Fretherne is a small village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Fretherne with Saul, in the Stroud district, in Gloucestershire, England, situated between the larger villages of Frampton-on-Severn and Arlingham. In 1881 the parish had a population of 239. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is recorded as held by Turstin FitzRolf. The village name probably originates from Old English 'Frithorne,' meaning 'Freo's thorn.' A public footpath 50 metres west of the church leads to Hock Cliff at the River Severn (at its widest pre-estuary point), which is popular with fossil hunters. On 24 March 1884 the parish was abolished to form "Fretherne with Saul".