Worle

infobox UK place

country = England
official_name= Worle
latitude= 51.3578
longitude= -2.9277
population =
unitary_england=North Somerset

lieutenancy_england= Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Weston-super-Mare
post_town= Weston-super-Mare
postcode_district=
postcode_area=
dial_code= 01934
os_grid_reference= ST355625

Worle is a village in North Somerset that is now totally absorbed by the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare. Despite this, Worle actually pre-dates Weston and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In the book, it is said that Worle was owned by Walter of Douai, and consisted of 750 acres and valued at 6.5 hides. "“Walter de Dowai holds of the King, Worle. Edgar held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for six hides and a half.”" The parish church of St. Martin's sits on the side of Worlebury Hill and overlooks the village.

The name was possibly formed from the Old English "Wor + leah" meaning 'wood or clearing frequented by grouse', or perhaps 'moor meadow'. It is pronounced "whirl".

Worle has grown dramatically in the last 40 years. That initial development in the 1970s and 1980s included a large number of houses, a Sainsburys supermarket, a secondary school and an ecumenical church (St Marks). However in recent years a larger range of facilities and amenities have opened up, including large stores, shops, a medical centre, a train station and additional churches. Weston-super-Mare's Magistrates Court has also relocated to Worle. It also has a number of active groups and societies including a Lions club.

St Martin's Church was built in 1125 and rebuilt during the 14th and 15th centuries, with major restoration and extension work in 1870. The Church is now ecumenical, with Methodist as well as Church of England ministers.

The Weston & Somerset Mercury is the historic local newspaper and the Weston and Worle News is a free weekly newspaper serving the local area.

Transport

Worle is located close to junction 21 of the M5 motorway. Bristol is approximately 20 miles way and can be accessed by the M5 or A370 road.

There have been four different stations serving Worle since the Bristol and Exeter Railway opened on 14 June 1841. For most of this time, the station generally known as Puxton and Worle railway station has served, despite being situated in St Georges. From 1 March 1884 until 2 January 1922 a more convenient Worle station was provided on the Loop Line. Puxton and Worle closed on 6 April 1964.

There was also a Worle Town station situated much closer to the High Street but only served by the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway from 1897 to 1940.

The present day Worle railway station is situated midway between the two former sites and was opened on 24 September 1990. Because it only has short platforms, longer express trains are not allowed to call here, so people from Worle travelling to, say, London have to travel to Weston Milton or Weston-super-Mare railway station to catch a train.

Worle also has bus connections running every ten minutes into the centre of Weston-super-Mare and bus routes to Bristol and other locations.

Education

Worle includes two secondary schools, Worle Community School and Priory Community School, and also several Primary schools, including Mendip Green First School, Hillside First School, Worlebury First School, St Martins Junior School, Milton Park Primary School, Mead Vale Primary School, Heron's Moor Primary School, Beckett Primary School, Castle Batch Primary School and St Mark's Primary School.

Mendip Green First School ( [http://www.mendipgreen.co.uk/] )is one of the largest Primary Schools in the area, with 407 children of 4 - 8 years of age (2008). Mendip Green was one of the first schools in North Somerset achieving Healthy School Status, also it has Leading aspect Award, and a hearing and language resource base.

References

*

External links

* [http://www.worle.com/ Worle Village website] Information about Worle has been taken from this site.
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20040419222318/http://www.mary.mason.btinternet.co.uk/westonworle.htm Archive.org] Archived web site about Worle that no longer has a current home.
* [http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/ The Weston & Somerset Mercury]
* [http://worlebellringers.mysite.orange.co.uk/ Worle Bellringers] Web site of Worle Bellringers, St. Martins Church, Worle.