Gaydon | |
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Gaydon |
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Gaydon shown within Warwickshire | |
Population | 446 (2011 census) |
OS grid reference | SP370540 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | WARWICK |
Postcode district | CV35 |
Dialling code | 01926 |
Police | Warwickshire |
Fire | Warwickshire |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
EU Parliament | West Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Gaydon is a parish and village in Warwickshire, England, close to Royal Leamington Spa. In the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 376, increasing to 446 at the 2011 Census.
The village is at the junction of the B4100 (former A41) and B4451 roads, a mile from Junction 12 of the M40 motorway, and is two miles north-east of Kineton.
Gaydon parish is crossed by only two roads of any importance — the Kineton to Southam road, which runs in a north-easterly direction, and the Warwick and Banbury road which crosses it at right angles. Gaydon has one pub the Malt Shovel. The Gaydon Inn which is being redeveloped for housing stands close to the point of intersection of the two roads, and the main part of the village of Gaydon is disposed along a short loop south of the junction. The Gaydon Inn was famous in the 18th century for its association with violent highwaymen.
The Malt Shovel pub together with the adjacent community shop is located off Castle Road is now the only commercial activity in the village.
The Manor House on Kineton Road dates back to the 17th century.
Although Gaydon has become something of a commuter village because of its proximity to the M40, which was completed in January 1991, it is undergoing a revival which is looking back to its roots, agriculture and community spirit. There are plans to revive allotments in Gaydon with the backing of the local Parish Council. A local village shop opened 24 May 2010 in the centre of the village providing local produce to local residents.
The section of the M40 passing Gaydon was considered as the site of a possible motorway service station, with plans first being drawn up in 1986 before being scrapped in 1990 a few months before the motorway's completion.
Close by, on the site of former RAF V bomber base of RAF Gaydon, is the Jaguar Land Rover Gaydon Centre, one of the Jaguar Land Rover engineering centres (another being at the Whitley plant in Coventry). Alongside is the Heritage Motor Centre, home to the largest collection of historic British cars in the world, charting the history of the British car industry from the turn of the 20th century to the present day. Adjacent to the site is the headquarters of Aston Martin.