Longlevens in Bygone Days

As the development of housing and schools continues in Longlevens, it is a timely opportunity to take a nostalgic look at some of the developments that have contributed to the evolution of Longlevens from a village to becoming a suburban extension of Gloucester City.

What better way to do this other than by recording the recollections of the many residents, who have lived for all or most of their lives in Longlevens, and can vividly remember how the landscape has changed over the years.

Such a group of people are regulars at the Greyhound Pub, most have been born and bred in Longlevens community and are considered to be “Lifers”! Their chat, quite often revolve around the community and invariably leads to comparisons between the past and present. It was during a conversation about the current housing developments with Gerry and Brian Lewis that their background knowledge of Longlevens became evident and initiated the idea of recording some of their memories.

The Greyhound Pub is perhaps a suitable starting point as this Longlevens Pub was actually built on the site of the old Greyhound Stadium ,which was demolished around 1983. It was replaced by the pub, the adjacent housing estate and a garage which subsequently made way in 1997 for Maple Court, which is situated just along Cheltenham road.

The Stadium was built in 1933 and for 50 years held Greyhound Racing Meetings on Thursdays, Saturdays and Bank Holidays and always proved to be a very popular attraction. Opposite the Greyhound stadium stood the Gloucester City Football Ground; long before it moved to Horton Road, Meadow Park and more recently to Cheltenham. Supporters would travel by bus from all over Gloucester to watch a match in the afternoon and then make a day of it by staying on to enjoy an evening at the “Dogs”.

In 1964, after almost 30 years in Longlevens, the City football ground was flattened, to make way for the construction of the Manor Park Housing estate. The current infant’s school field on Paygrove lane was the location of Longlevens Primary School, before the junior school section transferred in 1969 to its current location in Church road. In this area too was the Longlevens Secondary / Senior School, known locally as the LSS, until 1988, when it became the College of Arts and Technology.

The ever popular King Edward VII (The Teddy) Pub on Old Cheltenham road was and probably, still is recognised as the village pub, however, going back many years, there was another hostelry directly across the road called the Globe which held that accolade previously.

It is fascinating to imagine some of the small businesses that have made way for the transition to the modern day Longlevens. For example at the junction of Church road and Innsworth was the Cross General Store which sold anything and everything! It also had a maze of hedges outside which were ideal for playing “hide and seek”! Local Butcher Nick Brown and the Post Office-Store now retail from this site.

In the Old Cheltenham road area a terrace row of buildings included : Hunts the Newsagent (now Tesco), Duffty the Cobbler (now Goodwins Funeral Directors), the “ little Wool shop” (now Alistair Bone, estate agent) and a Fish and Chip shop which has retained its status to this day in the form of Ruddy’s.

Whereas, the current Co-op store situated on Cheltenham road as always had a presence. However, at one time it had serious competition from the Sunnydale General Stores, which was located adjacent the Co-op and next the Melton Hairdressing Salon which only closed, following retirement in recent years.

Significant housing construction in Longlevens commenced with the vast Leazes Council estate in 1949, followed over the next decade by Housing projects, off Nine Elms road, Oxstalls Drive and Oxstalls Way, Beechcroft road and Paygrove lane. From the 1960’s onwards several larger housing complexes were constructed in the Little Normans, Brionne Way and at the point where we started this review - the Greyhound Area in 1984.

In future editions we will continue the nostalgic theme by looking at the role of the Holy Trinity Parish Church and the development of Sporting Clubs in our Community.

I hope this trip into some of the Longlevens archives has given you an insight into the overall development of Longlevens over the years. However, should anyone have any significant memories of note, that they would like to share with our Community, please let me know. Contact: Dennis - barnsleyd@aol.com or 07880 784596