Winterbourne, Gloucestershire
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  Map sources for Winterbourne, Gloucestershire at grid reference ST6580
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Winterbourne is a large village in South Gloucestershire on the outskirts of the English city of Bristol. It had a population of just over 9000 in the 2001 census. It sits as the centre of the Civil Parish of Winterbourne which encompasses the neighbouring communities of Winterbourne Down, Hambrook and Frenchay. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, lived here and attended St Michael's Primary School until she was nine years old.[1] Potter's surname originated from some of her friends in the village. To the east is the village of Frampton Cotterell and to the west lies the new town of Bradley Stoke.
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[edit] The village
Much of Winterbourne is located on a hill. The village is partially surrounded by woodlands and fields, most with public access, but urban development has greatly reduced these areas. The River Frome snakes its way through a scenic valley between Winterbourne and Frampton Cotterell to the east. The Bradley Brook flows between Winterbourne, Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford to the west. Since the 1960s the M4 motorway has bypassed the village to the south and west.
A local landmark is the Winterbourne Viaduct which towers over the River Frome, beneath which rests the abandoned Huckford Quarry, now a public nature reserve popular with dog walkers. Additionally, the local duck pond (which offers spectactular views of the Frome Valley) is a popular spot for fishing and for feeding the ducks and swans.
At Winterbourne's south-eastern slope is the village of Winterbourne Down, host of the Parish's annual May Day carnival. This village is victim of minor flooding from the Frome during the winter months.
The Parish Church is St Michael's, a building believed to date from the 12th Century, which celebrated its 'Octocentenary' (800th anniversary) in 1998. Set away from the bustle of Winterbourne, St Michael's sits amidst green fields and attractive cottages with its prominent spire visible from the village. At the altar an exquisite stone depiction of the Last Supper greets the congregration (based on the painting by Leonardo da Vinci). The Rectory, is the site of the Parish's annual fireworks display on Bonfire Night.
Winterbourne also has a number of pubs. These include The George and Dragon (the upstairs of which served as the original location of St Michael's Primary School), The Wheatsheaf (also a hotel), The Swan and The Mason's Arms. More recently, The Wheatsheaf and The Swan have expanded their service to include restaurants.
Due to Winterbourne's unusual size, people are divided on whether it should be classed as a village or town. This is largely due to its development over the centuries, particularly the last few decades. Given its location just on the fringes of Bristol and proximity to shopping centres like Cribbs Causeway, it is not surprising that the village has evolved so rapidly.
Despite its size, the village still exhibits a certain sense of community. It has three social centres: St Michael's Rooms, Fromeside and Greenfield, all of which are host to clubs, funtions and other public events.
Winterbourne has branches of the Co-op and Tesco Express, as well as a chemist, optician's, a handful of dental practices and a library. NatWest has a branch in the village. The typical aspects of an English village remain - a bakery, butchers and Post Office. Horses and cows are found grazing in the fields surrounding the village, notably the 'Cloisters' area, which offers a picturesque view of the Frome Valley and viaduct.
In late 2004, local secondary school, The Ridings High School, opened a large all-weather pitch in the heart of Winterbourne as part of its 'Sports Village' scheme (following controversy amongst locals). The school also owns the local swimming pool and gym. In 2006 the school caused further controversy by trying to fence off some of the local playing fields owned by the council for them to use and hire out, although the fields have been used by the public for years. The residents are still fighting a fierce campaign to make the popular leisure spot available to the public once more.
[edit] Hamlets
As well as being the centre of an extensive Civil Parish, Winterbourne, like many of its neighbours, contains a few small hamlets. One of these is Watley's End, nestled on the border between Winterbourne and Frampton Cotterell. Nowadays, it is regarded as an area of Winterbourne, but a few decades ago (and still by a number of elder residents) it was generally considered to be a completely separate village. People with a sense of identity in Watley's End refer to the busy, uphill part of the village as 'Winterbourne Hill'.
[edit] Schools
Winterbourne has four schools: Elm Park and St Michael's are the local primary schools, with most students going on to attend the local secondary school: The Ridings High School. Silverhill is an independent preparatory school for children aged 2 to 11 years.
[edit] References
- ^ Winterbourne Family History Online, St Michael's School Admission Register 1966-1970 - Rowling listed as admission No.305. Accessed 14 August 2006.
