| Westerleigh | |
|---|---|
 The New Inn, Westerleigh | |
  Westerleigh Location withinGloucestershire | |
| Population | 3,399 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST670818 |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRISTOL |
| Postcode district | BS36, BS37 |
| Dialling code | 01454 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
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Westerleigh is aclustered village in thecivil parish ofWesterleigh and Coalpit Heath (which includesHenfield) in theSouth Gloucestershire district, in the ceremonial county ofGloucestershire, England, it contains sources of theFrome and has an endpoint of theFrome Valley Walkway. It is 0.8 miles (1.3 km) north of theM4, 1 mile (1.6 km) south ofYate and 10 miles (16 km) north-east of thecity of Bristol. In the south it includes a steep hill of its own 5 miles (8.0 km) from the crest of theCotswold hills which is designated anAONB.
The village is first mentioned in aSaxon document of 887AD. At that time it was probably just a clearing in the woods with possibly a wooden church. Westerleigh is mentioned in theDomesday Book of 1086.
Inmedieval times the village would probably have been green with the houses and church around it, and prosperous. The northern wall and porch of St James church are from the 13th century, as the carved stonepulpit. The church was rebuilt in theperpendicular style, with the tower (once used as the village lock-up), added at a later date. The 700th anniversary was celebrated in 2004.
By 1600, the village supported a shoemaker, a blacksmith, a sawyer, a flour mill, a malt house, and two public houses. In 1617,John Crandall was baptised to James and Eleanor Crandall at St. James the Great church, and became one of the founders ofWesterly,Rhode Island, United States.
The discovery of coal in 1660 provided employment for the villagers, with further finds atCoalpit Heath and Parkfield providing more employment. The mines closed in the last century, when the coal was exhausted.
By 1876 occupations in the village included farmers, a bootmaker, shopkeepers, innkeepers, butchers, a plasterer, a blacksmith, awheelwright, a market gardener and acarrier. At the end of the 19th century many of the old houses were demolished. At the beginning of the 20th century, the railway and mining provided most of the work. Now residents find work in nearbyYate,Chipping Sodbury andBristol, and in the village itself.
Anelectoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches fromDodington in the east, through 'Westerleigh'. The total population for the ward at the2011 census was 3,755.[2] On 1 April 2023 the parish was renamed from "Westerleigh" to "Westerleigh and Coalpit Heath".[3]
The village has two public houses: the New Inn and Ye Olde Inn. As well as Wot Not second-hand shop, and two garages. The village shop has now closed.
In the late 18th century roads were built toDownend. TheGreat Western andMidland Railways were constructed in the 19th century.Westerleigh Junction was a crossing point of east-west and north-south main lines. In particular it is considered to be the present end of the line from milepost zero atDerby. Westerleigh formerly had a goods depot on theBristol & Gloucester Railway. Demolished in the 1960s as part of theBeeching cuts, the site is now the home of one ofMurco's oil storage terminals.
Westerleigh is served by theWESTlink on-demand bus, available to the public Monday-Saturday.[4]
Neighbouring towns, villages, and hamlets | |
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