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Coordinates: 51°36′28″N 2°35′06″W / 51.6077°N 2.5851°W / 51.6077; -2.5851
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{GBthumb|101|207|ST595899}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
'''Littleton-upon-Severn''' is a village in [[South Gloucestershire]] near the mouth of the [[River Severn]] and is located to the west of [[Thornbury, South Gloucestershire|Thornbury]].
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|51.6077|-2.5851|display=inline,title}}
|static_image_name=Littleton-on-Severn (Glos) Church - geograph.org.uk - 67878.jpg
|official_name= Littleton-upon-Severn
|population=
|civil_parish=[[Aust]]
|unitary_england= [[South Gloucestershire]]
|lieutenancy_england=[[Gloucestershire]]
|region= South West England
|constituency_westminster= [[Thornbury and Yate (UK Parliament constituency)|Thornbury and Yate]]
|post_town= [[Bristol]]
|postcode_district = BS35
|postcode_area= BS
|dial_code=
|os_grid_reference= ST595899
}}


'''Littleton-upon-Severn''' is a village and former [[civil parish]], now in the parish of [[Aust]], in the [[South Gloucestershire]] district, in the ceremonial county of [[Gloucestershire]], England, near the mouth of the [[River Severn]] and is located to the west of [[Thornbury, South Gloucestershire|Thornbury]]. Historically it belonged to the [[Hundred of Langley and Swinehead]]. In 1931 the parish had a population of 179.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10382312/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Littleton upon Severn AP/CP through time|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|accessdate=8 December 2022}}</ref> On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Aust.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10382312|title=Relationships and changes Littleton upon Severn AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=8 December 2022}}</ref>
The village has a church, village hall, post box and public phone box as well as a popular 17th Century pub called The White Hart.


A church was first mentioned as being in the village when the [[Malmesbury Abbey#Abbots|abbot of Malmesbury]] held a [[court leet]] here each year under a licence from king [[Edward the Martyr]] (975-979), and in the [[Domesday Book]] it was listed as being in the Langley hundred, and having a priest and thirty acres of pasture. In the twelfth century, the wooden church was replaced with a stone building, and the font and piscine are also twelfth century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/littleton-on-severn-st-mary-of-malmesbury/|title=St Mary of Malmesbury, Littleton-on-Severn|publisher=The Church of England|accessdate=29 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alveston.org/alveston/st-marys-littleton-history |title=The History of St Mary's, Littleton |publisher=Alveston.org |accessdate=29 August 2016}}</ref>
==Littleton Festival==
[[Image:erniemagic.jpg|thumbnail|right|Afternoon Magic at the 2005 Littleton Festival]]
[[Image:dunes2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|Littleton Festival 2005 by night]]
Since 2004, Littleton has hosted a small music festival for local bands in the summer of each year. The festival has traditionally taken place on the river bank and is always a popular event for people of all ages. In the past the festival has often started around mid-afternoon and has finished around midnight. The stage has traditionally been a large trailer, which in the past has just been sufficient enough for a 5-piece band including the space-consuming drum kit, keyboard and amplifiers. There are also tents for food, a bar, children's games and confectionery and first aid as well as an outdoor 9-pin bowling alley. There is often a raffle and magic show half way through the day.


The present parish church of St Mary's of Malmesbury is a Grade II* [[listed building]], having been registered on 30 March 1960. It dates from the fourteenth century but was largely rebuilt in 1878. It is built out of rubble stone in the Decorated style, with a roof of fish-scale tiles. The plan consists of a nave, south porch and aisle, chancel, north vestry, and tower at the west end.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-35207-church-of-st-mary-of-malmesbury-aust-#.V8Q5Ha3GD6g |title=Church of St Mary of Malmesbury, Aust |publisher=British Listed Buildings |accessdate=29 August 2016}}</ref>
The idea came from Jon Swift, singer and guitarist from village band, This 'n' That. At that time the village church roof needed to be replaced and so all the profits from the festival were given to the church roof fund. The festival was named ''Littleton Annual Festival of Fun'' (LAFF), although a second festival was not planned at that time.


The village contains a popular 17th century pub called The White Hart.<ref name="AirdStapley2014">{{cite book|last1=Aird|first1=Alisdair|last2=Stapley|first2=Fiona|title=The Good Pub Guide 2015|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7I3bAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT902|date=4 September 2014|publisher=Ebury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4735-0186-7|page=902}}</ref>
The event was such a success, that the organisers planned a second festival for 2005. This time, Jane Gulliver took over from Jon as lead organiser and the profits were divided so that some money went into the next festival and the rest was put into a fund to buy a marquee for future village events. The festival was renamed ''Littleton Festival''.


[[Littleton Brick Pits]] are an artificial lagoon, once the site of clay extraction for brick making, where the [[Avon Wildlife Trust]] have reintroduced reedbeds close to the [[Severn Estuary]] as a feeding and resting place for migrating birds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/littleton.htm|title=Littleton Brick Pits|work=Reserves|publisher=Avon Wildlife Trust|accessdate=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122002542/http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/littleton.htm|archive-date=22 January 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Littleton Festival is now officially in its fourth year. The organisation of the event for 2007 has been resumed by Jon Swift, joined by Debbie Parsons. The new organisers have decided not to run the festival in its traditional form and are 'down-sizing' for a year, instead holding a night of '''''Music in the Marquee'''''. This decision was taken due to problems financing a full scale festival.


==References==
'''Music in the Marquee''' will take place on Saturday, 1 September 2007, starting from 6pm, by Littleton-upon-Severn Village Hall. Many of the aspects that you have come to know and love about the festival are still incorporated into this new event. There will be a pay bar, freshly grilled food, various stalls, and of course, live music. Rather than the usual line up of around 10 bands, Music in the Marquee will feature 4 or 5 bands, who will perform on a stage situated inside the Marquee. Tickets for the event are £3 in advance and £4 on the day, under 12s get in free. To book your advanced tickets, or for more information about Music in the Marquee e-mail: littletonfestival2007@hotmail.co.uk. This year, there is an online payment facility for advanced tickets through paypal, however this is subject to a small booking fee. We look forward to seeing you at the event.
{{reflist}}


{{Commons category|Littleton-upon-Severn|position=left}}
==The Village Hall==
Excluding the pub, the village hall is the focal point for many in the village.


===Committee===
The Village Hall Committee was set up to look after the village hall, by collecting money and maintaining the building. The current chairman is Jim Turton (2006-2007).

===Activities===
The village hall committee often host many activities during each year. These include American village suppers, guest talks and presentations, small concerts, wine-tasting and many more different events. In the past, the hall has also been used for private functions such as band practices and children's parties.

===This 'n' That===
[[Image:thisnthatlf.jpg|thumbnail|right|This 'n' That at the 2005 Littleton Festival]]
This 'n' That are a band traditionally for Littleton musicians. The band was started in early 2002 by Jon Swift and originally had 5 members (a keyboard, two electric guitars, one acoustic guitar, one drum-kit). In the past they have described themselves as ''Littleton's musically-challenged band''. The band play a variety of different styles of music ranging from old favourites to modern-day rock as well as composing a few of their own tracks.

This 'n' That have performed annually in village events and hosted the 2004 Littleton Festival (then the ''Littleton Annual Festival of Fun'').

====Band Members====
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|- style="white-space: nowrap;"
!style="text-align:left;"|Name
!style="text-align:left;"|Instrument(s)
!style="text-align:left;"|Joined
!style="text-align:left;"|Left
!style="text-align:left;"|Reason for leaving
|-
|Jane Gulliver
|Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar
|2002
|
|
|-
|Debbie Parsons
|Singer
|2003
|2007
|equestrian pursuits
|-
|Simon Pigott
|Drums
|2003
|
|
|-
|Amanda Stagg
|Keyboard
|2004
|2006
|too busy
|-
|Jon Swift
|Singer, Electric Guitar
|2002
|
|
|-
|Ailie Turton
|Drums
|2002
|2003
|temporary member
|-
|Jack Turton
|Drums
|2002
|2002
|lost interest
|-
|Tom Turton
|Keyboard, Trumpet
|2002
|2005
|moved to Plymouth
|-
|Adam Silcock
|Electric Guitar
|2005
|
|
|-
|Terry ...(?)
|Acoustic Guitar
|2002
|2002
|moved away
|-
|Robyn Major
|Vocals
|2007
|
|-
|-

===Millennium Record===
The Littleton Millennium Record was a project to record and distribute visual and literal information about the village including its history, so that future villagers and historians can look back and see the village as it was at the beginning on the 21st Century. The book was put together by the Village Hall committee in 2000 and free copies were given to every household in the village. A video documentary was also produced for the record, but was expanded when [[2001 UK foot and mouth crisis|Foot and mouth disease]] reached the village. The documentary was directed by Chris Parsons and Produced by David Wilkins and was finished and distributed throughout the village in 2002(?).

==History==
===The Whale===
The village became famous on 15 January 1885 when a whale was stranded on the river shore there. That area of the village has since been named Whale Wharf.

==Whale Wharf Business Park==
Somewhat surprisingly for such a rural area, there was a factory beside Whale Wharf producing machines for fabricating microchips. The factory, 'Electrotech' has now been moved to larger premises elsewhere.

{{coor title d|51.60647|N|2.58621|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(ST595899)}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->
{{South Gloucestershire}}
{{South Gloucestershire}}
{{Severn from Gloucester to Bristol}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Littleton-Upon-Severn}}
[[Category:Villages in South Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Villages in South Gloucestershire District]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Gloucestershire]]

Latest revision as of 21:11, 11 August 2024

Littleton-upon-Severn
Littleton-upon-Severn is located in Gloucestershire
Littleton-upon-Severn
Littleton-upon-Severn
Location within Gloucestershire
OS grid referenceST595899
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBristol
Postcode districtBS35
PoliceAvon and Somerset
FireAvon
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Gloucestershire
51°36′28″N 2°35′06″W / 51.6077°N 2.5851°W / 51.6077; -2.5851

Littleton-upon-Severn is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Aust, in the South Gloucestershire district, in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, England, near the mouth of the River Severn and is located to the west of Thornbury. Historically it belonged to the Hundred of Langley and Swinehead. In 1931 the parish had a population of 179.[1] On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Aust.[2]

A church was first mentioned as being in the village when the abbot of Malmesbury held a court leet here each year under a licence from king Edward the Martyr (975-979), and in the Domesday Book it was listed as being in the Langley hundred, and having a priest and thirty acres of pasture. In the twelfth century, the wooden church was replaced with a stone building, and the font and piscine are also twelfth century.[3][4]

The present parish church of St Mary's of Malmesbury is a Grade II* listed building, having been registered on 30 March 1960. It dates from the fourteenth century but was largely rebuilt in 1878. It is built out of rubble stone in the Decorated style, with a roof of fish-scale tiles. The plan consists of a nave, south porch and aisle, chancel, north vestry, and tower at the west end.[5]

The village contains a popular 17th century pub called The White Hart.[6]

Littleton Brick Pits are an artificial lagoon, once the site of clay extraction for brick making, where the Avon Wildlife Trust have reintroduced reedbeds close to the Severn Estuary as a feeding and resting place for migrating birds.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Population statistics Littleton upon Severn AP/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Relationships and changes Littleton upon Severn AP/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  3. ^ "St Mary of Malmesbury, Littleton-on-Severn". The Church of England. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  4. ^ "The History of St Mary's, Littleton". Alveston.org. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Church of St Mary of Malmesbury, Aust". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  6. ^ Aird, Alisdair; Stapley, Fiona (4 September 2014). The Good Pub Guide 2015. Ebury Publishing. p. 902. ISBN 978-1-4735-0186-7.
  7. ^ "Littleton Brick Pits". Reserves. Avon Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
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