Barnwood
| Barnwood | |
|---|---|
| Suburb | |
 | |
  Barnwood Location within Gloucestershire | |
| Population | 10,317 (ward, 2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SO8618 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Gloucester |
| Postcode district | GL4 |
| Dialling code | 01452 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Barnwood is a suburb and former civil parish in the city of Gloucester, in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It lies about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) east of the centre of the city.
Barnwood was originally a small village on the Roman road that links Gloucester with Hucclecote, Brockworth and Cirencester. The Church of England parish church is dedicated to St Lawrence.[2]
The Generation Design and Construction Division of the CEGB became the centre of a new office development when it moved here in the early 1970s.[3] This then became the corporate headquarters of Nuclear Electric, and later the English offices of the (nominally Scottish-based) British Energy, which in 2009 became part of EDF Energy.[4] Other major companies in Barnwood include Claranet, Cheltenham & Gloucester and InterCall. There is also a Holiday Inn, Sainsbury's, Virgin Active and Tenpin Ltd in the area.
Barnwood Park School is a secondary school.[5]
History[edit]
Archaeological evidence points to a significant pre-historic settlement in Barnwood, standing in stark contrast to the lack of such evidence found for early settlement within Gloucester. The very name "Barnwood" hints at its past, reflecting a landscape once heavily wooded. This is further corroborated by the Domesday Book, which records the presence of a woodland measuring 5 x 3 furlongs within Barnwood's boundaries.
The course of the Roman road Ermin Street, which linked Gloucester with Cirencester, significantly influenced Barnwood's early development. This important road, known as Barnwood Road within the parish, still runs through its center. Archaeological excavations alongside Barnwood Road have unearthed Roman burials, suggesting the presence of Roman cemeteries that once extended on either side of the road.
Originally part of Barton Manor administered by St. Peter's Abbey, Barnwood became a separate manor after 1066, though it remained under the Abbey's control. The dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century ushered in a period of changing ownership for the manor. By the early 20th century, most of Barnwood had been incorporated into the growing city of Gloucester.
The boundaries of the parish remained irregular until the enclosure of most common land in 1799. This enclosure brought some semblance of order to the previously haphazard land ownership. Traces of the past can still be found in the form of old footpaths, one of which served as a vital connection between the Cathedral and St. Lawrence Church. The oldest areas of housing are concentrated in Barnwood Avenue and along Barnwood Road, offering a glimpse into the parish's past development. Public houses were scarce historically, with most social clubs being a relatively recent phenomenon, established primarily in the 20th century.
Education in Barnwood dates back to 1716, with the establishment of the first school in a cottage north of Ermin Street. This early institution laid the foundation for the construction of a new school building in 1874 to cater to the growing needs of the community. St. Lawrence Church, dedicated to its namesake saint since the 18th century, stands as a testament to Barnwood's rich architectural heritage. The church boasts a fascinating history, evident in its architectural details, which range from the early-13th century north arcade and aisle to the 15th-century west tower. Notably, the 20th century witnessed significant changes to the church's interior, with the removal of most 19th-century features and a rearrangement of elements like the chancel monuments and the organ. The addition of late 18th-century pews from St. Mary's Church in Woolwich, London, and the restoration of an 18th-century pulpit further enriched the church's historical tapestry. The churchyard itself holds its own historical significance, containing two carved tombchests from the 18th century and the base of an ancient cross that once resided in the garden of Barnwood Court. A lich gate erected in 1921 as a memorial to those lost in the First World War stood for several decades before being removed in 1979.
In 1872, an area south of Ermin Street was acquired for the glebe, leading to the construction of a vicarage house in 1873, located at a distance from the main road. This vicarage remained standing well into the mid-1980s. The presence of a Mormon church, established in 1963, further adds to the religious diversity of Barnwood. The church began modestly in a house on Barnwood Road before a dedicated church building was constructed in 1970.
At the rear of St. Lawrence Church in Barnwood Avenue stands Barnwood Court, a building steeped in history. Originally constructed in 1600, the court served as the manor house for Barnwood. Its location within an oval enclosure, possibly a former deer park, hints at its historical significance. The court underwent substantial alterations in 1800, reflecting changing tastes and needs. In 1937, the court found a new purpose as a vicarage for St. Lawrence's Church, a role it fulfilled until the mid-1970s when a new vicarage was built within the grounds. The court was subsequently sold in 1982 and converted into flats.[6]
Arboretum[edit]
Barnwood Arboretum is set on the grounds of the Barnwood House Hospital which was closed in 1968 and finally demolished in 2000.[7] The arboretum consists of an enclosed woodland area that is cared for and conserved by Gloucester City Council in conjunction with the Friends of Barnwood Arboretum (FOBA).[8] The Arboretum's main entrance is off Church Lane, Barnwood. It has with various habitats including grassland and wetland, and is set amongst a collection of mature native and exotic specimen trees.
The Friends of Barnwood Arboretum & Park organise events throughout the year to encourage local citizens to use the area in an educational manner.[9]
Football[edit]
Barnwood United Association Football Club plays its home games at Walls Club, Barnwood.
Nicknamed 'The Barny Boys', the club currently competes in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division 2.[10] The club is affiliated to Gloucestershire FA.[11]
Barnwood United also have a reserve side who are members of Stroud and District Football League Division 3.[12]
In 2022 the club created a youth section.
Notable people[edit]
Samuel and Anne Bubb, who were grandparents of the inventor Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802–75), lived at Barnwood Manor House.[13] Biographical notes of 1887 say that Sir Charles stated that he was born in the house and lived there as a young child, and this was the scene of some of his earliest experiments.[14] In later years Wheatstone often returned to Barnwood. A local public house is named The Wheatstone Inn after him.
The architect Frederick S. Waller (1822–1905), sometime resident architect at Gloucester Cathedral, lived and died at Barnwood.[15]
Civil parish[edit]
On 1 April 1966 the parish was abolished and became part of Gloucester, Hucclecote and Upton St. Leonards.[16] In 1961 the parish had a population of 2160.[17]
References[edit]
- ^ "Gloucester ward population 2011". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "St Lawrence C of E Church". www.stlawrencebarnwood.uk.eu.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Cochrane, Rob (1990). "The GECB story" (PDF). AK Waugh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Edf Energy Nuclear Generation Limited, Barnwood". Cylex. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Barnwood Park". Barnwood Park. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "The Barnwood Elephant: A brief history of Barnwood since early times". The Barnwood Elephant, Google Sites. The Barnwood Elephant. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Gloucester: Hospitals Pages 269-275 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 4, the City of Gloucester". British History Online. Victoria County History. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Barnwood Arboretum LNR". Woodland Trust. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Barnwood Arboretum & Park". Friends of Barnwood Arboretum & Park. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Clubs Directory - Gloucestershire Northern Senior League". www.gnslweb.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Barnwood United | Search | Full-Time | The Football Association". fulltime.thefa.com. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Stroud & District Football League - Handbooks". www.stroudleague.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Charles Wheatstone and the Concertina". Concertina History. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ Gloucestershire Records Office reference GAL/N1
- ^ Brodie, Antonia; Felstead, Alison; Franklin, Jonathan; Pinfield, Leslie; Oldfield, Jane, eds. (2001). Directory of British Architects 1834–1914, L–Z. London & New York: Continuum. p. 902. ISBN 082645514X.
- ^ "Gloucester Rural Registration District". UKBMD. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ "Population statistics Barnwood CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
External links[edit]
- Barnwood in the Domesday Book