Highnam
Encyclopedia
Highnam is a village and civil parish
on the outskirts of the city of Gloucester
. It is three miles northwest of the city on the A40
, on its way to Ross
, west of Alney Island
and Over Bridge
. The parish includes the villages of Lassington and Over
. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,014.
Highnam was originally made up of farm land, which explains some of its street names (Brimsome Meadow, Poppy Field, Stoney Field, Long Field, Peters Field, Williams Orchard, et al.). As a village, Highnam is fairly small, containing a few social amenities. Its contents include the Church of the Holy Innocents, a school (Highnam C of E Primary), a village hall, a day nursery, a village shop and a doctor's surgery.
Wealthy artist Thomas Gambier Parry
purchased the Highnam Court estate in 1837. He remodelled the Court and laid out landscaped gardens.
His son, the composer Hubert Parry, learnt to play the organ in the church.
Highnam has an eighteen hole golf course and a large business park just outside the main village.
Aside from buildings, it is home to both football and cricket teams Highnam Court Cricket Club and also Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Brownies groups. A new feature in 2007 was the addition of a Youth Café.
Highnam Woods
to the west of the village are managed by the RSPB
as a nature reserve
, and Lassington Woods are to the east of the village.
in memory of his first wife and those of his children who died at an early age. The church was built in a Gothic style and designed by Henry Woodyer.
Gambier-Parry adorned the whole of the chancel, including the roof, and much of the nave with frescoes using a new "spirit fresco
" method he adapted from his study of Italian fresco
painters. Referencing England, the church has been described by John Betjeman as "The most complete Victorian Church in this country". In Simon Jenkin's book England's Thousand Best Churches, Holy Innocents was rated as #4*.
A major restoration of the church and frescoes was brought to completion in 1994. The grade I listed church forms an ensemble with its listed Church Lodge, Rectory, Memorial Hall and Old Schoolhouse on the edge of the park of Highnam Court.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
on the outskirts of the city of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. It is three miles northwest of the city on the A40
A40 road
The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road in all legal documents and Acts...
, on its way to Ross
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
, west of Alney Island
Alney Island
Alney Island is an island in the River Severn near Gloucester. The Severn splits into two channels at Upper Parting , and merges together again at Lower Parting to the south...
and Over Bridge
Over Bridge
Over Bridge is a single span stone arch bridge spanning the canalised West Channel of the River Severn near Gloucester. It links Over to Alney Island....
. The parish includes the villages of Lassington and Over
Over, Gloucestershire
Over is a village in the civil parish of Almondsbury in South Gloucestershire, England, situated about 20 km north-west of Bristol. It lies on the B4055, a road that parallels the M5 from Junction 17 to 16. The road, known locally as Over Lane, follows the foot of the escarpment which...
. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,014.
Highnam was originally made up of farm land, which explains some of its street names (Brimsome Meadow, Poppy Field, Stoney Field, Long Field, Peters Field, Williams Orchard, et al.). As a village, Highnam is fairly small, containing a few social amenities. Its contents include the Church of the Holy Innocents, a school (Highnam C of E Primary), a village hall, a day nursery, a village shop and a doctor's surgery.
Wealthy artist Thomas Gambier Parry
Thomas Gambier Parry
Thomas Gambier Parry, J.P.,D.L., was an English artist and art collector. He is best remembered for his development of the Gambier Parry process of fresco painting....
purchased the Highnam Court estate in 1837. He remodelled the Court and laid out landscaped gardens.
His son, the composer Hubert Parry, learnt to play the organ in the church.
Highnam has an eighteen hole golf course and a large business park just outside the main village.
Aside from buildings, it is home to both football and cricket teams Highnam Court Cricket Club and also Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Brownies groups. A new feature in 2007 was the addition of a Youth Café.
Highnam Woods
Highnam Woods
Highnam Wood is a nature reserve located in Gloucestershire and established by the RSPB to protect bird species in the region. A two-kilometre nature trail passes through the park, giving tourists a view of Britain's rarest breeding woodpecker species, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker...
to the west of the village are managed by the RSPB
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
as a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
, and Lassington Woods are to the east of the village.
Holy Innocents Church
The church of the Holy Innocents, Highnam was constructed between 1849 and 1851 at the request of Thomas Gambier ParryThomas Gambier Parry
Thomas Gambier Parry, J.P.,D.L., was an English artist and art collector. He is best remembered for his development of the Gambier Parry process of fresco painting....
in memory of his first wife and those of his children who died at an early age. The church was built in a Gothic style and designed by Henry Woodyer.
Gambier-Parry adorned the whole of the chancel, including the roof, and much of the nave with frescoes using a new "spirit fresco
Gambier Parry process
The Gambier Parry process is a development of the classical technique of fresco for painting murals, named for Thomas Gambier Parry.In some environments, conventional fresco colours can rapidly accumulate dirt and grime. Gambier Parry developed a spirit medium for use on a specially prepared...
" method he adapted from his study of Italian fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
painters. Referencing England, the church has been described by John Betjeman as "The most complete Victorian Church in this country". In Simon Jenkin's book England's Thousand Best Churches, Holy Innocents was rated as #4*.
A major restoration of the church and frescoes was brought to completion in 1994. The grade I listed church forms an ensemble with its listed Church Lodge, Rectory, Memorial Hall and Old Schoolhouse on the edge of the park of Highnam Court.