such as Kenelm. Those travelling from the west would spend the night in one of two pilgrim rest houses situated at Stanley Pontlarge before heading further east towards either Hailes Abbey or Winchcombe. Gretton was not substantial enough to warrant a mention in the Domesday Book. It was situated within the Hundred of Greston although this name has no connection with Gretton itself.During the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272) the king rewarded the Knights Templar for their services by giving a grant of ‘a courtleet, with waifs and felons’ goods’ and land situated at Gretton. Later, during the early fourteenth century, after the Knights Templar were disbanded, it was owned by a succession of prominent people. Both Tewkesbury and Winchcombe Abbeys claimed ownership at one time or another. This sometimes led to disputes between the two. On one occasion an agreement was reached that Winchcombe Abbey could claim the Chapel and half the tithes whilst Tewkesbury Abbey received the other half of the tithes.As early as the 13th century a Chapel of Ease was built thereby becoming the central focus of the village. This chapel was extended in the mid 15thcentury with the addition of a tower paid for by Ralph Boteler, Lord Sudeley. The bell hung within this tower was inscribed ‘Ave Maria Gracia Plena Dominus Tecum’ and is thought to have been struck in about 1400. Several of the letters are reversed or upside down implying a certain degree of ignorance or carelessness on the part of the moulder. The bell was eventually transferred to the new church when that was erected during the Victorian era as a line of continuity between the old and the new.‘Abbotswyck’, now the oldest house in the village, was also built during this period. It was originally constructed as a hall house, a communal dining room that would have fulfilled many different purposes. Several other dwellings (now listed) were also built at this time implying a period of relative prosperity. At some point a tunnel was built between the Chapel of Ease and Abbotswyck but this has yet to be explained.The local economy depended heavily upon agriculture. In the 13th>century the inhabitants of Gretton paid an annual tithe to Winchcombe Abbey of 66 sheaves of corn. Both men and womenworked in the fields, cutting the wheat some 6 inches above the ground. The poor of the area, of which there were many, took advantage of this and collected any wheat ears left over in the fields.
The Tudors Gretton, now owned by the Crown, was by this time becoming a more substantial settlement. One of the last acts of King Henry VII, only a month before he died in 1509, was to grant the manor to Winchcombe Abbey for an annual rent of £60. Most of the dwellings were still the humble abodes of farm workers built of wattle and daub but local stone was also quarried in order to provide housing of a more substantial nature. At this time, local men were expected to practise their archery skills in preparation for any war that might break out; to this end a field was set aside at Manor Farm where archery could be practised every Sunday after church. This field then became known as ‘The Butts’.Henry VII’s granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth, continued to issue grants of land and messuages in the area. On one occasion the Queen actually rode through Gretton, the local inhabitants apparently pausing from their daily chores to cheer her and her retinue as they travelled by. She had spent the night at Dixton Manor as the guest of Lord Higham and was on her way to stay at Sudeley Castle, a place she had frequently stayed at in the past, when her stepmother Queen Katherine Parr lived there.
The Stuarts Gretton finally split from the Crown during the reign of King James I. A deed bearing his seal shows that the manor then became the property of Lord Sudeley of Toddington. A militia list of 1608 records that there were 33 able bodied men living in the parish ready to be called up for active service when and if needed. At this time Gretton was a hub of activity. Not only were people employed on the land but travellers passing through also left their mark. Many horseshoes, the design of which date from the 16th and 17th centuries, have been found and indicate how important horses were, not just in terms of agriculture, but also as a mode of transport as people passed through the village on their way to Tewkesbury or Winchcombe. The turbulence of the civil war would also have had an effect as loyalties were put to the test. During this time the Tythe Farmhouse (1635, now Gretton Farm), a dwelling in Gopshill Lane (1647), and what was then known as Gretton Farm (1656) were all built, reflecting a strong upturn in the local economy.
The Georgian era By the eighteenth century land was now partially enclosed. A swing plough called a ‘Smalls’ was used to turn the soil as it was more suitable for the types of farming in this area. When cut the local wheat was collected by a ‘lodder’ (often nicknamed ‘John the Lodder’) and taken to one of three local mills: Greet Mill, Town Flour Mill, and Coates Mill, all of which were situated on the River Isbourne. It was necessary for everyone to be involved at harvest time. The Dixton paintings of 1730 capture this yearly event in remarkable detail. One of the two pictures that were painted at this time depicts the harvest in fields to the south west of Gretton. After the harvest the workers would return to the village farmhouses and sit around the big hearth fireplaces smoking from pipes made of clay as they reflected on the progress that had been made that day. There were four main farms in Gretton during this period: Tythe Farm, Chestnut Farm, Gretton Farm, and Manor Farm. Bark from local oak trees was also in demand. Stripped off, it was transported to Winchcombe for use in the leather tanning industry.In 1816 the land was redistributed between local landowners when the Enclosure Award was granted. An important occasion for the villagers occurred in 1779 when John Wesley was expected to preach at the Chapel of Ease. This became even more memorable when the local vicar at the time had second thoughts about allowing such a prominent but controversial figure to speak within the church itself. At the last minute he changed his mind and John Wesley was forced to speak to the gathering in a local orchard instead. Later, in 1812, a Methodist chapel opened. The Sunday School which was based there became very popular partly due to the outings that were organised. It closed in 1953 and was converted into a house in 1974. The passage of travellers through the area over the centuries eventually turned the local roads into such a bad state of repair that a toll gate was installed. However, even this had limited effect. As late as 1856 James Agg, a rural messenger, reported that he’d trudged knee deep in mud along ‘Dirty Lane’ in Gretton.
Victorian times By 1851 the population of Gretton was 395 inhabitants. The census of that year tells us that the main occupations for men were, as they had always been, predominantly agricultural in nature; a blend of crops, dairy, and fruit growing. The sheltered nature of the village gave rise to many orchards, providing perry and cider for the workers as well as for sale. All the farms nurtured their own herd of dairy cows and one day every week was spent making butter. However, there is also evidence of the local influence that the Dent family of Sudeley Castle had over employment. Several women and girls worked as glove makers, an industry in which the Dents had made their fortune. Dressmaking was another source of income which allowed women to work from home whilst still bringing up the children. There was also employment in the fields planting beans for one shilling a day. The arrival of Mrs Emma Dent at the castle in 1856 brought about influential changes in Gretton. Her philanthropic approach gave rise to the establishment of a school in 1862 and the building of a new church in 1868. In the decades that followed the people of Gretton always remembered how Mrs Dent had endeavoured to make a positive difference to their lives.The actions of Colonel the Honorable E.J. Forster of Gretton House also had a huge impact on the lives of the villagers. Traditionally, the local inhabitants had drawn water by hand or windlass from wells. It didn’t help that some of this water such as that at the blacksmiths and post office was salty due to a layer of rock salt in the geology. During the early 1880’s Col. Forster gave the order for a spring fed reservoir to be constructed above the village. This piped fresh water down into the village, accessible via 9 standpipes and an ornamental drinking fountain. At the official turning on ceremony Mr. A.H. Smith of Cheltenham commented that villagers would not be so ready to adjourn to the public house to quench their thirst, now that they had such an excellent supply of water at hand. Later, in 1894, further improvements were made, this time by using the skills of a water diviner, found to be a ‘very satisfactory’ way of pinpointing fresh sources. Conditions for villagers improved still further in 1892 when a brand new purpose built school opened. Parents had petitioned the authorities for several years about the appalling conditions the children were being taught in at the original school.
The 20th century A major development at the start of the century was the arrival of the railway in 1906 which linked Winchcombe with Cheltenham and beyond. Part of this development included a halt at Gretton. This opened up employment opportunities in all sorts of ways. At the cost of one shilling per ticket children were able to attend secondary school in Cheltenham, and their parents were able to seek work there too. Perishable produce such as fruit from the local orchards and hedgerows could now be transported to the jam factories or to Cheltenham and beyond for sale.All modes of transport became so popular that by 1920 Con New,Headteacher of the village school, decided to open a garage. He had always had a passion for all things mechanical and saw an opportunity to extend this hobby into a business. The garage remained a going concern for decades until finally closing in the 1990’s. Life in this period was tough for the local residents, many living on the breadline.The world wars had their impact on Gretton as they did everywhere. After World War I the decision was made to convert the water fountain into a war memorial. After four years of conflict the names of nine local men were inscribed on it. Later, after the Second World War three more names were added. Originally enclosed by two iron gates and railings these were later removed during World War II to aid the war effort.In 1939 work commenced on constructing a public sewer throughout the village. What we now take for granted was seen then as a huge milestone, making a marked improvement on people’s lives. World War Two brought an influx of evacuees, mostly from Birmingham. Some were official but others sought refuge in the village with relatives. None tended to stay for very long.The 1950’s and 60’s were another turning point in the history of the village as the young moved away in search of employment as horizons broadened. In the 1960’s there were two pubs – the Royal Oak and the New Inn, formerly the Horse and Cart but now known as the Bugatti. There was a shop, a post office with adjacent craft shop, a furniture restoration business, a garage, and four working farms. There was also a very successful football team that won Division 2 of the Cheltenham Football League. A surge of housing development changed the village’s appearance forever. Houses were selling for £26,000, a price too high for local people to afford. It became a very attractive place in which to live. Indeed, Phyllis Hall, onetime Olympian athlete, chose to make her home here. Gradually, any long term newcomers became integrated into the community. Gretton became substantial enough to warrant its own parish council. This was formed in 1994. Today, Gretton is an active community, aware of its past but conscious of the need to prepare for the future. The latest development in the form of the newly renovated and extended village hall should ensure this.