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A thousand years ago travellers converged at this point, using stepping-stones to ford the River Frome where it has carved its steep-sided valley through pennant sandstone. Nightingale's Bridge was constructed 3 centuries ago so packhorses may cross safely even in time of flood. |
| This terrace of 5 small homes is situated at the highest point of Brockridge hamlet, lying atop a pennant sandstone ridge. In Victorian times the blacksmith shoed horses on the roadway just in front, giving opportunity for the villager to have a pint of ale at the Rising Sun just opposite |  |
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The course of the River Frome lies north/south across Frampton Cotterell and this view from 1970s shows glebe field under water with the floods threatening the Benson's Estate, which happened frequently until a relief scheme was constructed to limit water-flow. |
| East of the village the land rises steeply to coal-bearing strata where earlier generations toiled for their living. This view from top of the spoil heap of former coal workings looks across the hamlet of Adam's Land, with Zion Chapel prominent on the skyline |  |
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North and west of the village is keuper marl with its distinctive red soil, now cultivated for cereals and root crops, and also the site of medieval 3 arable fields. This ground becomes waterlogged in wet weather and water retention enables trees hedges also crops to have luxuriant growth. |
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Half a mile west of the village lies strata containing a flinty stone, forming a low ridge known as Marle Hills, with Perrinpit Farm atop. From here we look out across a patchwork of fields and hedgerows as they slope down from the summit |
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The most westerly part of the parish rises steeply to an elevated plateau of blue lias. This view shows the land is totally flat with very large fields of sparse grass and stunted hedgerows. This is poor agricultural land now diversified to water-sports, a golf course, riding school and rugby pitches. |
