Stoke Gifford
Encyclopedia
Stoke Gifford is a large dormitory village, and parish
in South Gloucestershire
, England
, in the northern suburbs of Bristol
. It has around 11,000 residents as of the 2001 Census
. It is home to Bristol Parkway station, on the London-South Wales railway line, and the Bristol offices of Friends Life
and The University of the West of England
. The parish includes neighbouring Little Stoke
, Harry Stoke
and Stoke Park. The parish borders Filton
, to the south-west, Patchway
to the north west, Bradley Stoke
to the north and Winterbourne and Hambrook
to the east,. To the south Stoke Gifford is serviced by the Bristol Ring Road
, south of this a large green area known as the 'Green Lung' stretches to the inner city area of St Werburghs.
of 1066, William the Conqueror gave the manor of Stoke Gifford to Osbern Giffard
, one of his generals. ). Giffard himself was a native of Longueville-le-Giffard, Normandy
, now known as Longueville-sur-Scie
, which is where the 'Gifford' suffix of the name derives from. The 'Stoke' suffix may come from the Stoke Brook, 'Stoke' may also be a reference to the saxon word 'Stoche' meaning 'property of or dependent farmstead'. Bradley Stoke and Stoke Lodge, both 20th Century estates were also given the name.
Extensive histories of Stoke Gifford can be found on Adrian Kerton's web pages and the website of Southern Brooks Archaeology .
(1271-1326). Thus was founded the long and distinguished cadet branch of "Berkeley of Stoke Gifford". In 1553 a new late-Tudor manor house was built by Sir Richard Berkeley
(died 1604), 7th. in descent from Maurice de Berkeley(d.1347). It became known as Stoke Park, and was rebuilt in 1750 by Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt
(d.1770), from a neo-classical design by Thomas Wright
.
The local area is very good at providing for the local school children. As well as the parks and tennis courts, many activities and groups run from the Old School Rooms, including Scouts, Cub Scouts, Beaver Scouts
, Brownies (Girl Guides)
.
St.Michael's School was listed in the December 2008 report as 'St Michael's is a good school...the care, guidance and support for pupils is outstanding' Link to the school website below.
In 2008, a new pre-school and Nursery opened adjacent to Bristol Parkway due to the population increases of the surrounding areas.
The history of Stoke Gifford can be found on Adrian Kerton's home page and the Southern Brooks Archaeology Site
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
, England
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...
, in the northern suburbs of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. It has around 11,000 residents as of the 2001 Census
United 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....
. It is home to Bristol Parkway station, on the London-South Wales railway line, and the Bristol offices of Friends Life
Friends Life
Friends Life is a life assurance company formed in 2011, comprising the merged UK operations of Friends Provident and the life assurance businesses acquired from Bupa and AXA UK. The new company began trading in March 2011 with over 5 million customers worldwide.The head office is located at One...
and The University of the West of England
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
. The parish includes neighbouring Little Stoke
Little Stoke
Little Stoke is a suburb of north Bristol, situated in South Gloucestershire, England. Surrounded by Patchway, Stoke Gifford and Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, in the middle, is often forgotten...
, Harry Stoke
Harry Stoke
Harry Stoke is a village in the parish of Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire, England.There were 3 manors in the parish of Stoke Gifford. The Giffards and Berkeleys held Stoke and Walls. Harry Stoke was a separate manor held by Aldred in Saxon times, Theobald in Norman times and the Blount and De...
and Stoke Park. The parish borders Filton
Filton
Filton is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol, about from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building...
, to the south-west, Patchway
Patchway
Patchway is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated northwest of central Bristol. The town is a housing overflow for Bristol being contiguous to Bristol's urban area, and is often regarded as a large outer suburb. Nearby are the other Bristol satellite towns of Filton and Bradley Stoke....
to the north west, Bradley Stoke
Bradley Stoke
Bradley Stoke is a dormitory town/suburb in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the north side of the city of Bristol. Named after the local Bradley Brook and Stoke Brook streams, the town was planned in the 1970s and building began in 1987...
to the north and Winterbourne and Hambrook
Hambrook
Hambrook is a village in South Gloucestershire, England, just outside the outskirts of the city of Bristol. It lies between the two larger communities of Winterbourne and Frenchay and is part of the Civil Parish of Winterbourne...
to the east,. To the south Stoke Gifford is serviced by the Bristol Ring Road
A4174 road
The A4174 is a major road in England which runs around the northern and eastern edge of Bristol, mainly in South Gloucestershire, and through the southern suburbs of Bristol...
, south of this a large green area known as the 'Green Lung' stretches to the inner city area of St Werburghs.
Giffard
Following the Norman InvasionNorman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
of 1066, William the Conqueror gave the manor of Stoke Gifford to Osbern Giffard
Osbern Giffard
Osbern Giffard, , was one of the knights who invaded England under William the Conqueror in 1066. He was rewarded with holdings throughout Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset. He settled in Brimpsfield, where he built a castle which was destroyed by Edward II in 1322...
, one of his generals. ). Giffard himself was a native of Longueville-le-Giffard, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, now known as Longueville-sur-Scie
Longueville-sur-Scie
Longueville-sur-Scie is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A farming village situated by the banks of the river Scie in the Pays de Caux, some south of Dieppe at the junction of the D77, the D149 and the D3 roads...
, which is where the 'Gifford' suffix of the name derives from. The 'Stoke' suffix may come from the Stoke Brook, 'Stoke' may also be a reference to the saxon word 'Stoche' meaning 'property of or dependent farmstead'. Bradley Stoke and Stoke Lodge, both 20th Century estates were also given the name.
Extensive histories of Stoke Gifford can be found on Adrian Kerton's web pages and the website of Southern Brooks Archaeology .
Berkeley
The manor remained in the Giffard family until 1337, when it was granted to Maurice de Berkeley(d.1347), 2nd son of Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron BerkeleyMaurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley
Maurice Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley , sometimes termed The Magnanimous, was an English baron and rebel....
(1271-1326). Thus was founded the long and distinguished cadet branch of "Berkeley of Stoke Gifford". In 1553 a new late-Tudor manor house was built by Sir Richard Berkeley
Richard Berkeley (died 1604)
Sir Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford, Gloucestershire was MP for Gloucestershire in 1604. He had previously served as Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1564, and as Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1568. In 1595 he was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of...
(died 1604), 7th. in descent from Maurice de Berkeley(d.1347). It became known as Stoke Park, and was rebuilt in 1750 by Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt
Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt
Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt , was a courtier, member of parliament, and royal governor of the colony of Virginia from 1768 until his death in 1770.-Life:...
(d.1770), from a neo-classical design by Thomas Wright
Thomas Wright
Thomas Wright was an English antiquarian and writer.-Life:Wright was born near Ludlow, in Shropshire, descended from a Quaker family formerly living at Bradford, Yorkshire...
.
Parish church
The local church, St Michael's Church, is influential in running this village, and it is the centre of the community for many of the residents.Local amenities
The church runs a small coffee shop in the Old School Rooms across The Green from the church, which itself backs onto Parkway Railway Station, an essential transport link for the local people. Also in the local area are two parks, each with children's play equipment; a pair of tennis courts and two pubs. There are a row of shops of Ratcliffe Drive including a Tesco Express, dentist and medical centre and another few shops on one of the roads off North Road. There is a large supermarket within walking distance and most of the local children walk or cycle to nearby Filton High School. stoke lane athletic fooball club est 1974 play at stoke lane playig fieldExpansion in 20th century
Like much of the nearby area, Stoke Gifford undertook rapid expansion in the 20th century, prior to the 1980s Stoke Gifford was just a small village, straggling along the main street, North Road.The local area is very good at providing for the local school children. As well as the parks and tennis courts, many activities and groups run from the Old School Rooms, including Scouts, Cub Scouts, Beaver Scouts
Beaver Scouts
Beaver Scouts, often shortened to Beavers, is the youngest section of Scouting operated by The Scout Association in the United Kingdom. The core age range for Beaver Scouts is six to eight years, though exceptions can be granted. Individual sections of Beaver Scouts, known as a Colony, are run by...
, Brownies (Girl Guides)
Brownies (Girl Guides)
A Brownie is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations for girls from their seventh birthday to their tenth birthday. Exact age limits are slightly different in each organisation.-History:...
.
St.Michael's School was listed in the December 2008 report as 'St Michael's is a good school...the care, guidance and support for pupils is outstanding' Link to the school website below.
In 2008, a new pre-school and Nursery opened adjacent to Bristol Parkway due to the population increases of the surrounding areas.
The history of Stoke Gifford can be found on Adrian Kerton's home page and the Southern Brooks Archaeology Site