Ozleworth
Ozleworth is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England, approximately south of Gloucester. It lies in the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. History. Ozleworth was known as in 940, derived from the Old English words + . meaning either "enclosure of a man named Ōsla" or "enclosure frequented by blackbirds". It was listed as "Osleworde" in the Domesday Book of 1086. Governance. Ozleworth is part of the Grumbolds Ash ward of the district of Cotswold and is currently represented by Councillor Carolyn Nicolle, a member of the Conservative Party. Ozleworth is part of the constituency of Cotswold , represented at parliament by Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown. It was part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament prior to Britain leaving the European Union in January 2020. Geography. Ozleworth is in the county of Gloucestershire, and lies within the Cotswolds, a range of hills designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is approximately south of Gloucester and approximately south west of Cirencester. Ozleworth's post town Wotton-under-Edge is approximately to the west. Nearby villages include Alderley, Wortley, Tresham, Leighterton, Lasborough, Newington Bagpath, Owlpen, and Kingscote. Newark Park. Newark Park is a National  Trust property which was once a Tudor hunting lodge built by the Poyntz family, anciently feudal barons of Curry Mallet in Somerset, later of Iron Acton in Gloucestershire. Church. The Norman church, which is dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, is known to have been in existence in 1131. It has a cruciform structure, with one bell. It has an unusual hexagonal tower located in the centre of the church between the nave and the chancel. The current nave and font were added in the early 13th century. Archaeological evidence suggests that there was no nave before this time and  that the tower originally formed part of the western wall of the church. The churchyard is circular. No longer active, the church is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. Notable people. English poet, translator and academic Charles Tomlinson lived in the village with his family. Bruce Chatwin, novelist and travel writer, lived in a farmhouse in the village.