| Blunsdon | |
Chapel Hill, Blunsdon ca.1920 |
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Blunsdon
Blunsdon shown within Wiltshire |
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| Population | 5,641 |
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| OS grid reference | SU1490 |
| Parish | Blunsdon St Andrew |
| Unitary authority | Swindon |
| Ceremonial county | Wiltshire |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode district | SN25, SN26 |
| Dialling code | 01793 |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | North Swindon |
| Website | Blunsdon St Andrew Parish Council |
| List of places: UK • England • Wiltshire | |
Broad Blunsdon is a village in the Borough of Swindon, England, about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Swindon itself.
Together with the nearby villages of Blunsdon St Andrew and adjoining Lower Blunsdon, the settlement is usually known simply as Blunsdon. The A419 dual carriageway divides Blunsdon into Blunsdon St Andrew to the west and Broad Blunsdon to the east.
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During the 2001 census 2250 dwellings were registered in the civil parish of Blunsdon St Andrew, though not all of these dwellings exist in the village of Blunsdon as the parish also includes the nearby developments of St Andrews Ridge, Ash Brake, Oakhurst, Redhouse and Groundwell West which part of the town of Swindon.
The village of Blunsdon St Andrew includes the ruins of Blunsdon Abbey, the Victorian mansion which was destroyed by fire in 1904. Among the items destroyed was a unique collection of Welsh Manuscripts assembled by Rachel Thomas, mother of David Alfred Thomas, later Viscount Rhondda It has now been converted into a caravan park. The nearby large-scale development on the edge of Swindon was named Abbey Meads after Blunsdon Abbey. In addition, a former manor house and listed building stood nearby, known as The Grange. This has recently been converted into apartments.
Blunsdon dates from Roman times: it was discovered that a Roman travellers’ resting place existed on the site of the present-day Cold Harbour public house. The main road (A419) lies on the course of a Roman road known as Ermin Street that linked the historic Roman towns of Gloucester (Glevum) and Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum) via Cirencester (Corinium). In 1086 it appears in the Domesday Book as Bluntesdone.
Blunsdon's Abbey Stadium is the home of speedway team the Swindon Robins. The Robins compete in the Elite League, with matches regularly televised live on Sky Sports. However, this was under threat in 2006 due to plans by local developers to demolish the stadium and replace it with houses. The initial proposal was to build a smaller greyhound racing stadium elsewhere, not large enough to accommodate the highly popular speedway racing. A campaign led by the local media and supported by the people of Swindon and Speedway supporters across the world persuaded the developers to include a speedway track, enabling the Robins to continue racing in Blunsdon.
The plans were at first recommended for refusal by the Council Officers due to various problems, mainly pertaining to housing. The developers agreed to take the plans away for adjustment and in May 2008 planning inspectors approved the new plans. It is hoped that the new venue, which includes plans for 450 houses, as well as office space, will be ready at the beginning of 2010.[1]
The village has its own football team, Blunsdon United, as well as a youth football club, Blunsdon Colts F.C.
The Swindon and Cricklade Railway has rebuilt Blunsdon railway station, although this is located just outside the parish boundary.
A bypass was built starting in the autumn of 2006, completed in spring 2009 and has facilitated the eventual re-unification of the village.