Wraxall, Somerset
Encyclopedia
Wraxall is a village
in North Somerset
in England. The parish
of the same name also included Nailsea
and Flax Bourton
until 1811. It is now within the parish of Wraxall and Failand
.
, Wiltshire
and Dorset
, is thought to be "a nook of land frequented by Buzzards".
Wraxall Court was the original manor house
. After the Norman conquest the Manor belonged to the De Wrokeshale family until it passed to the Moreville and then Gorges family
by marriage. The parish of Wraxall was part of the Portbury
Hundred. In Victorian times the Ford family lived at Wraxall Court, which was taken over by the Admiralty
during the Second World War, and became a Hall of Residence
for Bristol University afterwards.
The only waterwheel still operating on the Land Yeo
is at Watercress Farm. The 6 feet (1.8 m) diameter wheel, which was built before 1885 and is housed in a small brick building is used as a water pump. The other mill in the parish of Wraxall operated in the 18th and 19th centuries. It fell out of use by 1885 and was ruin by 1950. The mill was demolished in 1961 to allow for the road widening and straightening of Wraxall Score, the only remains are crumbling walls by the entrance to Wraxall House.
An area known as "The Rocks" stretches north from The New Battle Axes to Failand
, its many quarries being the source of some of the local building stone (oolitic
conglomerate
). Failand once had a chapel of ease
, but now has the Victorian Church of St Bartholomew; the village is relatively modern.
Wraxall Cross Tree used to be a large elm tree situated at in the small triangle of land where Wraxall Hill meets with the Bristol Road (B3130). The original large elm tree had become hollow and local children were often seen climbing inside the tree. The elm tree eventually succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease and was felled in May 1977. the children in Wraxall School were given the day off to see the spectacle of the tree being craned and transported to Watercress Farm where it was burned as part of a large barbecue. An oak tree has been planted in its place.
A whole new housing estate was added onto Nailsea and is now referred to as Lower Wraxall. Much more housing has been built since then, Wraxall becoming a dormitory town for Bristol.
In April 2007 a new children's hospice
opened at Charlton Farm, part of the Tyntesfield Estate associated with the medieval Charlton House
. Children's Hospice South West
provides in-patient palliative care for eight children and their families, plus outpatient and day-care facilities for a number of other children. The opening follows years of fund raising in the Bristol and Somerset
area.
of All Saints
was built in the 12th century, with tower
, clock
and bell
s being added in later centuries. There are painted stone figures of Sir Edmond Gorges and his wife in the chancel
. The church has been designated by English Heritage
as a grade I listed building. The nearby rectory
was built in the 17th century. The large churchyard
contains several monuments to the Tynte family which gave its name to the nearby Tyntesfield
Estate, which was purchased in 2002 by the National Trust
following the death of Baron Wraxall
.
The church tower has a peal of eight bells in the key of E flat. The oldest bell was cast in Chew Stoke
in the early 18th century. The heaviest bell (tenor) is just over 1.1 tonnes.
In the south east corner of the church yard, next door to the village blacksmith, Wraxall had a public house called "Remember Lot's Wife."
is located just over 2.5 km away.
Tyntesfield
is a Victorian Gothic Revival house which used to be part of a much larger estate. The National Trust bought the house in 2002 after the death of Baron Wraxall.
The house and some of the grounds are slowly undergoing renovations and restoration. Local trades people have questioned the way in which the National Trust is managing the restoration projects.
During the 1940s "Tyntesfield Camp" was built as an American hospital
with a vast network of centrally heated hot water radiators. After the war it was returned to the fields which remain there now.
The lesser known Belmont House situated about a kilometre to the east. Belmont House contains a Real Tennis
Court.
another tourist attraction in the village is the Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
. This zoo has a large collection of animals, with hands on experience and also includes many play areas for kids. The zoo also promotes creationism
religious views. It has also had allegations of animal cruelty on more than one occasion, and now has to undergo six monthly inspections by an independent veterinary surgeon.
bank holiday, there is an agricultural fair at the North Somerset Showground. This used to be held in Ashton Court
until the mid 1990’s when the show committee moved it to the current location. The show was formed in 1840 out of the North Somerset Ploughing Society and its purpose was to further agricultural development by communicating agricultural issues and providing a showpiece to the local, general public.
was recorded as early as 1801 and several schools followed, the present one being built in 1856. This is the current school, Wraxall CoE (VA) School, which educates children between the ages of five to twelve years old. Across the road from this was the Village Smithy, and nearby was the stocks
and whipping post, for centuries the site of the annual "Stumps Fair". This area is locally referred to as Wraxall Cross Tree.
The old boys school was located just over 350 metres towards Bristol
. The school was built in 1856 on land donated by Sir G Smyth with building expenses donated by William Gibbs. The boy's school closed in 1938, it became a private residence and has remained a private dwelling ever since.
Another school in the village is the private Downs Preparatory School, which occupies Charlton House
.
which was built around 1890. Very few people are aware of this example of Victorian
construction. The construction comprises two pools of concrete, undressed and dressed natural stone. The small north pool is about two feet deep and feeds the southern pool which is about five feet deep. The southern pool has an iron handrail. The pool has not been used for decades and has been allowed to fall into disrepair. The south pool is mostly full of organic matter. The ordnance survey refers to it as 'Bathing Pond Wood.'
.
The 354 bus serves Bristol Road while the 361 service carries passengers along the Clevedon Road. Both bus services are operated by First
The nearest airport is Bristol Airport
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in North Somerset
North Somerset
North Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
in England. The parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of the same name also included Nailsea
Nailsea
Nailsea is a town in the unitary authority of North Somerset within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England, approximately to the southwest of Bristol and about to the northeast of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the...
and Flax Bourton
Flax Bourton
Flax Bourton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. The parish, with a population of 659, is situated within the Unitary Authority of North Somerset, on the edge of Nailsea Moor on the A370 road south west of Bristol city centre....
until 1811. It is now within the parish of Wraxall and Failand
Wraxall and Failand
Wraxall and Failand is a civil parish in Somerset, England. It includes the villages of Wraxall and Failand. It has a population of 2,360.-Governance:...
.
History
The origin of the name Wraxall, which is shared with other villages in SomersetSomerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, Wiltshire
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...
and Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, is thought to be "a nook of land frequented by Buzzards".
Wraxall Court was the original 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...
. After the Norman conquest the Manor belonged to the De Wrokeshale family until it passed to the Moreville and then Gorges family
Gorges family
The House of Gorges is an ancient English family with Norman origins. Radulph, Lord of the Château de Gorges came over to England from Gorges in the canton of Périers in Normandy in the army of William the Conqueror in the year 1066 and acquired a knighthood. He had thus started the history of...
by marriage. The parish of Wraxall was part of the Portbury
Portbury (hundred)
The Hundred of Portbury is one of the 40 historical Hundreds in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England, dating from before the Norman conquest during the Anglo-Saxon era although exact dates are unknown. Each hundred had a 'fyrd', which acted as the local defence force and a court which was...
Hundred. In Victorian times the Ford family lived at Wraxall Court, which was taken over by the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
during the Second World War, and became a Hall of Residence
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
for Bristol University afterwards.
The only waterwheel still operating on the Land Yeo
Land Yeo
The Land Yeo is a small river which flows through North Somerset, England.It rises on Dundry Hill and supplies Barrow Gurney Reservoirs before flowing through various villages to Clevedon where it drains into the Bristol Channel...
is at Watercress Farm. The 6 feet (1.8 m) diameter wheel, which was built before 1885 and is housed in a small brick building is used as a water pump. The other mill in the parish of Wraxall operated in the 18th and 19th centuries. It fell out of use by 1885 and was ruin by 1950. The mill was demolished in 1961 to allow for the road widening and straightening of Wraxall Score, the only remains are crumbling walls by the entrance to Wraxall House.
An area known as "The Rocks" stretches north from The New Battle Axes to Failand
Failand
Failand is a village in Somerset, England. It lies within the civil parish of Wraxall and Failand and the unitary authority area of North Somerset....
, its many quarries being the source of some of the local building stone (oolitic
Oolite
Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains composed of concentric layers. The name derives from the Hellenic word òoion for egg. Strictly, oolites consist of ooids of diameter 0.25–2 mm; rocks composed of ooids larger than 2 mm are called pisolites...
conglomerate
Conglomerate (geology)
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments and are thus differentiated from breccias, which consist of angular clasts...
). Failand once had a chapel of ease
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
, but now has the Victorian Church of St Bartholomew; the village is relatively modern.
Wraxall Cross Tree used to be a large elm tree situated at in the small triangle of land where Wraxall Hill meets with the Bristol Road (B3130). The original large elm tree had become hollow and local children were often seen climbing inside the tree. The elm tree eventually succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease and was felled in May 1977. the children in Wraxall School were given the day off to see the spectacle of the tree being craned and transported to Watercress Farm where it was burned as part of a large barbecue. An oak tree has been planted in its place.
A whole new housing estate was added onto Nailsea and is now referred to as Lower Wraxall. Much more housing has been built since then, Wraxall becoming a dormitory town for Bristol.
In April 2007 a new children's hospice
Children's hospice
A children's hospice is a hospice specifically designed to help children and young people who are not expected to reach adulthood with the emotional and physical challenges they face, and also to provide respite care for their families.-Services:...
opened at Charlton Farm, part of the Tyntesfield Estate associated with the medieval Charlton House
Charlton House, Wraxall
Charlton House is a historic building in Wraxall, Somerset, England. It is a Grade II listed building.The original building dates from the late mediaeval period, however it was altered in the early to mid 17th century and further extended between 1877 and 1884.Since 1927 it has housed The Downs...
. Children's Hospice South West
Children's hospice south west
Children's Hospice South West is a registered charity that provides palliative, respite, end-of-life and bereavement care for life limited children and their families from the South West England region...
provides in-patient palliative care for eight children and their families, plus outpatient and day-care facilities for a number of other children. The opening follows years of fund raising in the Bristol and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
area.
Church
The parish churchParish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of All Saints
All Saints Church, Wraxall
All Saints Church is the parish church in Wraxall, Somerset, England. It has been dedicated "to all the Saints". The building is surrounded by an extensive cemetery....
was built in the 12th century, with tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
, clock
Clock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
and bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
s being added in later centuries. There are painted stone figures of Sir Edmond Gorges and his wife in the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
. The church has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a grade I listed building. The nearby rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
was built in the 17th century. The large churchyard
Churchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
contains several monuments to the Tynte family which gave its name to the nearby Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic Revival estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, England, near Nailsea, seven miles from Bristol.The house was acquired by the National Trust in June 2002 after a fund raising campaign to prevent it being sold to private interests and ensure it be opened to the public...
Estate, which was purchased in 2002 by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
following the death of Baron Wraxall
Baron Wraxall
Baron Wraxall, of Clyst St George in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1928 for the Conservative politician George Gibbs. , the title is held by his second son, the third Baron, who succeeded his elder brother in 2001. He is a retired diplomat....
.
The church tower has a peal of eight bells in the key of E flat. The oldest bell was cast in Chew Stoke
Chew Stoke
Chew Stoke is a small village and civil parish in the Chew Valley, in Somerset, England, about south of Bristol. It is at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, a region designated by the United Kingdom as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is within the Bristol/Bath green belt...
in the early 18th century. The heaviest bell (tenor) is just over 1.1 tonnes.
In the south east corner of the church yard, next door to the village blacksmith, Wraxall had a public house called "Remember Lot's Wife."
Archaeology
An archaeological dig was undertaken at Tower House Farm towards the lower end of Tower House Lane. A Roman encampment was found. There are other Roman features scattered throughout the valley. Cadbury CampCadbury Camp
Cadbury Camp is an Iron Age hill fort in Somerset, England, near the village of Tickenham. Local legends associate it with Arthurian England and Camelot, though these may be due to confusion with the better-known Cadbury Castle, near South Cadbury some 50 miles to the south. The hill fort is well...
is located just over 2.5 km away.
Tyntesfield Estate
Two large manor houses were situated on the estate before the estate was split after Baron Wraxall's death in 2002:Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic Revival estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, England, near Nailsea, seven miles from Bristol.The house was acquired by the National Trust in June 2002 after a fund raising campaign to prevent it being sold to private interests and ensure it be opened to the public...
is a Victorian Gothic Revival house which used to be part of a much larger estate. The National Trust bought the house in 2002 after the death of Baron Wraxall.
The house and some of the grounds are slowly undergoing renovations and restoration. Local trades people have questioned the way in which the National Trust is managing the restoration projects.
During the 1940s "Tyntesfield Camp" was built as an American hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
with a vast network of centrally heated hot water radiators. After the war it was returned to the fields which remain there now.
The lesser known Belmont House situated about a kilometre to the east. Belmont House contains a Real Tennis
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
Court.
Noah’s Ark Zoo
Along with TyntesfieldTyntesfield
Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic Revival estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, England, near Nailsea, seven miles from Bristol.The house was acquired by the National Trust in June 2002 after a fund raising campaign to prevent it being sold to private interests and ensure it be opened to the public...
another tourist attraction in the village is the Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm is a tourist attraction—a zoo and entertainment centre based around a working farm—in Wraxall, North Somerset, about from Bristol, England. The zoo has won several national awards, including 'Silver' in the Green Tourism Business Scheme and the 'Learning Outside the...
. This zoo has a large collection of animals, with hands on experience and also includes many play areas for kids. The zoo also promotes creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
religious views. It has also had allegations of animal cruelty on more than one occasion, and now has to undergo six monthly inspections by an independent veterinary surgeon.
North Somerset Show
On every May DayMay Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
bank holiday, there is an agricultural fair at the North Somerset Showground. This used to be held in Ashton Court
Ashton Court
Ashton Court is a mansion house and estate to the west of Bristol in England. Although the estate lies mainly in North Somerset, it is owned by the City of Bristol. The estate has been a venue for a variety of leisure activities, including the now-defunct Ashton Court festival, Bristol...
until the mid 1990’s when the show committee moved it to the current location. The show was formed in 1840 out of the North Somerset Ploughing Society and its purpose was to further agricultural development by communicating agricultural issues and providing a showpiece to the local, general public.
Schools
A dame schoolDame school
A Dame School was an early form of a private elementary school in English-speaking countries. They were usually taught by women and were often located in the home of the teacher.- Britain :...
was recorded as early as 1801 and several schools followed, the present one being built in 1856. This is the current school, Wraxall CoE (VA) School, which educates children between the ages of five to twelve years old. Across the road from this was the Village Smithy, and nearby was the stocks
Stocks
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by...
and whipping post, for centuries the site of the annual "Stumps Fair". This area is locally referred to as Wraxall Cross Tree.
The old boys school was located just over 350 metres towards 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...
. The school was built in 1856 on land donated by Sir G Smyth with building expenses donated by William Gibbs. The boy's school closed in 1938, it became a private residence and has remained a private dwelling ever since.
Another school in the village is the private Downs Preparatory School, which occupies Charlton House
Charlton House, Wraxall
Charlton House is a historic building in Wraxall, Somerset, England. It is a Grade II listed building.The original building dates from the late mediaeval period, however it was altered in the early to mid 17th century and further extended between 1877 and 1884.Since 1927 it has housed The Downs...
.
Swimming pool
On the southern side of the B3130 opposite the old American Hospital a natural spring has been captured to create a cold bathing pondLido
The Lido is an 11 km long sandbar located in Venice, northern Italy, home to about 20,000 residents. The Venice Film Festival takes place at the Lido every September.-Geography:...
which was built around 1890. Very few people are aware of this example of Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
construction. The construction comprises two pools of concrete, undressed and dressed natural stone. The small north pool is about two feet deep and feeds the southern pool which is about five feet deep. The southern pool has an iron handrail. The pool has not been used for decades and has been allowed to fall into disrepair. The south pool is mostly full of organic matter. The ordnance survey refers to it as 'Bathing Pond Wood.'
Transport
The nearest railway station is Nailsea and BackwellNailsea and Backwell railway station
Nailsea and Backwell railway station is a station on the Bristol to Taunton Line. It is located in the village of Backwell and close to the town of Nailsea in North Somerset, England...
.
The 354 bus serves Bristol Road while the 361 service carries passengers along the Clevedon Road. Both bus services are operated by First
First Bristol
First Bristol is a bus operator based in Bristol, England. It is part of FirstGroup, and is the dominant public transport company in the city.-History:...
The nearest airport is Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport may refer to:* Bristol Airport, serving Bristol, England, United Kingdom ** Bristol Airport , a docu-soap based on events at Bristol Airport...
.