Easton in Gordano

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Easton in Gordano
Somerset
EIG-church.JPG
St George's Church
Location
Grid reference: ST515755
Location: 51°28’34"N, 2°42’0"W
Data
Population: 4,828  (2011[1])
Post town: Bristol
Postcode: BS20
Dialling code: 01275
Local Government
Council: North Somerset
Parliamentary
constituency:
North Somerset

Easton in Gordano is a village and ancient parish in Somerset, about 4½ miles north-west of Bristol city centre. The ancient parish is part of the Portbury Hundred, and together with Pill, forms the civil parish of Pill and Easton-in-Gordano. In 2011 the population of the civil parish was 4,828.[1]

The village is close to junction 19 of the M5 motorway, making it popular with commuters working in the Bristol area. Most facilities are in the nearby larger village of Pill, or the town of Portishead which lies some three miles to the west.

History

A settlement of 24 households was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086;[2] for many centuries it was also known as St George. The name Gordano comes from Old English and is descriptive of the triangular shape of the whole valley from Clevedon to Portishead,[3] being the ablative singular of the Latinised form of Gorden meaning muddy valley.[4]

After the Second World War a large housing development grew up in the Lodway area, north-west of Pill village. Construction of the M5 motorway included the nearby Gordano service area.

Geography

It is situated at the north-eastern end of the Gordano Valley, on the south bank of the Avon, opposite Shirehampton, adjacent to the village of Pill and commands an extensive view over the Bristol Channel. The Monmouthshire coast and Royal Portbury Dock are also clearly visible. Part of the Dock is within the parish.

St George's Flower Bank is a 3¾-acre local nature reserve alongside a main road.[5][6]

Landmarks

Rudgeleigh Inn

There are two pubs — the Kings Arms and the Rudgleigh Inn. The Rudgleigh Inn is located on the main A369 Portishead to Bristol Road. The Kings Arms is located in the village on St Georges Hill. It is also home to three local skittles teams and as such there is a skittle alley as an annex to the pub.

Religious sites

The village Church of St George was rebuilt, with the exception of the tower, in 1872. The registers date from 1559. The date of the first Church on this site is unknown, but records exist dating back to 1239.[7] It has been designated as a Grade-II* listed building.[8]

Sport

There is a local cricket club,[9] and a football club called "St George Easton in Gordano AFC" which was founded in 1917. Easton-in-Gordano is also home to the thriving judo club, Tora Judo Kai,[10] which meets in the St John Ambulance Hall.

References

Outside links

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