Barnwood

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Barnwood
latitude= 51.86353
longitude= -2.2019
map_type= Gloucestershire
shire_district= Gloucester City
shire_county= Gloucestershire
region= South West
constituency_westminster=
post_town= Gloucester
postcode_district = GL
dial_code= 01452
os_grid_reference= SO861183

Barnwood, in Gloucestershire, England is situated on the old Roman road that connects the City of Gloucester with Hucclecote, Brockworth and Cirencester.

Barnwood was originally a small village and St Lawrence Church, which is situated about two miles east of the city centre of Gloucester, is a traditional Church of England parish stone building known for the The Barnwood Guild of Church Bellringers, inaugurated in 1952. However, bell ringing has a long history in the Gloucester area and Barnwood had long been a part of it when its activities were disrupted by World War II.

Further up the same Roman road is the village of Hucclecote which is next in line to Brockworth where many famous aircraft have been produced in the past.

The inventor, Sir Charles Wheatstone was born on 6 February 1802, at Barnwood Manor House. There now is a local pub (The Wheatstone Inn) named after him.

The Generation Design and Construction Division of the CEGB became the centre of a new office development when it moved there in the early 1970s. This then became the corporate headquarters of Nuclear Electric, and later the English offices of the (nominally Scottish-based) British Energy. Other major companies in Barnwood include Cheltenham & Gloucester, Sainsbury's, Virgin Active, Highways Agency, Intercall Conferencing and Defra and Holiday Inn to name a few.

Arboretum

Barnwood Arboretum is set on the grounds of Barnwood House. The arboretum consists of an enclosed woodland area that is cared and conserved for by Gloucester City Council in conjunction with the "Friends of Barnwood Arboretum"(FOBA). The Arboretum's main entrance is located down St. Lawrence Road, Barnwood and provides its visitors with various habitats, for example, grassland and wetland, and is set amongst a collection of mature native and exotic specimen trees.

Recently

Barnwood arboretum has bennifited from improved access, information boards and tree identifications. FOBA also organise a wide range of events throughout the year to encourage local citizens to use the area in an educational manner.

External links

* [http://www.eastgrove.demon.co.uk/guild.htm The Barnwood Guild of Church Bellringers]
* [http://www.eastgrove.demon.co.uk/churchpic.htm St. Lawrence Church]
* [http://www.free-reed.co.uk/galpin/g2.htm Charles Wheatstone and the Concertina]
* [http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/Content.aspx?urn=3294 Gloucester City Council site for Barnwood Arboretum]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/yourprojects/barnwood.shtml BBC Breathing Spaces-Barnwood Arboretum]