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Westdown Gardens, CHELTENHAM, GL52 6AX

There is a blue plaque hidden by the shrub. Frederick Handley Page, 1885 - 1962, was an aviation pioneer who founded the famous Handley Page company.

Duke Street has gone up in the world in recent years. Much of it was built in the 1820's, as homes for manual labourers. It wouldn't have looked as pretty as it does now. There used to be three pubs in the street. The Marlborough Arms was a mid-Victorian beerhouse, on the corner of Duke Street and Prince's Street, and closed around the 1930's, to become a private house. Another beerhouse was the Duke's Head at No. 77 (formerly numbered 66), which dates from the 1830's and closed around the beginning of the Second World War. It is now a private house. Finally there was the Talbot Inn at no. 14 (probably 28 under the previous numbering). This was in business by mid-Victorian times, and managed to hang on until closure in 1984. It is now three dwellings (14, 14a & 14b). Fortunately there is still a pub around the corner in Hewlett Road (The Fiery Angel). Image

The other side of the roundabout is a shop called Beechwood Electrical, who undertake project management and property maintenance, as well as being electrical contractors. The road to the left of their shop is All Saints Road. The road on the right is the continuation of Hewlett Road. Also leading to this roundabout is Fairview Road on the left, and Leighton Road on the right.

Duke Street is one of the older streets of Cheltenham, having been built in stages by different builders and in different styles. Most date from the 1820's, but there are three or four earlier houses, and some from the 1830's and later. In its early years, it was very much a place where people who were poorly off lived. It would have been a fairly rough area, with three public houses in this street alone, to cater for the residents. The last of these did not close until 1984. Today the street, like most similar streets in central Cheltenham, has been "gentrified". There are unlikely to be any agricultural labourers or laundry women living here today. The houses look very attractive, with their many shades of mainly pastel colours. Image

It was for many years the New Inn, then for a while it was the Pump & Optic, but now this pub is The Fiery Angel. On the sign, the angel appears to be holding a glass of beverage. More photos:- Image

The Fiery Angel has been a pub since at least 1859, when William Smith was recorded as Landlord. It was originally the New Inn, and remained that for many years. Possibly that name was given, because around the corner in Duke Street, was another pub, called The Duke's Head. That was certainly in business by 1841, but seems to have closed sometime during or just before the Second World War. For a few years the New Inn became the Pump and Optic, before becoming the Fiery Angel. Image Image Image Image