Horfield

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Horfield
latitude= 51.4900
longitude= -2.5805
map_type= nomap
static_

static_image_caption= Boundaries of the city council ward.
civil_parish=
population = 11,268 [cite web | title=Horfield | work=2001 Census Ward Information Sheet | url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/WardFinder/pdfs/horfield-wis.pdf | accessdate=2007-02-21]
unitary_england= Bristol
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Bristol North West
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_district = BS7
postcode_area= BS7
dial_code= 0117
os_grid_reference= ST597769
Ambulance= Great Western Ambulance Service

Horfield is a suburb of the city of Bristol, in southwest England. It lies on Bristol's northern edge, its border with Filton marking part of the boundary between Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Bishopston lies directly to the south. Monks Park and Golden Hill are to the west. Lockleaze and Ashley Down are on the eastern fringe. The Gloucester Road (A38) runs north/south through the suburb.

Historically, the area had a reputation as a lawless place because Horfield Wood was the haunt of thieves and vagrants.

The name 'Horfield' is Anglo-Saxon in origin, meaning 'Filthy open land' (Old English 'horu' and 'feld') [http://cameron.english.nottingham.ac.uk/GENmap1/maps.jsp?county=GLO]

There was a large Army barracks in Horfield from 1845, which was for a time headquarters of the South Gloucestershire Regiment. By the 1940s the buildings were too old to be used and the depot was closed, and most of the buildings apart from the Chapel were demolished in 1966. There are several war graves in churches in Horfield. A Territorial Army building remains, but most of the site was converted to a General Post Office (later British Telecom) engineering works, which in turn was redeveloped as housing since 2000.

Much 1920s (originally local authority) housing in Upper Horfield is currently in the process of being redeveloped due to structural problems caused by concrete cancer. The new development is of higher density than the original housing.

Horfield is home to the Memorial Stadium: a sports stadium built in 1921 for Bristol Rugby Club in memory of the rugby union players of the city who died in World War I, and rededicated to also commemorate the dead of World War II. In 1996, the ground also became home to Bristol Rovers Football Club who now own it.

Near the Stadium is The Wellington, CAMRA Bristol & District [http://www.camrabristol.org.uk/] joint winner of Pub of the Year for 2005. The 2006 Pub of the Year is also in Horfield, The Inn on the Green (on the Gloucester Road)

Horfield has a leisure centre that was updated to have a 25 metre swimming pool in 2005.

Famous sons of Horfield include Hollywood actor Cary Grant, who was born at 15 Hughenden Road, in 1904, and composer Ray Steadman-Allen was born at 64 Muller Road, in 1922.

Churches

There are a number of interesting churches in Horfield.
Church of the Holy Trinity with St Edmund - the parish church was possibly founded as early as 603 but the earliest remnant is an old pillar and the circular churchyard. The tower is late 15th century or early 16th century with the nave and aisles added to by William Butterfield in 1847. The central tower was erected in 1893 by local firm Crisp & Oately and the transepts later in 1913 and 1929. It is a grade II* listed building. [cite web | title= Church of the Holy Trinity with St Edmund | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=380800 | accessdate=2007-02-19]

St. Edmunds Church - erected in the lancet style in 1860 by ST Welch erected as a school and then given a tower and side asiles in 1930 by Hartland Thomas. A building with a roof (similar to Horfield Parish), anglo catholic interior, and a high church tradition. The church closed 1979 and was a printers but was demolished in 2006 - the local planning authority had forgotten to request obligatory photos - very insensitive!

Horfield Barracks chapel - erected 1859 (not 1847 as in Buildings of England). A fine lancet styled chapel with some good handling of dressings and very good bellcote. Closed in the 1920s and has been converted to offices. It is grade II listed. [cite web | title= Old Chapel Buildings | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=379609 | accessdate=2007-02-19]

Methodist Chapel - 1899 by La Trobe - very good essay in late Victorian Arts and Crafts Gothic with a fine wooden interior.

The former Salvation Army chapel - in Ashley Down Road.

Horfield Baptist Chapel - a twin towered perpendicular chapel by Milverton Drake with an organ by Hele.

Quaker meeting house of 1906 - domestic red brick.

Whitefield Tabernacle Muller Road - Contains the 18th century pulpit removed from Penn Street Tabernacle when that was demolished to make way for the city centre. It also contains the superb 1815 wooden organ case.

References

External links

* [http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/WardFinder/pdfs/horfieldmap-high.pdf Ward Map (PDF)]