Norton & The Leigh Historical Society

Monday 27th January 2025

“A history of military medals”; Gp Capt Clive Montellier.
(The MOD Medal Office is now based at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth).

Norton Village Hall, 19:15 for 19:30 start. £3pp.

Norton Court, it's owners and tenants from the earliest records to it's demise by fire in 1959.

This article tells the story of the village pub from the time it first opened its doors for trade in 1827. The pub was closed for a number of years before it underwent renovations and re-opened in August 2017 as the New Dawn Inn. I believe that the old Kings Head pub sign is still on display on the premises.

History of the riverside inn from the mid-1700s.

This article tells the story of Norton CofE School from its opening its doors to pupils in 1876.

For the purposes of this article, Wainlode will be considered as the stretch of riverside land between the hill above the Red Lion Inn to the point where the River Chelt joins the River Severn at Fletcher’s Leap.

This article documents the presence of several, long gone, drinking establishments at Norton other than the two main inns which have survived to present times.

This is an account, taken largely from Canon Evans Prosser's 1970s booklet entitled “How It All Happened”.

This article tells the story of the village Reading Room from its construction in 1877 till its demolition in approximately 1990.

This article tells the story of the Gloucester Clay Shooting Club located opposite the Kings Head Inn on the Tewkesbury Road.

The history of Norton Garage on the A38 Tewkesbury Road.

Details of this property at Priors Norton starting from 1806.

Brief history of Norton Court Estate cottage No 21, near The Green.

“True love, by life no less than death, is tried. Live thou for England—we for England died”. This article is an approximate copy of a booklet produced to remember those villagers who are remembered on the memorial at St Mary's churchyard. The booklet is for sale inside the church or contact me for information..

Whilst researching the men named on the village War Memorial I identified a few more men with Norton connections who were killed during the First World War but who are not remembered on the Memorial.

This is a record of those men with Norton associations who served in, and survived, the First World War. Photo is of Pip, Squeak and Wilfred - the three general service medals awarded to most First World War soldiers.

This is a record of Norton men who served in the army during the Boer War. Photo is Boer War Memorial at Gloucester Cathedral.

This is a record of everyone I have been able to identify with Norton associations who had service in the military prior to the Boer War.

Just 20 years after the First World War ended the country was plunged into war again. This time the impact was to be different with ‘total war’ reaching this country and impacting upon the daily lives of people in a way that did not happen in 1914-18. This is a series of articles touching upon the effects of the war in Norton. Once again I am grateful to the late Canon Evans-Prosser who set down many of his memories in writing and I will be quoting from his work at length.

Norton's adoption of 'HMS Jaguar' during Warship Week of November 1941