Reasons to live in Hucclecote and Barnwood

Michael Tuck Estate and Letting Agents have been selling houses in Hucclecote and Barnwood since 1983!

Hucclecote and Barnwood are located on the eastern edge of Gloucester along an old Roman road connecting Gloucester with Cirencester and The Cotswolds.  Hucclecote has many locally owned shops and two pubs along with an active Community Centre and Library and the nature reserve at Barnwood Arboretum is a hidden gem.

There are several primary schools and local employment centres at Gloucester Business Park, Barnett Way and the former Walls ice cream factory.

Hucclecote

Hucclecote is located on the periphery of Gloucester City between Barnwood and Brockworth and is dissected by Ermin Way, a typically long and straight Roman Road.  The M5 crosses Ermin Way and further separates the suburb into two parts.  The part to the west of the motorway bridge falls under Gloucester City Council, while to the east of the bridge, the Parish of Hucclecote is part of Tewkesbury Borough Council.

Hucclecote was originally just a scattered hamlet of farmsteads and cottages at the foot of Chosen Hill until development began prior to the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939.  Today the population is roughly 2500.

Hucclecote Road from the end of Green Lane

The main claim to fame of Hucclecote Parish is its association with the Gloster Aircraft Company, which used a runway at Hucclecote for much of it’s testing.  In 1964 the redundant airfield site then became a trading estate which closed in the late 1980’s and was redeveloped into the Gloucester Business Park.  Some of the land being sold off to create Coopers Edge and also the commercial centre around Tesco.

The homes in Sussex Gardens which consists of 3 bedroom semi detached houses, and detached bungalows and dormer/chalet bungalows were built in the mid 1960’s.  On the other side of the Hucclecote Road the Cranham Gate housing estate was built in the early 1990’s and is mostly detached family homes.  Cranham Gate borders Coopers Edge which runs around the base of Nut Hill.

Typical chalet style house in Sussex Gardens

As Gloucester grew beyond Barnwood it consumed Hucclecote and whilst many of its spaces and historic buildings have been lost to redevelopment, you will spot older buildings of various ages all along the Hucclecote Road, some dating back to the 16th Century.  Along some of the older side streets, Fine Edwardian, Victorian and 1930’s houses and villas can be found in the likes of Green Lane, Carisbrook Road, Billbrook Road, Churchdown Lane and Larkhay Road which leads towards the lower slopes of Chosen Hill.

However, the majority of the western part of Hucclecote, was built in the late 1950s and the suburb is dominated by typical three bedroom semi detached houses and bungalows from that era.

Typical bungalow in Hucclecote

Typical Semi-detached house in Hucclecote

Hucclecote is a poplular place to live, being located within easy access to both Gloucester and Cheltenham.  The number 10 bus route linking them with a regular service. Hucclecote has many locally owned shops and two pubs; The Royal Oak and The Wagon & Horses, both operated by national chains.  There’s also a Community Centre Club Bar adjoining the Library.  National brands such as the Co-op and Lloyds Pharmacy have branches along Hucclecote Road.

The Wagon and Horses

There are two schools in Hucclecote: Hillview Primary School and the larger Dinglewell Infants and Juniors.

Barnwood

As you travel out of Gloucester towards Hucclecote you will pass through the sought after suburb of Barnwood. Originally a small village Barnwood is now a mixed residential and commercial area roughly located within Abbeymead Avenue, North Upton Lane, A417, Corinium and Eastern Avenue.

Commercial Areas of Barnwood

Barnett Way, accessed from the A417 bypass is one of Gloucester’s main employment centres and is home to the Lloyds Banking Group (former Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society headquarters), EDF Energy, Claranet along with a Holiday Inn, Sainsbury’s, Virgin Active and Tenpin Ltd.

Eastern Avenue features typical “out of town” retail outlets such as Smyths,  McDonalds, The Range, B & M along with various DIY stores and Costco wholesale that is due to open in the next few years.

Living in Barnwood

Originally just a few cottages along Ermin Street, Barnwood has gradually developed outwards and now joins with Elmbridge, Coney Hill, Abbeymead and Hucclecote.

Post war estate were built at Barnwood Avenue and Colin Road.  Cherston Court and Grovelands in the 1960’s/70’s followed by extensions to the Abbeymead estate in the 1990’s.

Typical Barnwood Avenue House

Barnwood Arboretum is a hidden Gem and is set in the grounds of the former Barnwood House Hospital which was demolished in 2000.  It consists of an enclosed woodland area and features a mixture of habitats including grassland and wetland set amongst a collection of mature native and exotic specimen trees.

Barnwood Arboretum

Barnwood has it’s own primary and secondary schools and is regarded as a nice place to live.

Please feel free to read our expert guide on the best places to live in Gloucester.

Last updated 20th December 2023