 |
Bradford on Avon
is tucked into the western corner of Wiltshire, located on
the B3109 south of the A4 at Rudloe between Chippenham
and Bath. Situated in quiet countryside
approximately 8 miles or two short stops on the train from
Bath. A wealth of history lies on the doorsteps of Bradford
on Avon.
Whilst Bath is second only to London as a magnet for tourists,
Bradford on Avon wears its many-splendoured coat with a modesty
which befits an old town with such an embarrassment of riches.
Bradford-on-Avon has had its fair share of inhabitants. It
is believed the iron age folk were the first settlers, about
2500 years ago. |
Then came the Romans, leaving us part of a Roman Road, coins and,
believe it or not, oyster shells. Caesar's bunch were said to be
very fond of oysters. Colchester, in Essex, being the oldest recorded
town in Great Britain, the romans used to host local festivities
at the castle area, and oysters were frequently consumed. Probably
the Romans could not eat so many and they used to bring a few on
their travels to Bath, for a wash and brush up.
Later on came the Saxons, bringing with them a church, which was
used until the Normans came along and built a better, more modern
(at the time!) one, and the old town bridge. Even today, a lot of
these reminders of the past still exist, whether they had to be
dug up, rebuilt or restored.
 |
The first bridge across the Avon at the Town
Bridge site was constructed around the 12th century but the
current bridge dates from 1610. The original Town Bridge was
designed and built by the Normans, and it crosses the "Broad
Ford" part of the River Avon,
hence the town's name. The stone bridge was no doubt a great
asset to the town even then (after all, how many ways are
there to cross a river without getting your feet wet?), and
also a great innovation as it replaced the old wooden one
left by the Saxons.
They didn't get the hang of it immediately, however: they
had a tendency to forget the walls on either side, meaning
a few people fell into the river, and they often had problems
with bits falling off. Fortunately this hasn't happened for
a while now... |
| |
The small building on the bridge was initially
built as a chapel but then became a prison. The bridge was
also doubled in width in the early seventeenth century, after
the county was informed it was just too dangerous |
 |
 |
St Laurence Saxon Church
(left)
Well worth a visit is the Saxon church of St
Laurence, this building dates back to the eleventh century
but was only rediscovered in 1871. It may even be built on
the site of the earlier construction by St
Aldhelm in 700AD.
It is incredible that a building this old is still in such
a good condition. It owes its survival to the fact that it
was not recognised as a church at all, as families used to
live in it and even a school was once housed inside.
It is an unforgettable experience to stand in the tall,
stone-built nave and to gaze towards the fragmented Saxon
cross and flying angels fixed to the wall above. |
|
