Gloucestershire

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A county with a population of about 520,600, covering an area of 1,025 square miles (2,655 sq km) and located in West Central England. The county seat is Gloucester.

In Gloucestershire there are the popular towns of Cheltenham, Badminton, Cirencester, Chipping Sodbury, Chipping Campden, Stroud, Gloucester, Charlton Kings.

Geography

The Cotswold hills run through the eastern part of the county and are mainly devoted to dairy and arable farming. The fertile valley of the Severn River, which runs through the centre of the county supports dairy farming and sheep. The western side of the county is bordered by the River Wye, which also forms the national boundary with Wales. Popular towns include Cheltenham, Badminton, Cirencester, Chipping Sodbury, Chipping Campden, Stroud, Gloucester, Charlton Kings.

Industry

A mainly rural county with some engineering and manufacturing around the major towns. On the West is the Forest of Dean, which also has interesting iron and coal deposits which are worked by individual miners. Manufacturing is mainly centred in Gloucester, Bristol, and Cheltenham.

History

Cirencester and Gloucester were centres of Roman road networks. The region was part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. In the middle Ages the Cotswolds provided wool for an important wool trade in the county.

Places of Interest

Berkeley Castle, Beverston Castle, Calcot Manor, Forest of Dean, Hailes Abbey, Owlpen Manor, Sudeley Castle, Tewkesbury Abbey, Tyndale Monument, Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetland Trust.