Bitton memories
Here are memories of Bitton and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Bitton or a Bitton photo.
Memories of Bitton in Gloucestershire
The Grange at Bitton was the home of the Seymour family, one member of which was Jane, the third wife of King Henry VIII. The village is dominated by its open countryside setting. This relationship arises from the historic development of the Roman Road and then the coach route between Bristol and Bath as well as its crossing of the River Boyd. The road skirts around the foothills of Bitton Hill and Brewery Hill, with development clustered around the junction of Golden Valley to the north and the River Avon floodplain to the south. To the west the slopes of Bitton Hill provide the setting for the essentially linear development along the A431. To the east, the setting is more open with longer distance views over the fields up to the village of Upton Cheyney. The flat open floodplain to the south is disguised by Barrow Hill and the old railway line. The rural setting is emphasised through traditional open fields, hedges and mature, free-standing trees. Given this dominant countryside setting... Read more
Memories of Avon
Memories of The Queen's Head Willsbridge
At the bottom of Willsbridge and Brockham hills, on a busy Bath to Bristol road, stands an unassuming little building called The Queen's Head public house.
Unlike other pubs in the vicinity, The Queen's Head has never been wrapped up in all the usual alehouse folklore of highwaymen, cut-throats, and kings, and very little, by way of fact, or fiction, has ever been written about it. What follows is fact, and research reveals a fascinating history that tells the story of an establishment that not only served up ale, but which performed a whole variety of other hamlet, and old Bitton Parish functions.
EARLIEST DAYS
Willsbridge hamlet before The Queen's Head - The name 'Willsbridge' means 'the spring, (or well), by the bridge', and is Anglo Saxon in origin. In those days it was known as 'Wylsbrugge'. Now much extended, the original settlement was a hamlet at the Mill Clack Brook (now called Siston Brook) bridge - in other words the little bridge and immediate surrounding area... Read more
Ellacombe Road - Williams Close.
The earliest memories of the shops on Ellacombe Road was a Co-op at the top of the rank of shops a kiosk then Ron the off licence, wool shop, butchers and greengrocers at the bottom, these all closed when Asda arrived. Opposite the bottom of Ellacombe Road on Bath Road there was The Golden Fryer chip shop, me and my friends used to get free scrumps but only if we pestered them long enough! On the corner of Shellards Road and Bath Road was Pomroys (now Tesco). I used to play in Williams Close playground a lot and broke my arm twice due to falling off the climbing frame and landing on the concrete floor beneath it, I see it's much safer today. Behind the park was 'the horses field' as children we used to play a lot in the bushes/brambles and make dens and be out all day and only went home when hungry (probably the last generation to ever do that). At the bottom of the horses field... Read more
SHOPPING IN LONGWELL GREEN
I spent my childhood in Longwell Green/Cadbury Heath. My grandparents lived in Shellards Road (and their house had been built by my great-grandfather). When I was a small child the 'Wimpey estate' (Ellacombe Road etc) had not been completed. The main village and shops were situated on Bath Road. There was the pub,The Crown - as a treat we were allowed to take empties back to the 'off licence' cubicle and get a few pence. Nearby there were some very old shops - including a wool shop/haberdashers, which was stacked to the ceiling with wool etc. Behind the garage there were also cottages and after the garage there was a newsagents, then a nursery/market garden and fruit shop (Gibbs). I can always remember the excitement of having my first ripe peach each summer. Opposite the garage - next to the church (where the shop selling sheds/conservatories is) - was a butchers (Mr Painter) and fishmongers. I recall having to ask for your meat, then going to a separate booth to... Read more
Frys The Factory
I remember when the factory used to be Frys (before it was Cadburys) and Cadburys used to be at the top of the hill. My mum was born in Keynsham in 1951 and spent her childhood there and went to Dapps Hill School. We went to Keynsham a lot when I was younger as my nan lived there and one of my aunties still does!
I visited Keynsham a few months ago and although it has changed, I still recognise it immediately. I remember the church well and the parade of shops.
What memories!
Keynsham Memorys
I was born in Keynsham in 1944 in the house on the corner of Park Road and Sherwood Road.My grandparents Frank and Winifred Harding were the tenants of the house,and my mother Peggy lived there with them as my father was away at sea. I am trying to find out about my grandparents and would be grateful for any infomation. My e-mail address is tonyjuneharris4@tiscali.co.uk
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- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
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