Heritage Trail
Anyone driving along
the highway perceives this as just another suburban village, yet stay
awhile to look at older buildings while learning of their colourful
history. Since Frampton Cotterell is twinned with Kelbra, a German
translation is available.
Click to see a larger image (92 KB)
(1) Church Bridge.
The village of Frampton Cotterell (principal settlement on R. Frome) was
being developed 1000 years ago where tracks came together to ford the
river with a church nearby. This archive photo shows the arched bridge
sadly destroyed by floods in 1966, also leafy trees around St Peter's
Church with the farm cottage opposite.
(2) St Peter's Church. The
Parish Church was rebuilt 1858 in Perpendicular Style having embattled
parapets with pointed pinnacles and walls of Pennant stone. It retains the
medieval tower built in 1315 with dressed Pennant blocks that houses a
peal of 6 bells with one inscribed 1627. There is a parish chest from
1600. Observe the wrought-iron gate that formerly enclosed stray animals
but is now entrance to a graveyard having several 18th century chest
tombs.
(3) Globe Inn & nearby
buildings. Despite extensions observe the original 3-storey red
Pennant structure of this 18th century Globe Inn in spacious grounds. A
second 3-storey hostelry was built close by named New Inn now converted to
a residence - 4 Mill Lane. See at 32 Mill Lane this rambling 19th century
building once the village mill having a pond, millrace and paddle wheel.
(4) Step House. Walk along
Park Lane to see our only Georgian style residence built in 1733. It has
five windows with a central door having shell porch above, and its name
derives from 'stype' - built on a steep place. Mr Hall lived here while
manufacturing felt hats in outbuildings. A group of pious ladies 'Sisters
of Charity' lived at the house in the late 19th century where they trained
nurses but later used the building as St Michael's Orphanage.
(5) Hat Factory. The firm of
Christy's hatmakers operated from 1820 at two parallel 3-storey buildings
in Park Lane. The upper floors are divided into cubicles with tiny closed
windows to minimise draughts that disturb fine wool used for hats. This
road was named Penny Lane because householders got one penny per bucket of
urine used in hatmaking. There were 120 employees in 1834 making 1300 hats
per week so we were world leaders, yet in 1866 the firm relocated to
larger premises at Stockport.
(6) Live & Let Live. Return
along Park Lane to see a fine 17th century Inn 'Live & Let Live'.
Observe its thick walls with buttresses, low ceilings and open fireplace.
When Field Marshall Colin Campbell relieved Lucknow during the Indian
Mutiny he became a national hero and in 1858 was created Baron Clyde
(Glasgow birth) just as Clyde Road was being developed. Walk along Clyde
Road and note No.12 occupies site of the Meeting Room for Salvation Army
gospel singers. Make a short left-right diversion to walk up Church Road.
(7) Country Stores. This
picturesque group of 18th century shops is sited around an earlier
cobbled-stone yard at highest elevation in the village. Imagine a
horse-drawn cart receiving animal-feed using a pulley hoist supported from
a beam at the upstairs hatch near road. The 3-storey shop has a large
chimney-stack also mullioned windows. Extensive views are possible from
nearby towards the east and west. Now go along Upper Stone Close also
traversing the footpath to reach Ryecroft Road.
(8) Windmill. This windmill
was built in 1825 by a Mr Pocock and is visible from afar. It was 60ft
high so its sails caught the wind to turn the grindstones via wooden
cogwheels. The circular tapering walls have lost 15ft by decaying
stonework with also its sails removed after the 40ft chimney was added in
1850 as flue for a small steam engine. The derivation of Ryecroft is a
'small field on rough terrain'.
(9) Zion United Church. In
1795 Thomas Humphries a colliery manager built the first Zion Chapel
though used now as the church hall. Soon worshippers totalled 300 adults
with 200 children so in 1873 this larger chapel replaced it. Three
Methodist chapels closed in 1968 and their combined congregations moved
into these larger premises. Replacement cottages were added at the rear in
1990 to provide extra accommodation.
(10) British School. Just down
the hill is Brockeridge School built in 1846 by non-conformists using
funds from 'British & Foreign Schools Society' to provide a basic
education for 2p a week. The 1876 Education Act changed its status to a
Council School, teaching pupils to age14yr. Further reorganisation
followed after the 1945 Education Act when it became an Infants' School
with pupils transferring aged 8yr to Highcroft Junior.
(11) Woodend Road. Walk
westwards down the narrow twisting Woodend Road with terraced 18th &
19th century cottages on either side constituting the hamlet of Brockridge.
Similar hamlets also remain at Adam's Land & Frampton End. Houses
178-198, Woodend Road (early 1920s) are 'Wheatley' Homes from the first
Labour Minister of Housing who planned substantially-built Council Houses
around the Country.
(12) Harris Barton. Take a
left-right diversion into attractive Harris Barton and observe its narrow
winding roadway with grass verges and see how the Pennant rubble-stone
cottages face the sun. Possibly houses numbered 10-16 follow foundations
of a 'Barton' which was a 'Barn used as Grain-Store'. When Harry Symes was
'Lord of Manor' at Frampton Court he stored his grain here, hence Harry's
Barton.
(13) Nightingale's Bridge.
Continue down the bridleway into a picturesque Frome Valley and maybe rest
awhile at a favoured picnic spot beside Nightingale's Bridge. This is
built from Pennant stone with 2 arches. Visualise pack-horses traversing
the bridge 2 centuries ago. The shallow river rises rapidly during heavy
rain occasionally making the bridge impassable. Overlooking at the hilltop
is the former Manor-house.
(14) Frampton Court. Frampton
Court began as the Village Manor in 15th century, but was altered and
extended during the 17th century and is converted now into private
residences. It has medieval features including an enclosed paved
courtyard, with a stone over-mantle above the doorway also lattice windows
having stone mouldings to deflect rainwater. The Coteles were early Lords
of the Manor adding the distinctive Cotterell to our village name. During
Civil War of 1643 /46 Harry Symes was 'lord of manor' and loyal to the
king.
(15) The Park. Follow a
footpath across the sports field that was once the formal parkland of
Frampton Manor with a concealed ditch called a ha-ha to keep out farm
animals. A short length of Park Row lies along this ditch. The sports
pavilion was built in 1986 complete with changing rooms & showers. Go
next into School Road - which is aptly named.
(16) National School. The
National School was built 1842 and extended 1856 some twenty years before
State-Schools were established, having its trustees from St Peter's
primarily to educate the children from church families. In 1968 a new
Church School was built then the Community Association purchased this
building in 1973 renamed it Crossbow House and are using it for social
activities. Look next door at the 17th century 'Day' House short for
'Dairy', where butter and cheese were made for the Manor.
(17) Little London. Walk along
School Road into Church Road to see the terraced cottages of Little
London. Christy housed staff members here who came from London to manage
his hat factory. No. 404 Church Rd. bearing the name of Cherry Cottage is
dated 1683 and it is 3-storeys high. Look across an adjoining paddock
towards another 3-storey house of the same period altered during Victorian
era where Brookmans sold bread baked on the premises.
(18) Benson's Estate. This
estate of chalet bungalows was built on Church Farm during1950s and has
roads named after church benefactors. Beaufort Road recalls that the Duke
of Beaufort supported the ecclesiastical living. Winchcombe Road reminds
us Winchcombe Abbey provided wealth within the diocese. Foxe Road after
Rev Foxe (vicar) who financed rebuilding of St Peter's Church in 1858.
Continue along Church Road to the Parish Church, which concludes this
Trail.
Graham Hayter assisted
by Jeffrey Spittal (local historian) prepared this Trail
German translation by Barbara Naish (Minutes Secretary of the Twinning
Association)