Limpley Stoke

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Limpley Stoke
LmpStP1010082.JPG
The village seen from the Kennet and Avon Canal
Wiltshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Limpley Stoke
Location within Wiltshire
Population593 (2021)
OS grid reference ST781609
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Bath
Postcode district BA2
Dialling code 01225
Police Wiltshire
Fire Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance South Western
UK Parliament
Website Parish Council
List of places
UK
England
Wiltshire
51°20′49″N2°18′58″W / 51.347°N 2.316°W / 51.347; -2.316

Limpley Stoke is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It lies in the Avon valley between Bath and Freshford, and is both above and below the A36 road.

Contents

The parish is surrounded to the north, west and south by the Bath and North East Somerset district and includes the outskirts of the Somerset villages of Freshford and Midford. The Avon forms the eastern boundary of the parish, and its tributary the Midford Brook is the boundary in the north and west.

The parish had a population of 593 in 2021, [1] up from 541 in 2011. [2]

History

The 18th-century country house at Waterhouse is a Grade II listed building. [3]

Limpley Stoke was the westernmost part of the ancient hundred of Bradford, and a tithing of Bradford parish, which was divided into civil parishes in 1894. [4]

A small Baptist chapel was built on Middle Stoke in 1815 and rebuilt in 1888, providing 150 seats. The chapel closed in the 1970s. [5] [6] A National School was opened on Middle Stoke in 1845; in 1893 there were 51 pupils. The school closed in 1932 owing to low pupil numbers, and the building is now the village hall. [7]

In 1886 E.G. Browne and J.C. Margetson acquired a cloth mill, known as Avon Mill, on the banks of the River Avon at Limpley Stoke. The previous owners of the mill had originally been timber merchants, but had later diversified into the production of rubber goods. By 1890 the business had transferred to premises in Melksham, where it became the leading industry of the town; the company later became Avon Rubber. [8]

The Hop Pole is a 17th-century pub which was used in 1993 for the filming of The Remains of the Day with Anthony Hopkins. [9] [10] After closing in 2018, [9] it was brought into community ownership and reopened in January 2025. [11]

A landmark water tower, nearby in Friary Wood, [12] is referred to as the Limpley Stoke Water Tower.

Canals and railways

The Kennet and Avon Canal was built in 1804 through the Avon valley, on the other side of the parish boundary. The Somerset Coal Canal opened in 1805; it followed the Midford Brook, again just beyond the parish boundary, to join the Kennet and Avon next to the Dundas Aqueduct in Monkton Combe parish. [13]

In 1857 the Great Western Railway (GWR) built their branch from Bradford Junction, north of Trowbridge, via Bradford on Avon to join their main line at Bathampton. The line follows the Avon valley, on the Limpley Stoke side of the river; Limpley Stoke station was below the north end of the village. [14]

The Coal Canal closed in 1898 and its route was bought by the GWR, who used it to extend their Bristol and North Somerset Railway from Camerton to Limpley Stoke; this line opened in 1910. Passenger traffic was light and ceased in 1925. Goods service from Camerton continued until 1951 and the track was lifted in 1958. [15] The Camerton branch was used to film scenes for the 1953 Ealing comedy, The Titfield Thunderbolt . [16]

Limpley Stoke station closed in 1966. [14] The line remains open, as part of the Wessex Main Line. The Kennet and Avon Canal fell into decline and almost closed in the 1950s, but restoration began in the 1970s and the whole canal was reopened in 1990.

Parish church

St Mary's Church Church of St. Mary, Limpley Stoke.JPG
St Mary's Church

The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary dates from the 10th century; it was first dedicated to the Wiltshire saint Edith of Wilton, but in the 16th century, after some five hundred years, was rededicated to St Mary. [17]

The present building was begun in the early 13th century, and the north porch has an arch of that period. The short west tower was added in the 15th century; restoration in 1870 was of limited scope, leading Pevsner to describe the church as "unrestored". [18] When a south aisle and vestry were added in 1921 to designs of Charles Nicholson, a Saxon arch was incorporated in the arcade. [4] [19] [20]

The stone pulpit is from the 15th century. There is one bell, cast in 1596. [4] Stained glass includes a 1932 memorial by Archibald Keightley Nicholson. The church was designated as Grade II* listed in 1962. [20]

The early church was annexed to the church at Bradford. In 1846 the chapelry of Limpley Stoke was joined with that of Winsley to form a perpetual curacy; a new parish, Winsley with Limpley Stoke, was created in 1868. [4] In 1970 the parish was uncoupled from Winsley and united with Freshford, in the diocese of Bath and Wells. [21] In 1976 the parish of Hinton Charterhouse was added, [22] thus today the church is in the parish of Freshford with Limpley Stoke and Hinton Charterhouse, alongside St Peter's, Freshford and St John the Baptist, Hinton Charterhouse. [23]

Notable residents

See also

Neighbouring civil parishes (clockwise from north):

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerset Coal Canal</span> Canal in Somerset, England

The Somerset Coal Canal was a narrow canal in England, built around 1800. Its route began in basins at Paulton and Timsbury, ran to nearby Camerton, over two aqueducts at Dunkerton, through a tunnel at Combe Hay, then via Midford and Monkton Combe to Limpley Stoke where it joined the Kennet and Avon Canal. This link gave the Somerset coalfield access east toward London. The longest arm was 10.6 miles (17.1 km) long with 23 locks. From Midford an arm also ran via Writhlington to Radstock, with a tunnel at Wellow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midford</span> Human settlement in England

Midford is a village approximately 3 miles (5 km) south-south-east of Bath, Somerset, England. Although relatively small, it extends over 2 counties, is part of two unitary authorities and is part of five parishes. Although all five parishes extend very near to the village centre, most of the residents reside in the parish of Southstoke and are part of the Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camerton, Somerset</span> Village and civil parish in England

Camerton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, 6 miles (9.7 km) south west of Bath, lying on the Cam Brook. The parish has a population of 655.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freshford, Somerset</span> Human settlement in England

Freshford is a village and civil parish in the Avon valley 6 miles (10 km) south-east of Bath, in the county of Somerset, England. The parish has a population of 551. It is in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), within the Green Belt and is in a conservation area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellow, Somerset</span> Human settlement in England

Wellow is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Bath. The parish, which includes the hamlets of Twinhoe, White Ox Mead, Baggridge and part of Midford has a population of 529. The village itself falls within the southernmost boundary of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is recognised as having special architectural and historic interest, which led to it being designated as a Conservation Area in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dundas Aqueduct</span> Bridge in Limpley Stoke

Dundas Aqueduct is an aqueduct in England which carries the Kennet and Avon Canal over the River Avon and the Wessex Main Line railway. The aqueduct is near Monkton Combe, Somerset, and is about 2+1⁄2 miles (4 km) south-east of the city of Bath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cam Brook</span> River in Somerset, England

The Cam brook is a small river in Somerset, England. It rises near Hinton Blewitt, flows through Cameley, Temple Cloud, Camerton, Dunkerton and Combe Hay. It then joins the Wellow Brook at Midford to form Midford Brook before joining the River Avon close to the Dundas Aqueduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midford Brook</span> River in Somerset, England

Midford Brook is a small river in Somerset, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freshford railway station</span> Railway station in Somerset, England

Freshford railway station is a railway station serving the village of Freshford, Bath and North East Somerset, England. It also serves the nearby village of Limpley Stoke in Wiltshire. The station has two platforms and is served by Great Western Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinton Charterhouse</span> Human settlement in England

Hinton Charterhouse is a small village and civil parish in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority, Somerset, England. The parish, which includes the village of Midford, has a population of 515.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conkwell</span> Hamlet in Wiltshire, England

Conkwell is a hamlet in Winsley parish, Wiltshire, England, near the county border with North East Somerset. It is about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) west of Bradford-on-Avon and 3 miles (5 km) southeast of the city of Bath. The settlement was established to house the workers in the local stone quarries. The southern side is in Winsley, but the northern is in the Somerset parish of Bathford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winsley</span> Human settlement in England

Winsley is a large village and civil parish about 2 miles (3 km) west of Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, England.

Bathavon was a rural district in Somerset, England, from 1933 to 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westwood, Wiltshire</span> Human settlement in England

Westwood is a large village and a civil parish in west Wiltshire, England. The village is about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) southwest of the town of Bradford-on-Avon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monkton Combe Halt railway station</span> Former railway station in England

Monkton Combe Halt railway station was a railway station in Monkton Combe, Somerset, England. It was built by the Great Western Railway in 1910, on the Camerton branch of the Bristol and North Somerset Railway line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St John the Baptist, Hinton Charterhouse</span> Church in Somerset, England

The Church of St John the Baptist is an Anglican parish church in Hinton Charterhouse, Somerset, England. It was built in the 12th century and designated a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Peter, Freshford</span> Church in Somerset, England

The Anglican Church of St Peter in Freshford within the English county of Somerset dates from the 15th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.

Dunkerton railway station served the village of Dunkerton, Somerset, England from 1910 to 1925. It was constructed as part of the extension of the original Bristol and North Somerset Railway Camerton branch line, carried out by the Great Western Railway between 1906 and 1910. This created a new railway which ran eastwards from the former terminus at Camerton through Dunkerton, Combe Hay, Midford and Monkton Combe before connecting to the Great Western Railway main line at Limpley Stoke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combe Hay Locks</span> Lock flight in Somerset, England

The Combe Hay Locks is a derelict flight of locks on the Somerset Coal Canal near Combe Hay, Somerset, England. Twenty two locks raised the canal 134 feet (41 m) over approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km). The lock flight was predated in the immediate area by two other methods of canal lifts—first by a series of caisson locks, then by an inclined plane. The lock flight opened in 1805, and was in operation until 1899.

References

  1. ↑ Table PP002 - Sex, from "Parish Profiles". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  2. ↑ "Wiltshire Community History – Census". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Historic England. "Waterhouse (1364106)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Pugh, R.B.; Crittall, Elizabeth, eds. (1953). "Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 7 pp4-51 – Parishes: Bradford-on-Avon". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Historic England. "Baptist Chapel (1021824)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Baptist Chapel, Limpley Stoke". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Church School, Limpley Stoke". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Chettle, H. F.; Powell, W. R.; Spalding, P. A.; Tillott, P. M. (1953). "Melksham". In Pugh, R. B.; Crittall, Elizabeth (eds.). A History of the County of Wiltshire, Volume 7. Victoria County History. University of London. pp. 91–121. Retrieved 5 February 2022– via British History Online.
  9. 1 2 Baker, John (1 February 2022). "Race to raise another £500,000 to save historic village pub". This Is Wiltshire. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  10. ↑ Historic England. "The Hop Pole Inn (1021822)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  11. ↑ "Save the Hop Pole Limpley Stoke". www.limpleystokecbs.org. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "GSM base station photo: Friary Wood". Pratt Family. May 1998. Archived from the original on 14 November 1999.
  13. ↑ Clew, Kenneth R (1970). The Somersetshire Coal Canal and railways. A. M. Kelley. ISBN   9780678056608.
  14. 1 2 Oakley, Mike (2004). Wiltshire Railway Stations. Wimborne: The Dovecote Press. pp. 75–77. ISBN   1-904349-33-1.
  15. ↑ ( Clew 1970 , p. 145)
  16. ↑ Roberts, Steve (28 March 2018). "Thunderbolt enlightening". Rail . No. 849. Peterborough: Bauer Media. ISSN   0953-4563.
  17. ↑ Kate Pratt, St Edith at bishopwilton.com
  18. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (revision) (1975) [1963]. Wiltshire. The Buildings of England (2nd ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. p. 296. ISBN   0-14-0710-26-4.
  19. ↑ "Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Limpley Stoke". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  20. 1 2 Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1364104)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  21. ↑ "No. 45204". The London Gazette . 2 October 1970. p. 10763.
  22. ↑ "No. 46935". The London Gazette . 15 June 1976. p. 8395.
  23. ↑ "St Mary's Church, Limpley Stoke". Parish of Freshford, Limpley Stoke and Hinton Charterhouse. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  24. ↑ "Kate Allenby MBE To Carry Torch". Bath Echo. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  25. ↑ "Michael Bywater remembers Miles Kington" . The Independent. 1 February 2008. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

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