{{Short description|Village and civil parish in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Use British English|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox UK place |static_image_name = Colesbourne church - geograph.org.uk - 129381.jpg |static_image_caption = St James' Church |country = England |coordinates = {{coord|51.8180|-2.00213|display=inline,title}} |label_position = left |official_name = Colesbourne |population = |population_ref = |shire_district = Cotswold |shire_county = Gloucestershire |region = South West England |constituency_westminster = North Cotswolds<ref>{{cite web|title=Location of North Cotswolds |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4201/location |website=parliament.uk|access-date=16 January 2025}}</ref> |post_town = Cheltenham |postcode_area= GL |postcode_district = GL53 |dial_code = 01242 |os_grid_reference = SO999132 |london_distance_mi= 85<!-- straight line per MOS – constant and comparable with other place distances --> |london_direction= WNW }}
'''Colesbourne''' is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. The village and parish lies within the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The village is {{Convert|10|mi|km|0}} east-southeast from the city and county town of Gloucester, and on a {{Convert|1000|yd|m|sigfig=1}} east to west section (defined by road entry signs) of the A435 road, which runs locally between Cheltenham {{Convert|6|mi|km|0}} to the north, and Cirencester, {{Convert|7|mi|km|0}} to the south. The civil parish is {{Convert|4.5|mi|km|0}} from north to south. Withington parish is at the north and north-east, with North Cerney and Rendcomb at the south. At the north-west is Coberley parish; at the west, Elkstone; and at the east, Chedworth. The River Churn flows through the centre of the parish and at the north of the village, where it is joined by its tributary Hilcot Brook, which rises in the farther north parish of Dowdeswell.<ref name=OS>Extracted from [https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/51.81775,-2.00478,16 "Colesbourne"], Ordnance Survey map. Retrieved 28 January 2019</ref><ref>Extracted from [https://gridreferencefinder.com?gr=SP0013113368|Colesbourne|1&v=r "Colesbourne"] Grid Reference Finder. Retrieved 28 January 2019</ref>
The village contains The Colesbourne Inn public house, adjacent to a restaurant, a roadside fuel station, and a village farm with a small retail park which includes a cookery school and wine merchant. At the north of the village is the parish church of St James, and north from this is the house of Colesbourne Park estate. <ref name=OS/> Colesbourne is connected by bus to Cheltenham and Swindon.<ref>[https://bustimes.org/stops/1600GL1414 "Colesbourne Inn (after)"], Bus Times. Retrieved 28 January 2019</ref>
In 1872 John Marius Wilson recorded Colesbourne as being a parish in the Cirencester district, near the highest source of the River Thames and {{Convert|3|mi|km|0}} east from the Roman road of "Ermine-street", actually Ermin Way (today's A417). Remains of a Roman villa had been found. There was a post office and fifty-two houses in a parish area of {{convert|2200|acre|km2|0}}. Colesbourne Park was the seat of Henry John Elwes, who was patron of the ecclesiastical parish rectory.<ref name=Wilson>Wilson,John, Marius (1870-72) ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales''</ref>
==Landmarks== There are sixteen Grade II listed buildings and structures in the parish. In the village is St James' Church, dating to the 12th century, with later 15th-century tower and chancel, which was largely rebuilt in 1852–53 for Henry John Elwes in early Perpendicular style.<ref name=Wilson/><ref>{{NHLE|num= 1341787|desc=Church of St James|accessdate= 28 January 2019}}</ref> Within the churchyard is an 18th-century tomb to John Brown (d.1760), Mary Brown (d.1736), and Mary Hayden (d.1809).<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1088454|desc=Brown Monument in the Churchyard Approximately 5 Metres North of Church of St James|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> At the southeast of the church is the base of a medieval cross with the remains of a 17th- or 18th-century stone sundial.<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1088453|desc=Cross Base in the Churchyard Approximately 2 Metres South of Chancel to Church of St James|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> To the northeast of the church are three listed mid-19th-century coachhouses built for Henry John Elwes of Colesbourne Park.<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1341788|desc=East Coach House at Colesbourne Park|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num= 1088455|desc=West Coach House at Colesbourne Park|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num= 1171472|desc=North Coach House at Colesbourne Park|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref>
On the A435 at the centre of the village is The Colesbourne Inn, a coaching inn dating to 1827, which was "built to serve the new Cheltenham [to] Cirencester turnpike".<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1088450|desc=Colesbourne Inn|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> To the west of the inn is the building listed as the 'Village Institute and Coach House', a {{circa|1827}} "former stables and coach house, now partly meeting hall".<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1088451|desc=Village Institute and Coach House|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> Farther west, and adjacent, is the c. 1850 'Village Stores and Post Office'.<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1341786|desc=Village Stores and Post Office|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> To the east of The Colesbourne Inn is the c.17th-century Slys Cottage, a former shop and post office.<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1341785|desc=Slys Cottage|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> At the northwest of the village is Southbury Farmhouse, dating to the 17th century with 18th-century additions.<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1305597|desc=Southbury Farmhouse|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> Adjacent to the farmhouse are mid- to late 18th century threshing barns and stables.<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1392977|desc=Threshing Barns and Stables at Southbury Farm|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> At the south of the parish is Rapsgate Park, a late 17th-century "large country house" which was "remodelled and enlarged in the 18th century and altered in 1903".<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1088456|desc=Rapsgate Park|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> Next to Rapsgate Park is an 18th-century barn.<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1171491|desc=Barn at Rapsgate Park|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref> At the west and southeast of the village on the A435 are 19th-century milestones of iron plate.<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1088449|desc=Milestone|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num= 1088452|desc=Milestone|accessdate= 28 January 2019|fewer-links=x}}</ref>
At the north of the village, beyond St James' Church, and bordered at the east by Hilcot Brook, dammed in 1922 to form a lake, is Colesbourne Park, a house with {{convert|30|acre|m2|sigfig=2}} of garden and an arboretum, which was home to the botanist and author Henry John Elwes (1846–1922). The park is significant for its display of 250 cultivars of snowdrops, particularly ''Galanthus elwesii'' which was identified by and named after Elwes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Colesbourne Park|url=https://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/about-us/henry-john-elwes.html|website=Colesbourne Park 'England's Greatest Snowdrop Garden'|publisher=Colesbourne Gardens LLP|date=2011|ref={{harvid|Colesbourne Park |2011}}}}</ref><ref>[http://www.gardensofgreatbritain.com/index.php/gardens/gardens/12-gloucestershire/16-colesbournepark#!P1030204 "Colesbourne Park"], Gardens of Great Britain. Retrieved 28 January 2019</ref><ref>Lacey, Stephen; [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardenstovisit/9025624/The-whites-of-spring-seasonal-snowdrops.html "The whites of spring: seasonal snowdrops"], ''The Telegraph'', 21 January 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2019</ref><ref>Shepherd, Charlotte;[https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/features/10176583.a-walk-through-the-snowdrops-at-colesbourne-park/ "Colesbourne Park is ready to reveal its snowdrops"], ''Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard'', 22 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2019</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{commons category-inline|Colesbourne}} * [https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/ze2hx5nn/localinsight-colesbourne-cp-e04012378_gcp21-20230331162004256.pdf "Local Insight profile for Colesbourne CP area"], ''Gloucestershire Parish Profiles'', Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 16 January 2025 * [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol7/pp183-192 "Colesbourne"], ''British History Online'', Retrieved 28 January 2019 * [https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/GLS/Colesbourne "Colesbourne"], Genuki. Retrieved 28 January 2019 * [https://www.churnvalley.org.uk/ "Churn Valley Benefice"], Churnvalley.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2025 * [http://colesbournegardens.org.uk/ "Colesbourne Park"], Colesbourne Gardens. Retrieved 28 January 2019
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Category:Civil parishes in Gloucestershire Category:Villages in Gloucestershire Category:Cotswold District