Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire (pronounced {{IPA|}}; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in southwest England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean.

Related Topics:
England - Cotswold Hills - River Severn - Forest of Dean

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The county town is Gloucester, and other principal towns include Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, and Tewkesbury.

Related Topics:
Gloucester - Cheltenham - Stroud - Cirencester - Tewkesbury

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When considered as a ceremonial county, Gloucestershire borders the preserved county of Gwent in Wales, and in England the ceremonial counties of Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Wiltshire (including Swindon).

Related Topics:
Ceremonial county - Preserved county - Gwent - Wales - Herefordshire - Oxfordshire - Worcestershire - Warwickshire - Wiltshire - Swindon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The official postal abbreviation is "Glos.", rather than the frequently used but erroneous "Gloucs." or "Glouc.".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Historically, Gloucestershire has also included Bristol, but this has not been considered part of Gloucestershire since Bristol became a county corporate in 1373. The area of South Gloucestershire was made part of the administrative County of Avon in 1974. Upon the abolition of Avon in 1996, it became a unitary authority, and returned to Gloucestershire for ceremonial purposes.

Related Topics:
Bristol - County corporate - 1373 - South Gloucestershire - County of Avon - 1974 - 1996 - Unitary authority

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~