Coalpit Heath
| Coalpit Heath | |
| Gloucestershire | |
|---|---|
 The South Wales Main Line viaduct at Coalpit Heath | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST675806 |
| Location: | 51°31’34"N, 2°28’12"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,886 (2011) |
| Post town: | Bristol |
| Postcode: | BS36 |
| Dialling code: | 01454 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Gloucestershire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Northavon |
| Website: | coalpitheath.org.uk |
Coalpit Heath is a small village in the parish of Westerleigh in Gloucestershire, sitting to the south of Yate and east of Frampton Cotterell.
Along the north-west of Coalpit Heath sits Frampton Cotterell, but the rest of the village is surrounded by the rolling Cotswold countryside, stocked full of wildlife and country pursuits.
The parish church is St Saviour's Church. It was designed by William Butterfield in 1844 and was his first Anglican Church.
History
The village was founded as a coal mining settlement. One pit was on Frog Lane, ST685815, to the north-east of the village. Other mines operated between Mays Hill and Nibley to the north and at Ram Hill and Henfield to the south.
These mining villages were served by a railway line, closed some decades ago and no longer visible on the ground. In 1949 the coal ran out, and since then it has become a sought after place to live, with fields and easy accommodation. When the Kendleshire golf course was built, the remains of many bell pits were found and there are probably many more in the area.
Due to the expansion of Coalpit Heath and the neighbouring villages in the late 20th century, the borders of Coalpit Heath with Frampton Cotterell have become vague.
About the village
The village contains three Pubs, one post office, a 27-hole golf course (at The Kendalshire) and a few local shops.
The village also includes a parish church, St Saviour's, and a local primary school.
Amenities used and supported by the village include Bitterwell Lake at Henfield and Coalpit Heath Cricket Club at Ram Hill.
Coalpit Heath in literature
A number of sources, including Frank Barrett's book Where Was Wonderland? A Traveller's Guide to the Settings of Classic Children's Books, cite Coalpit Heath as the setting for the Dick King Smith children's book The Sheep-Pig, later adapted for film as Babe.
The South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group have written two books (more to be published soon) on Coalpit Heath and the surrounding area.<ref>SGMRG Publications
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Coalpit Heath) |
- St Saviour's Church, Coalpit Heath
- The Kendleshire
- The Manor C of E Primary School, Coalpit Heath
- The South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group
- Review of Frank Barrett's Where Was Wonderland? A Traveller's Guide to the Settings of Classic Children's book, which, within the text of the review, identifies Coalpit Heath as the location of the Sheep-Pig
References
- South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group:
- 'Frog Lane' ISBN 978-1-899889-33-4
- 'Kingswood Coal' ISBN 978-0-9553464-2-2