Saul is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Fretherne with Saul, in the Stroud district, in the county of Gloucestershire, England.[1] In 1881 the parish had a population of 597.[2] On 24 March 1884 the parish was abolished to form Fretherne with Saul; part also went to Moreton Valance and Standish.[3]
| Saul | |
|---|---|
 Church of St James the Great at Saul | |
  Saul Location within Gloucestershire | |
| OS grid reference | SO 748 093 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| UK Parliament | |
Saul Junction
The village lends its name to the nearby junction of the Stroudwater Navigation and the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal,[4] a unique example of a crossing between two separately-owned canals.[5]
This is a popular and busy area, with three swing bridges, an active boatyard including dry dock,[6] a visitor centre operated by the Cotswold Canals Trust[7] and a Canal & River Trust office, historically significant listed structures,[8] a rowing club, car parks and a café, a marina including chandlery,[9] boat hire[10] and charitable excursions,[11][12] extensive towpath moorings, a variety of walking routes around and along the two canals, and community events such as carol singing at Christmastime.[13][14][15]
A pillbox that was part of the British anti-invasion preparations of the Second World War can still be found on the banks of the canal - Canal & River Trust volunteers have converted it into a safe roost for endangered pipistrelle bats.[16]
Notable residents
- William John Westwood (1925–1999), the 36th Anglican Bishop of Peterborough, was born in Saul.
References
- Conway-Jones, Hugh (2013). The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Through Time. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4456-1289-8.
External links
- Map sources for Saul, Gloucestershire