Saltford
| Saltford | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 St Mary's Church, Saltford | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST681670 |
| Location: | 51°24’5"N, 2°27’33"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 4,073 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Bristol |
| Postcode: | BS31 |
| Dialling code: | 01225 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Bath & NE Somerset |
Saltford is a large village and parish in northern Somerset, close to the border with Gloucestershire. The parish forms part of the Keynsham Hundred.[2]
It lies on the A4 road and River Avon, to which the Saltford and Kelston Locks provide access. The low-lying area is prone to flooding.
There are four public houses in the village: The Bird in Hand,[3] The Jolly Sailor, The Crown and The Riverside.[4] Saltford is home to a number of listed buildings.
Saltford has a strong community. In 1960 the residents of Saltford started a community fund that was used to build the Saltford Hall, which was completed in 1961. The Hall was built by residents who gave their time freely to dig the foundations and build the main Hall. The Saltford Community Association, which is a charity run by volunteers, have run the hall since it was built.[5] The SCA has a fundraising committee which raises funds not only to maintain and improve the Hall but also supports local charities. The Hall is used to provide the local community facilities such as Blood donation evenings, citizens advice, community support and entertainment. The SCA has recently introduced a week-long village festival which has been very successful.
Old buildings
St Mary's Church is a Norman church which dates back to the 12th century and is a Grade II listed building.[6] The tower dates from Saxon times, although it has been extensively repaired and the top 10 feet were added later. The church used to include an external porch, but this was demolished in the nineteenth century and the stone used to build the vestry; the line of the porch can still be viewed on the ground, by the layout of the drainage. In the nineteenth century, there were not only external changes to the church, but also internal; the gallery which houses the church organ, for example, was constructed in the early part of the century.[7]
Saltford Manor House, which lies west of the church, dates from around 1160, and was found by a survey by Country Life to be the oldest continuously occupied house in England.[8][9] Architectural historian John Goodall believes the house has details, particularly in the ornate windows, which date it securely to before 1150, and probably to around 1148, the completion date of Hereford Cathedral, with which it has some similarities.[10] The front facade of the house is newer and dates from the 17th century.[11]
The 18th-century Old Brass Mill is, like the Manor House, listed as Grade II*[12] and is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[13] The Brass Mill was one of a series of mills along the Avon Valley which were powered by waterwheels.[14]
Sport
The village is the location of the Avon County Rowing Club, a club which is available for local community from a young age to adults, the site is also used by Bristol University for training. The club has competed at both and national level, having success from its veteran 4 at racing events like Henley Royal Regatta and other events like the British Rowing Championships.[15]
There is also a sports and social club behind Saltford Hall that maintains a large area of open land leased from BANES that is used mainly for football and cricket. The club is not for profit and has close links with Saltford Community Association.
Public transport
Bus services connect Saltford with Bath, Keynsham and Bristol.
The Saltford Environment Group is campaigning for the reopening of Saltford railway station on the Bath-Bristol line. The station closed in 1970.[16]
References
- ↑ "Saltford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11128156&c=Saltford&d=16&e=61&g=6388044&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1388525306049&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2491. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ↑ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ↑ The Bird In Hand, Saltford
- ↑ The Riverside, Saltford
- ↑ Saltford Community Association
- ↑ "Church of St Mary". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=485123. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
- ↑ "Official St Mary's, Saltford Website". http://www.stmaryssaltford.org.uk/. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ↑ "Oldest occupied house named". BBC News August 2003. 28 August 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/3186765.stm. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ↑ "Saltford Manor House". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=485125. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
- ↑ Kennedy, Maev (28 August 2003). "Britain's longest-inhabited dwelling". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/aug/28/arts.artsnews1. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ↑ Nikolaus Pevsner. North Somerset and Bristol. Page 254.
- ↑ "Old Brass Mill". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=485129. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
- ↑ "Brass Mill". Listed Buildings Online. English Heritage. http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=485129&resourceID=5. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ↑ "History". About the Saltford Brass Mill. http://www.tcsafety.co.uk/2010_01_16_saltford_brassmill_002.htm. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- ↑ "Avon County Rowing Club". Avon County Rowing Club. http://www.avoncountyrowingclub.org.uk/page1g.html. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ↑ "Saltford Station Campaign News". http://www.saltfordenvironmentgroup.org.uk/station.html. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Saltford) |