Blunsdon
Encyclopedia
Broad Blunsdon is a village in the Borough of Swindon, England
, about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of Swindon
itself.
Together with the nearby villages of Blunsdon St Andrew and adjoining Lower Blunsdon, the settlement is usually known simply as Blunsdon. The A419 dual carriageway
divides Blunsdon into Blunsdon St Andrew to the west and Broad Blunsdon to the east.
2250 dwellings were registered in the civil parish of Blunsdon St Andrew, though not all of these dwellings exist in the village of Blunsdon as the parish also includes the nearby developments of St Andrews Ridge, Ash Brake, Oakhurst, Redhouse and Groundwell West which part of the town of Swindon
.
The village of Blunsdon St Andrew includes the ruins of Blunsdon Abbey, the Victorian mansion which was destroyed by fire in 1904. It has now been converted into a caravan park. The nearby large-scale development on the edge of Swindon
was named Abbey Meads after Blunsdon Abbey. In addition, a former manor house
and listed building stood nearby, known as The Grange. This has recently been converted into apartments.
times: it was discovered that a Roman travellers’ resting place existed on the site of the present-day Cold Harbour public house
. The main road (A419) lies on the course of a Roman road known as Ermin Street
that linked the historic Roman towns of Gloucester
(Glevum
) and Silchester
(Calleva Atrebatum) via Cirencester
(Corinium
). In 1086 it appears in the Domesday Book
as Bluntesdone.
team the Swindon Robins
. The Robins compete in the Elite League
, with matches regularly televised live on Sky Sports
. However, this was under threat in 2006 due to plans by local developers to demolish the stadium and replace it with houses. The initial proposal was to build a smaller greyhound racing
stadium elsewhere, not large enough to accommodate the highly popular speedway racing. A campaign led by the local media and supported by the people of Swindon and Speedway supporters across the world persuaded the developers to include a speedway track, enabling the Robins to continue racing in Blunsdon.
The plans were at first recommended for refusal by the Council Officers due to various problems, mainly pertaining to housing. The developers agreed to take the plans away for adjustment and in May 2008 planning inspectors approved the new plans. It is hoped that the new venue, which includes plans for 450 houses, as well as office space, will be ready at the beginning of 2010.
The village has its own football team, Blunsdon United, as well as a youth football club, Blunsdon Colts F.C.
has rebuilt Blunsdon railway station
, although this is located just outside the parish boundary.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
itself.
Together with the nearby villages of Blunsdon St Andrew and adjoining Lower Blunsdon, the settlement is usually known simply as Blunsdon. The A419 dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
divides Blunsdon into Blunsdon St Andrew to the west and Broad Blunsdon to the east.
Overview
During the 2001 censusUnited Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
2250 dwellings were registered in the civil parish of Blunsdon St Andrew, though not all of these dwellings exist in the village of Blunsdon as the parish also includes the nearby developments of St Andrews Ridge, Ash Brake, Oakhurst, Redhouse and Groundwell West which part of the town of Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
.
The village of Blunsdon St Andrew includes the ruins of Blunsdon Abbey, the Victorian mansion which was destroyed by fire in 1904. It has now been converted into a caravan park. The nearby large-scale development on the edge of Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
was named Abbey Meads after Blunsdon Abbey. In addition, a former manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
and listed building stood nearby, known as The Grange. This has recently been converted into apartments.
History
Blunsdon dates from RomanRoman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
times: it was discovered that a Roman travellers’ resting place existed on the site of the present-day Cold Harbour public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
. The main road (A419) lies on the course of a Roman road known as Ermin Street
Ermin Street
Ermin Street or Ermin Way is one of the great Roman roads of Britain. It runs from Gloucester via Cirencester to Silchester . Much of it is now covered by the modern A417, A419 and B4000 roads....
that linked the historic Roman towns of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
(Glevum
Glevum
Glevum was a Roman fort in Roman Britain that become "colonia" of retired legionaries in AD 97. Today it is known as Gloucester, located in the English county of Gloucestershire...
) and Silchester
Silchester
Silchester is a village and civil parish about north of Basingstoke in Hampshire. It is adjacent to the county boundary with Berkshire and about south-west of Reading....
(Calleva Atrebatum) via Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
(Corinium
Corinium Dobunnorum
Corinium Dobunnorum was the second largest town in the Roman province of Britannia. Today it is known as Cirencester, located in the English county of Gloucestershire.-Fortress:...
). In 1086 it appears in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Bluntesdone.
Sport
Blunsdon's Abbey Stadium is the home of speedwayMotorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team the Swindon Robins
Swindon Robins
The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League....
. The Robins compete in the Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
, with matches regularly televised live on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
. However, this was under threat in 2006 due to plans by local developers to demolish the stadium and replace it with houses. The initial proposal was to build a smaller greyhound racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
stadium elsewhere, not large enough to accommodate the highly popular speedway racing. A campaign led by the local media and supported by the people of Swindon and Speedway supporters across the world persuaded the developers to include a speedway track, enabling the Robins to continue racing in Blunsdon.
The plans were at first recommended for refusal by the Council Officers due to various problems, mainly pertaining to housing. The developers agreed to take the plans away for adjustment and in May 2008 planning inspectors approved the new plans. It is hoped that the new venue, which includes plans for 450 houses, as well as office space, will be ready at the beginning of 2010.
The village has its own football team, Blunsdon United, as well as a youth football club, Blunsdon Colts F.C.
Transport
The Swindon and Cricklade RailwaySwindon and Cricklade Railway
The Swindon & Cricklade Railway is a heritage railway in Wiltshire, England, that operates on a short section of the old Midland and South Western Junction Railway line between Swindon and Cricklade.-History:...
has rebuilt Blunsdon railway station
Blunsdon railway station
Blunsdon railway station is a heritage railway station serving the village of Blunsdon, north of Swindon in Wiltshire, England.It was one of the last to be opened by the Midland and South Western Junction Railway in 1895 on a railway that had opened in 1883. It was little more than a...
, although this is located just outside the parish boundary.