Farrington Gurney
| Farrington Gurney | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 Church of St John the Baptist | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST629556 |
| Location: | 51°17’55"N, 2°31’58"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 901 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Bristol |
| Postcode: | BS39 |
| Dialling code: | 01761 |
| Local Government | |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North East Somerset |
| Website: | http://www.farringtongurney.org |
Farrington Gurney is a village and parish in Somerset. The village lies on the junction of the A37 and the A362 roads. The parish forms part of the hundred of Chewton,[2] and has a population of 901.[1]
History
In the Domesday book the village was known as Ferentone.[3] The second part of the name is believed to come from the Gournays, its ancient possessors, including Robert de Gournay in 1225. Sir Thomas de Gournay was concerned in the murder of Edward II at Berkeley Castle, for which his estates were confiscated, and Farrington was later annexed to the Duchy of Cornwall.
The manor house is believed to date from 1637 and the old parsonage from around 1700.[4]
Industry included coal mining on the Somerset coalfield from about 1780 but the local pits closed in the 1920s.[5]
There used to be an unmanned railway station or "halt" between 11 July 1927 and 2 November 1959, when the Bristol and North Somerset Railway line closed.
Religious sites
The parish church is a small stone edifice dedicated to St John the Baptist, originally of Norman architecture, rebuilt in Gothic style by John Pinch the younger in 1843.[4] The stump of the mediæval cross and a carving over the door survive from an earlier building.[6] The church is set away from the main village in a picturesque location in the middle of a field, originally in order to protect the villagers from the plague.
The Methodist Church]situated on the main A37/A39 Road is part of the North East Somerset and Bath Circuit of Methodist Churches. Methodism started in the village around 1823, and the first building was near the site of the old village hall. The present church was built during 1880-1881 at a cost of £485, with a further £129 spent on furnishings. The land was negotiated from the Duchy of Cornwall by Colonol Mogg from Manor House. Mogg was an Anglican and this was a good early example of Ecumenism. The building was extended with the schoolrooms added in 1909, with the new electric light installed in 1931. The last significant addition was the toilet and kitchen extension added in 1971. The building is used extensively during the week by the Little Stars Nursery, church members and friends meet for Coffee and Chat on a Wednesday morning, and Morning Worship is held in the church every Sunday.[7]
Mineral Resources
Farrington Gurney Colliery operated from around 1738 until 1921.[8]
Sport
Farrington Gurney FC was founded in 1901 and it officially joined the Somerset FA in that year. Farrington joined the Mid-Somerset Football League in 1961/62 season and stayed with the league for four seasons before moving into the Bristol League. The 1975/76 season saw Farrington Gurney switch back to the Mid-Somerset League from the Bristol Suburban League going straight into Division 2. After winning promotion in style the next few seasons saw Farrington Gurney struggle in the Premier Division finishing 7th (1976/77), bottom (1977/78) and again bottom (1978/79). They were relegated to the First Division in 1979 and finished 4th that season.The early 90’s started promisingly for Farrington Gurney, in 1990 finished the season well by getting promoted back to the First Division. Farrington Gurney Football Club play in the Somerset County League.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Farrington Gurney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11123367&c=Farrington+Gurney&d=16&e=61&g=6387753&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1388523244527&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2491. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ↑ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ↑ Mason, Edmund J.; Mason, Doreen (1982). Avon Villages. Robert Hale Ltd. ISBN 0-7091-9585-0.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Pevsner, Nikolaus (1958). The Buildings of England: North Somerset and Bristol. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-071013-2.
- ↑ Down, C.G.; A.J. Warrington (2005). The history of the Somerset coalfield. Radstock: Radstock Museum. ISBN 0-9551684-0-6.
- ↑ Atthill, Robin (1976). Mendip: A new study. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-7297-1.
- ↑ North East Somerset and Bath Circuit News Magazine September 2011
- ↑ "Farrington Colliery". http://www.radstock4u.com/villagepages/farrington/index.htm. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ↑ "Farrington Gurney FC". http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/farringtongurneyafc/. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Farrington Gurney) |