Location and general description
Lansdown is set on a plateau amidst the cotswold hills and enjoys wonderful views in many directions.
The village is perhaps best known for the racecourse that now dominates it or for the battle of Lansdown Hill that took place during the Civil War on 5th July 1643. You can find out more about the battle at the UK Battlefields Resource Centre. Other than the Inn and the racecourse, the most significant buildings appear to be those of Chapel Farm.
The area provides some very good walking along footpaths and lanes.
Buildings
Chapel Farm
The external evidence of a chapel at the farmhouse is provided by a blocked up window of distictly ecclesiastical design.
The Blathwayt Arms
A large inn situated across the road from Chapel Farm. On both 1851 and 1861 Censuses, Frederick CROSS, son of John CROSS (1787-), is listed at the Blathwayt Arms. In 1881 Henry James SHARP, brother of John Edmund SHARP was residing at the Blathwayt Arms.People
The SHARP family
In 1841 John SHARP (abt 1824-1884?) is listed as a male servant at Chapel Farm, listed immediately above are family of John CROSS, whose daughter Mary, John SHARP later married . John and Mary CROSS are listed in Lansdown again in 1881 when they have their grandaughter Ellen Sharp GREGORY with them.Henry SHARP (abt 1868), son of the above John SHARP (abt 1824-1884?) is listed residing at the Blathwayt Arms, Weston, Somerset in the 1881 Census.
The SHARP family were also to be found in nearby Langridge, Somerset, and Weston, Somerset.
The CROSS family
About 1826 Mary CROSS (abt 1826-), daughter of John CROSS (abt 1787, Upton Cheyne-) was born in Weston-Lansdown, in 1841 her father was listed in Lansdown together with his family and he was listed again in 1861 in Lansdown Village.Related links
A selection of links to other sites with information about this place
- The Blathwayt, offical website.
Bibliography
- None as yet
Any transcripts and images on this page are Copyright R I Kirby 2008 unless stated otherwise.