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Backwell

Coordinates:51°24′47″N2°44′23″W/ 51.4131°N 2.7398°W/51.4131; -2.7398
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Backwell
Road signs with Backwell in black writing on white background and below it another sign saying village of the year South West and Wales regional winner 1997.
Village of the Year signs marks the entrance to Backwell.
Backwell is located in Somerset
Backwell
Backwell
Location withinSomerset
Population4,589 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceST485685
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBRISTOL
Postcode districtBS48
Dialling code01275
PoliceAvon and Somerset
FireAvon
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Somerset
51°24′47″N2°44′23″W/ 51.4131°N 2.7398°W/51.4131; -2.7398

Backwellis a village andcivil parishin theunitary authorityofNorth Somersetand in 2011 had a population of 4,589.[1]The village lies about 7 miles (11 km) southwest ofBristol,south of theA370toWeston-super-Mare.The parish includes the hamlets ofBackwell Common,Backwell Green,andBackwell Farleigh,and the districts ofBackwell West TownandDownside.[Note 1]

Nearby areNailsea,Flax Bourton,Yatton,BrockleyandBarrow Gurney.

History

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Backwell HillfortbetweenFlax Bourtonand Backwell is anIron Agehill fort.[2]

The village has a long history, appearing in theDomesday Bookin 1086 with the name 'Bacoile' meaning 'The well back on the hill'.

The parish was part of thehundredofHartcliffe.[3]

Thelords of the manorfrom the 12th to 17th centuries were the Rodneys. Walter de Rodney was given the manor for his support of theEmpress MatildaagainstKing Stephen.[4]

Backwell Houseis an historic house in the village which was operated as aboutique hotelbetween 2016 and 2022.

Governance

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Backwell's Parish Hall, built in 1910

Backwell has its ownparish council,made up of fifteen councillors[5]which have responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, andneighbourhood watchgroups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, such as thevillage hallorcommunity centre,playing fieldsandplaygrounds,as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also of interest to the council.[6]

The parish falls within theunitary authorityofNorth Somersetwhich was created in 1996, as established by theLocal Government Act 1992.North Somerset Councilprovides a single tier oflocal governmentwith responsibility for almost all local government functions within its area, including Backwell. Fire, police and ambulance services are provided jointly with other authorities through theAvon Fire and Rescue Service,Avon and Somerset Constabularyand theSouth Western Ambulance Service.

Women's Instituteshall

North Somerset's area covers the northernmost part of theceremonial countyofSomersetbut it is administered independently of thenon-metropolitan county.Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall inWeston-super-Mare.Between 1 April 1974 and 1 April 1996, it was in theWoodspringdistrictof thecounty of Avon.[7]Before 1974 that the parish was part of theLong Ashton Rural District.[8]

Anelectoral wardin the same name exists. The ward stretches fromBrockley,throughBackwelltoBarrow Gurneyin the east and is represented by Bridget Petty of theGreen Party of England and Walessince the2019 council elections.The total population of this ward taken from the2011 censuswas 5,930.[9]

Backwell is represented in theHouse of Commonsof theParliament of the United Kingdomas part of theNorth Somersetconstituency,which was created in 2010 and first used in the2010 general election.It elects oneMember of Parliament (MP)by thefirst past the postsystem of election, currentlySadik Al-Hassan,a member of theLabour Party.

Geography

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Backwell Lake

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Backwell Lake

Backwell Lake, also known as Buckland's Pool, is, despite its name, much closer to nearby Nailsea. The lake was built as abalancing pondin the mid-1970s and has become a wildlife haven for birds,batsanddragonflies,which are attracted by the open water and surrounding vegetation. Bird species includegadwall,shoveler,pochard,tufted duck,grey heronandmute swans.[10]

On 7 January 2018, local people circled the lake, linking hands, to protest against the proposed building of 700 homes and a four-lane link road in the village byTaylor Wimpey,which they believed would affect the lake and its wildlife.[11][12]

Quarries

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Stancombe Quarryopened in 1952. Today, the quarry which is operated byTarmac,producesCarboniferous Limestone,which is mainly for use on the roads,[13]after crushing on site.[14]The site has an expected output of 28 million tonnes over a 25-year period.[15]The now defunct Coles Quarry, in the south of the village, also produced limestone until it was closed byNorth Somerset Council.[16]

Climate

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The annual mean temperature is approximately 10°C(50.0°F).Seasonal temperature variationis less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the warmest with mean daily maxima of approximately 21 °C (69.8 °F). In winter mean minimum temperatures of 1 or 2 °C (33.8 or 35.6 °F) are common.[17]In the summer theAzoreshigh pressure affects the south-west of England, howeverconvectivecloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours.[17]In December 1998 there were 20 days without sun recorded atYeovilton.Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused byAtlantic depressionsor byconvection.Most of the rainfall in autumn and winter is caused by the Atlantic depressions, which is when they are most active. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around 700 mm (28 in). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west.[17]

Recreation

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Playing Fields

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This stone, on the West Town Road side of the playing fields, is dedicated to benefactor and original landownerTheodore Robinson

Backwell Playing Fields is a 17-acre (6.9-hectare) publicparkand a collection ofsports fieldsin the western side of Backwell.[18]

On 6 June 1929 Theodore Robinson opened the park to the public[19]and gave it to the"Children and adults of the parish of Backwell".The fields were opened on 6 June 1929 by the thenMarquis of Bath,Thomas Thynne.[20]

As the fields were given to the collective people of Backwell, they had, and continue to have, no sole owner. The fields are, however, managed and maintained by a team of directors of the Backwell Playing Fields Charity.[18]

The fields are often used for playingfootball,mainly forAshton and Backwell United FC's home games, as the club's home and stadium is at the Playing Fields. Other sports grounds at the Fields are BackwellTennisClub, West BackwellBowlingClub, and BackwellJudoClub. The fields are also home to ayouth club.1st BackwellScoutshut is just outside the park boundaries, but the fields are used a lot by them for their outdoor activities.

Sports

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Ashton & Backwell United F.C.was originally called Backwell United but then merged with one of Bristol's largest youth club's Ashton Boys FC. They are currently members of the Western League First Division. They moved to their current home in 1947, the Backwell Recreation Ground.

Backwell Karate, also known as Backwell Shotokan Karate Club, was established in the village in 1978 and is a member club of Bristol Karate Academy[21]and the Japan Karate Shoto Federation[22]governing body.

Backwell Golf Club (now defunct) first appeared during the 1890s, and closed prior to World War 1.[23]Tall Pines Golf Club was founded in 1989, and is located in Downside, adjacent to Bristol Airport.[24]

Facilities

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As well as the facilities in the Playing Fields, Backwell also has:

In the past there had been abank,[citation needed]alibrary[25]and otherpubsin the village, which are now closed.

Education

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Backwell Church of England Junior school educates local children between the ages of 7 and 11.

The largestjunior schoolin Backwell is Backwell Church of England Junior School, which provides education to 240 children aged between 7 and 11. The school is highly praised byOfstedand performs consistently well in theleague tables.[26]In addition there is West Leigh Infant School which covers reception andKey Stage 1and which has received an outstandingOfstedreport.[27] In 2013, West Leigh and Backwell Junior schools became afederation.[28]

Aprivate primary school,Fairfield PNEU, is located in the village, having been founded in 1935 and moved to its current site in 1947.[29]

Thesecondary school,Backwell School,consistently features high in theleague tablesforGCSEresults,[30]and is recognised as one of the best state schools in North Somerset. Pupils travel to the school from surrounding areas, such as Bristol and Yatton, bypublic transportorschool coach.The school has about 1,700 pupils and used to be aSecondary Modernuntil the abolition of theTripartite System.Alumni includeRichard Ottaway,politician[31]and the authorJoel McIver.[32]TheLiberal DemocratMPRichard Foordwas also educated in Backwell.[33]

Transport

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The A370 road running through Backwell

Many residents of Backwell commute daily to Bristol by car via theA370,andpublic transport—First West of Englandoperates the localbuses;service X1 (Bristol bus station-Weston-super-Mare) stop at Backwell in both directions. Service X7 (Bristol Bus station - Nailsea) also serves the village; between the bus station and Nailsea. The closestmotorwayis theM5,accessible from junctions 21 and 18.

The station in 2018

Nailsea and Backwell railway stationis at the north end of the village. It was opened in 1841 by theBristol and Exeter Railwayand subsequently run by theGreat Western Railway.[34]It is nowadays managed byGreat Western Railway.[35]The station has regular services betweenTaunton,Weston-super-MareandCardiff,as well as some peak services directly to and fromLondon Paddington.The station is mostly unstaffed, except during the morning peak.[35]The direct service to London makes the village popular with commuters willing to spend four hours a day travelling by train.[36]

Bristol Airportis atLulsgate Bottom,which borders the district of Downside, 3 miles (4.8 km) from the centre of Backwell. The airport serves both domestic and international routes.

Religious sites

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Main article:Church of St Andrew, Backwell
St Andrew's Church, Backwell

TheAnglicanparish church of St. Andrew dates from the 12th century. It was altered and enlarged in the 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. It has been designated as a Grade Ilisted building.[37]

The tower at the west end of the church is over 100 feet (30 m) tall and dates from the 15th century. It contains a ring of eight bells, two of which are medieval.[38]

Thefontdates from the 12th century. It consists of a circular bowl with cable moulding, and a circular stem with foliate moulding on the base. It was restored in 1907.[37]

West Town Methodist Church

West Town Methodist is aWesleyanZionchapelon the A370 road in Backwell West Town. It was renovated from a house in 1853 when ten Methodist Backwell residents clubbed together to purchase it and renovate it into the chapel. The church underwent an interior renovation in 1992 which saw a doubling in membership.[39]

There is also a modern Baptist church on Chapel Hill.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Not to be confused with the Downside nearChilcompton.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"2011 Census Profile".North Somerset Council. Archived fromthe original(Excel)on 4 January 2014.Retrieved4 January2014.
  2. ^"Backwell Hillfort".Hillfort in England in Somerset.Megalithic Portal.Retrieved15 January2011.
  3. ^"Somerset Hundreds".GENUKI.Retrieved9 October2011.
  4. ^Dunning, Robert (1980).Somerset & Avon.Bartholomew. p. 30.ISBN0-7028-8380-8.
  5. ^"Council".Backwell Parish Council website.Retrieved10 December2022.
  6. ^"Backwell Parish Council".Backwell Parish Council.Retrieved28 August2010.
  7. ^"The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995".HMSO.Archived fromthe originalon 30 January 2008.Retrieved19 December2007.
  8. ^"Long Ashton RD".A vision of Britain Through Time.University of Portsmouth.Retrieved4 January2014.
  9. ^"ward population 2011".Retrieved9 March2015.
  10. ^"Bucklands Pool/Backwell Lake".Natural England. Archived fromthe originalon 24 July 2011.Retrieved28 August2010.
  11. ^"Housing plans would 'decimate' village".BBC News.7 January 2018.Retrieved8 January2018.
  12. ^Robinson, Sarah (4 January 2018)."Housing campaigners plan to circle Backwell Lake this weekend".North Somerset Times.Archived fromthe originalon 8 January 2018.Retrieved8 January2018.
  13. ^Stancombe Quarry production
  14. ^"Hazemag at Stancombe Quarry".Aggregates and Recycling Information Network. Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2011.Retrieved29 January2011.
  15. ^"Contaminated land inspection strategy November 2001 (revised 2003)"(PDF).North Somerset Council. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 8 March 2012.Retrieved29 January2011.
  16. ^"Report - - Coles Quarry, Backwell - April 2015".28DaysLater.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 2 January 2017.Retrieved1 January2017.
  17. ^abc"South West England: climate".Met Office.Archived fromthe originalon 5 June 2011.Retrieved14 March2010.
  18. ^ab"Home - Backwell Playing Fields".www.backwellpark.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2015.Retrieved2015-12-14.
  19. ^"Backwell Park".Backwell Playing Fields Association. Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2011.Retrieved28 August2010.
  20. ^Information given on the plaque on the stone in the Playing Fields (pictured in the article):"It was opened on 6th June 1929 by The Most Honorable The Marquis of Bath K.G."
  21. ^"Bristol Karate Academy",Bristol Karate Academy
  22. ^Carless, Steven (1 January 2021)."Bristol Karate Academy joins JKS England".JKS England.Retrieved11 February2023.
  23. ^"Backwell Golf Club","Golf’s Missing Links".
  24. ^Cuff, Selina (11 December 2017)."Bristol Airport invites views on its Master Plan as it prepares to expand".Chew Valley Gazette.Retrieved8 January2021.
  25. ^"A new chapter for village library".15 November 2009. pp.Weston Mercury.Retrieved17 June2024.
  26. ^"Backwell Church of England Junior School".Department for Education and Skills. Archived fromthe originalon 26 October 2016.Retrieved28 August2010.
  27. ^"West Leigh Infant School".Inspection Report.Ofsted.Retrieved28 August2010.
  28. ^"Welcome to Our Federation".Archived fromthe originalon 28 October 2016.Retrieved27 October2016.
  29. ^"History".Fairfield School.Archivedfrom the original on 8 September 2010.Retrieved28 August2010.
  30. ^"Backwell School".Department for Education and Skills.Retrieved28 August2010.
  31. ^"Richard Ottaway".BBC News Online.2001.Retrieved13 February2008.
  32. ^Interview in Venue magazine, 2008
  33. ^Ashcroft, Esme (12 May 2017)."Richard Foord - North Somerset's Liberal Democrat for general election 2017".Bristol Post.Retrieved29 June2022.
  34. ^MacDermot, E.T. (1931).History of the Great Western Railway, vol. II: 1863–1921.London:Great Western Railway.pp. 133–4, 617.OCLC55853736.
  35. ^ab"Nailsea & Backwell (NLS)".National Rail.Retrieved1 April2012.
  36. ^Emmett, Susan (28 March 2008)."The West of England: the new commuter belt".The Times.Retrieved3 October2009.[dead link]
  37. ^ab"St. Andrew's Church".historicengland.org.uk.English Heritage.Retrieved7 March2009.
  38. ^"History".St Andrew's Church, Backwell. Archived fromthe originalon 27 April 2011.Retrieved5 April2009.
  39. ^"A Brief History".backwellmethodists.26 November 2013.Retrieved4 January2017.
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