the 2011 census. The town is twinned with Nkokoto, Tanzania. Churches Minchinhampton has two places of worship: the Anglican parish church of the Holy Trinity Church, and Minchinhampton Baptist Church. The spire of the parish church was pulled down for safety reasons in 1563, after the nave arches supporting it were found to be failing. The stub was then surmounted by a coronet structure. James Bradley, the third Astronomer Royal, was buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity in 1762. Minchinhampton Baptist Church in Tetbury Street dates from 1834. The original Chapel Lane Baptist chapel dating from 1765 is now a private house. The Common Minchinhampton Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It offers an area of for walkers and golfers. It has been owned by the National Trust since 1913, but only managed by it since 2000. The Common is also used as grazing for cows and horses from May to October. It has long, parallel ditches and mounds known as the Bulwarks, which formed part of a large Iron Age fort. There are wide views from the Common, west over the Severn estuary into Wales, and east to the Golden Valley and further into the Cotswolds. The limestone Longstone of Minchinhampton is supposedly the burial site of a Danish leader. As a standing stone it more probably dates back to the Bronze Age. Aston Down Minchinhampton is close to the former Royal Air Force airfield, Aston Down, formerly a major employer, but now closed and used only for gliding. In 2005, after a Freedom of Information request, the local newspaper revealed that Aston Down is contaminated with arsenic, hydrocarbons and radium. Since the site lies above a vulnerable aquifer, local residents have formed an Aston Down Action Group aimed at persuading local and central government agencies to implement more stringent safety regulations. Discoveries One of the world's oldest tyrannosaurs, Proceratosaurus, was excavated from Minchinhampton reservoir. Notable residents In birth order: James Bradley (1693–1762), astronomer and university professor, was buried here. His grave is marked by the James Bradley Monument in Minchinhampton Church. Mary Deverell (1731–1805), religious writer and poet, was born and buried here. Jolly John Nash (1828–1901), born here and became a music hall entertainer in London. Flora Annie Steel (1847–1929), writer, died in Minchinhampton. Jenny Joseph (1932–2018), poet, lived in the town. Anne, Princess Royal (born 1950), lives in Gatcombe Park. Keith Allen (born