Hallen

Hallen
Gloucestershire
Old parish church of St John, Hallen
Location
Grid reference:	ST551800
Location:	51°31’0"N, 2°39’-0"W
Data
Post town:	Bristol
Postcode:	BS10
Dialling code:	0117
Local Government
Council:	South Gloucestershire
Parliamentary constituency:	Filton and Bradley Stoke

Hallen is a tiny village in Gloucestershire, found just north of the edge of Bristol: it is south-west of Easter Compton, north-east of Avonmouth and north-west of Henbury, sandwiched uncomfortably between the M49 and M5 motorways.

The village lies at the edge of the Severn Estuary floodplain.

The word Hallen is old Saxon meaning the village or place of salt or is from the Welsh for salt, 'halen'.

Hallen, showing Haw Wood

History

The Henbury Loop railway line passes the village to the south. When the line was opened in 1910 the village was served by Hallen Halt station, but the halt closed in 1915. The loop construction made a railway embankment along one side of the village. It was during the excavation that a natural water spring was blocked. This destroyed the watercress fields that used to be a major income for the village.

A large underground petroleum storage facility was built into the hillside behind the village during the First World War to provide protection from German bombing. The facility is still in use today.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hallen was a popular stop off point for travellers making their way from the West Country to the Aust ferry, which would cross the River Severn to Wales. There were three inns in the village, one with its own brewery. The brewery structure is still visible today attached to the last remaining pub, The King William IV.

The village retains some old world charm in places (War Memorial and Oakhill Lane cottages), but has been bisected by the M5 motorway which has left it somewhat desolate.

Sport and leisure

Football: Hallen A.F.C., who play at The Hallen Centre.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Hallen)