King's Stanley
King's Stanley is a village in Gloucestershire, England, situated southwest of the town of Stroud. The village is part of what is known locally as 'The Stanleys', along with its neighbours Leonard Stanley and Stanley Downtown. Marling Close, which contains the local playing fields on which the cricket and football teams play, was donated to the village by local magnates The Marlings who also helped found Marling School, and is now in the care of the Marling Trust. The village is overlooked by Selsley common.
Education
King's Stanley is home to both an infant and junior school. Both schools had excellent reports in their most recent Ofsted inspections, and continue to deliver a high standard of education. Following a recent review (2006) the Local Authority have decided that the two schools will merge in 2008, retaining an intake of 30 for the reception class of the combined primary school.
The school is an integral part of the village community offering many fayres, plays and out-of-school activities such as a bingo night. These are generally very successful and raise funds for the school's PTFA to provide pleasures such as school trips and playground equipment for the children.
Amenities
For a village of fairly small size, it is very well stocked with local amenities. The church, St George's, dates back to the 11th century [citation needed].
The focal point of King's Stanley is the local pub the King's Head. Its interior has two sections - a main bar and a lounge area - and there are rooms available to rent for visitors, subject to availability. There is also a jukebox, a pool table, and a skittle alley. The King's Head competes in local leagues with both a pool and darts team. It is also an occasional host to karaoke nights.
Opposite the King's Head is the village hall. South of the village hall are Marling Playing Fields, referred to by many locals as "the park". King's Stanley Junior School can be found to the north (the infant school is further east). The village hall serves as the polling station in both local and general elections and is also used for discos and parties, as well as for assemblies of the junior school pupils.
The Marling Playing Fields, bequeathed to the village by the Marling family (whose name is also associated with the local wool mill and secondary school) is used by the junior school for sports activities, since the school backs onto it. At the southern end of the playing fields there is a well-equipped children's play area. Frisbee games and cricket are also played on the park. There are four benches around the top of the park.
There was a traditional, family-owned shop, named Holly's, which sold a wide variety of goods, from ham (the prices of which were listed in the window) to rugs. There was also a mechanical cash register that completed the shop's historical look. Holly's closed in July 2007 and is now a private house. Providing direct competition, in some areas at least, is a small Co-op outlet. It is open until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays. There is also a butcher's shop, a hairdresser, a video equipment store. There was also a video rental store, but it was ruined by fire and subsequently turned into a crafts shop. The crafts shop Abigail Crafts relocated to the nearby town of Stonehouse and the premises are now a beauty salon.
The small local newsagents - Yew Tree Stores - sells all major local and national newspapers as well as a selection of magazines, while titles not stocked can be ordered in. It also sells a selection of cigarettes and sweets, including a pick-and-mix section. The newsagents is adjacent to the local post office.
There is a local family-run farm opposite the infant's school that sells potatoes and fresh eggs.
External links
- GENUKI - guide to research sources for the parish of St George, Kings Stanley
- St George's Church - description and photograph of the church which dates from the 11th Century
- BBC Education League Tables - full school league table information for King's Stanley Church of England Junior School
- British History Online - digital library containing some of the core printed primary and secondary sources for the medieval and modern history of the British Isles. Links directly to King's Stanley entry.
- King's Stanley Historical Information - information for family historians on the village and inhabitants of King's Stanley.