Brinkworth, Wiltshire
Encyclopedia
Brinkworth, in northern Wiltshire
, is the longest village in Britain, at over 6 miles (although the main urban core extends for less than 1 mile). It is roughly equidistant between the towns of Malmesbury
and Wootton Bassett
and lies less than 1 km north of the M4 motorway
.
The Woodbridge Brook
, a tributary of the Bristol Avon passes to the north of the village and another tributary of the Avon, the Brinkworth Brook (called locally 'Thunder Brook') passes to the south. The parish of Brinkworth includes the tything of Grittenham, which is a rural community lying to the south of the village of Brinkworth. The village has a primary school, two public houses and a church.
The landscape artist, Thomas Hearne moved to Brinkworth aged five. His biographer, Simon Fenwick, suggests that nearby Malmesbury Abbey
proved an inspiration to Hearne's later interest in Gothic architecture.
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, is the longest village in Britain, at over 6 miles (although the main urban core extends for less than 1 mile). It is roughly equidistant between the towns of Malmesbury
Malmesbury
Malmesbury is a market town and civil parish located in the southern Cotswolds in the county of Wiltshire, England. Historically Malmesbury was a centre for learning and home to Malmesbury Abbey...
and Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
and lies less than 1 km north of the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
.
The Woodbridge Brook
Woodbridge Brook
The Woodbridge Brook, is a tributary of the Bristol Avon. It rises near Lydiard Millicent in Wiltshire in the West Country of England, and flows in a generally westerly direction, joining the Bristol Avon at Malmesbury...
, a tributary of the Bristol Avon passes to the north of the village and another tributary of the Avon, the Brinkworth Brook (called locally 'Thunder Brook') passes to the south. The parish of Brinkworth includes the tything of Grittenham, which is a rural community lying to the south of the village of Brinkworth. The village has a primary school, two public houses and a church.
The landscape artist, Thomas Hearne moved to Brinkworth aged five. His biographer, Simon Fenwick, suggests that nearby Malmesbury Abbey
Malmesbury Abbey
Malmesbury Abbey, at Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England, was founded as a Benedictine monastery around 676 by the scholar-poet Aldhelm, a nephew of King Ine of Wessex. In 941 AD, King Athelstan was buried in the Abbey. By the 11th century it contained the second largest library in Europe and was...
proved an inspiration to Hearne's later interest in Gothic architecture.