An Historical Introduction to Minchinhampton

With an increase in population came the need to increase the services provided byMinchinhampton. A new doctor’s surgery and library were provided on land to the south of theschool and the Victorian building of the latter was replaced with one that could accommodate overthree hundred pupils. A Youth Centre was built in Tobacconist Road, and the field behind StuartHouse was conveyed to the Sports Association, to provide cricket and football pitches and tenniscourts. Miss Stuart, although disabled by polio as a child and confined to a wheelchair, took a greatinterest in Minchinhampton life and allowed her grounds to be used for fetes. Upon her death, shebequeathed The Old Rectory to the Gloucestershire Association for the Disabled, who renamed itStuart House. Both the main buildings, and others in the grounds, were made fully wheelchairaccessible, and the gardens to the south remodelled for disabled gardeners. A large assembly halland kitchen facilities were built, enabling activities such as wheelchair dancing to be taught. Afunding crisis within the G.A.D. led to a reappraisal of its role, and it was eventually sold to EnglishCourtyard, which has once more brought this part of town into the forefront of community life, withthe development of Stuart Court.No neighbourhood can stand still, and change has been the lifeblood for Minchinhampton for over amillennium. Modern structures and C21 st lifestyles exist alongside historic buildings and centuries’old traditions. Many of the small cottages in the Conservation Area have been enlarged, or twoknocked into one, but planning controls ensured the historic appearance was maintained. Infillingwith new houses has continued, and some commercial premises have been converted, asexemplified by Simmonds Court, marking the site of the builders’ yard of J. Simmonds, whoseadvertisement can be seen on the gable end. Another part of their premises, The Trap House, isnow, after several transformations, the centre for the Parish Council. In these days of Internetshopping many businesses and services still flourish in the centre of town, ready to welcome thevisitor or new resident to become a part of this community in the Cotswolds.© Diana Wall, Minchinhampton Local History Group, 2006Revised 2009