Pittville

Pittville is a northern area of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, founded in the early 19th century by Joseph Pitt. The population of Pittville Ward at the 2011 Census was 5,327. It now contains Pittville Park, with its two lakes, skatepark, three cafes, tennis courts, menagerie, children's play area, 9-hole pitch and putt golf course, and Pump Room, Pittville School (the former Pate's Grammar School for Girls) and some of the finest examples of Regency & Victorian housing in the town. Gustav Holst's father, Adolph von Holst was organist at All Saints' Church, Pittville.HistoryJoseph Pitt, the developer of Pittville, wanted to create a 100acre estate, with its own Pump Room, walks, rides, and gardens and up to 600 houses. Pitt envisaged Pittville as a new spa town, one which would rival Cheltenham. Development began in 1824-5. Pitt employed the architect John Forbes, who designed the basic layout of the estate, and most importantly the Pittville Pump Room, which opened on 20 July 1830. Other architects employed by Pitt include Robert Stokes.One notable house in Pittville's history is 'Ellerslie' at 108 Albert Road. In the beginning of the 20th century it was home to Rowena Cade, who after the First World War went to Cornwall and built the Minack Theatre near Land's End, largely with her own hands. 'Ellerslie' is now being converted from a nursing home into apartments.