CHELTENHAM, a parliamentary borough in a valley watered by the Chelt, and sheltered by the Cotswold Hills, Gloucestershire, 88 miles N.W. from London. Although an ancient town and existing under the Romans it was a place of no importance till the discovery of its saline springs, containing muriate of soda, sulphate of soda, and sulphate of magnesia, in the beginning of the eighteenth century. From its comparatively modern origin, the streets and buildings of Cheltenham are spacious and elegant, and its promenades are reckoned among the finest in England. St Mary's church is a cruciform edifice with a lofty octagonal spire, and contains a curious font and ancient stone cross. Trinity church and Christ church are modern, and are much admired. Besides these there are several other established and numerous Dissenting churches. It contains a proprietary college (capable of containing 300), a Church of England training college, and numerous schools and charities. Cheltenham contains no manufacturing establishments of any importance. It is the seat of a county court, and returns one member to the imperial parliament. Pop. (1851) 35,051.