Horsley
St Martin's Church, Horsley
Horsley Location within Gloucestershire
Population	820 [1]
OS grid reference	ST830980
District	Stroud
Shire county	Gloucestershire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Stroud
Postcode district	GL6
Dialling code	01453
Police	Gloucestershire
Fire	Gloucestershire
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Stroud
List of places UK England Gloucestershire 51°40′52″N 2°14′06″W / 51.681°N 2.235°W / 51.681; -2.235

Horsley is a village and civil parish about one and a half miles south-west of the small Cotswold market town of Nailsworth. The origins of the name Horsley are much debated, although it is thought to be derived from the pre-7th-century Old English phrase, "horse-lega", meaning "place of horses".^[2]

A habitation was recorded in 1327 at Barton End, named after a barton on the manor estate.^[3] The village sprung from cross-roads east of St Martin Church. The Parish is bisected from south to north by the Bath-Gloucester, built in 1780.

History

Historically Horsley had a prison, part of which is now a house, the exercise yard now a garden.

Horsley Court on Narrowcut Lane dates back to c1690. The house was altered and enlarged c1820, with a central tower added in c1850. It was built for the Webb family of clothiers.

Geography

In the parish is the hamlet of Newmarket, Gloucestershire.

Facilities

Horsley has a C of E Primary School and church, a community shop,^[4] a playground and sports field, a village hall, Ruskin Mill College (part of Ruskin Mill Trust), and a pub, The Hog (formerly the Bell & Castle). St Martin's Church also serves as the Primary School hall and a performance space for the community and surrounding area.

Publications

Horsley's monthly newsletter, 'The Horse's Mouth' provides local news and serves as the church's parish magazine.