Bradford on Tone

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Bradford on Tone
Bradford on Tone (Somerset)
Bradford on Tone

Bradford on Tone shown within Somerset
Population 606[1]
OS grid reference ST173228
District Taunton Deane
Shire county Somerset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town TAUNTON
Postcode district TA4
Dialling code 01823
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
European Parliament South West England
UK Parliament Taunton
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Coordinates: 50°59′56″N 3°10′48″W / 50.999, -3.1799

Bradford on Tone is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Tone four miles south west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 606.[1]

The name Bradford is undoubtably English: it shows the village to have stood in Saxon days near a broad ford, or passage way across the River Tone. The 14th century bridge over the Tone is said to have been 'built by the monks', though it is not known which particular monks did the work.

The remains of the old canal by Trefusis Farm. One of the canal’s seven lifts was located near here.
The remains of the old canal by Trefusis Farm. One of the canal’s seven lifts was located near here.

In the 1830s the Grand Western Canal was under construction which included the construction of a bridge at Trefusis Farm.[2]

The village is centred around the meeting of three roads: two of these come from the A38, the main road between the towns of Taunton and Wellington, while the third leads North to the nearby village of Oake. Around this junction are situated the local pub The White Horse, a war memorial, the Church (of St Giles), the Village Hall and some older residential buildings. To the East of the village centre is Bradford Court, which has recently been converted from a dwelling to a home for juvenile delinquents.

Picture of St Giles Church, Bradford on Tone
Picture of St Giles Church, Bradford on Tone

Bradford church was most fortunate in not being stripped of its bells at the Dissolution during Henry VIII's reign. The bells date from between 1450 and 1871. The church is dedicated to St Giles but it does not seem to have always been called this for in an old will it is referred to as St Mary's. Most likely the change was made some time after the Reformation.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b 2002 population estimates. Somerset County Council. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
  2. ^ Bridge over Grand Western Canal at Trefusis Farm, Bradford on Tone. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.