Pucklechurch is a village in South Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom.
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Location
Pucklechurch is located near the Bristol Ring Road (A4174). It is at the top of an escarpment, with fine views towards the Cotswolds, about four miles (6 km) east.
Pucklechurch is within the parliamentary constituency Northavon, currently held by the Liberal Democrats Steve Webb MP. The Northavon constituency will be abolished at the next General Election as part of boundary review changes and replaced by Thornbury and Yate.
Population & Amenities
Its population is approximately 3,000 and contains a church, a primary school, shops including a small bakery, a small hairdresser, a local convenience store and a newsagent used by both locals as well as passing trade, and a small post office. Ashfield Young Offenders Institute is located in a secluded location on the outskirts of Pucklechurch[1], on a small business park, and is hardly noticeable to the casual passer-by. Many of the residents commute to Bristol or Bath to work, with some also travelling slightly further afield to Swindon and Cardiff.
There is a beautiful little recreational ground in the centre of this historic village, called the "Rec". It is near the village hall. Many events are hosted on the Rec throughout the year, including the popular "Pucklechurch Revel".
History
Behind Pucklechurch's Star Inn is the site of an ancient royal villa, where King Edmund I of England was murdered by exiled robber Liofa on May 26, 946AD. In 950 King Eadred gave 25 hide (unit)s of land (at Pucelancyrcan) to the Abbey of Glastonbury[2].
The Domesday Book records these hides as belonging to St. Mary's church, which was in Glastonbury Abbey's grounds[3]. It notes:
St Mary of Glastonbury holds Pucklechurch. There are twenty hides. In demesne are six ploughs and twenty three villans and eight bordars with eighteen ploughs. There are ten slaves and six men render 100 ingots of iron less ten and in Gloucester one burgess pays 5d and two coliberts pay 34d and there are 3 Frenchmen and two mills rendering 100d. There are sixty acres of meadow and woodland half a league long and a half broad. It was worth £20, now £30[4].
Parkfield Colliery operated near Pucklechurch from 1851 to 1936.
During World War II there was a barrage balloon depot[5]. There was a non-flying Royal Air Force station called RAF Pucklechurch from 1952 to 1962, when the site was transferred to HM Prison Service. It was used as a remand centre and later became Ashfield Young Offender Institution.
References
- ^ HMP & YOI Ashfield
- ^ Puckleweb
- ^ Glastonbury Abbey at Brittania History
- ^ Domesday Book: A Complete Transliteration. London: Penguin, 2003. ISBN 0-14-143994-7 p.454
- ^ A short history of No.11 Balloon Centre at Pucklechurch, 1939 to 1945, and RAF Station Pucklechurch, 1945 to 1959
External links
Coordinates: 51°29′N 2°26′W / 51.483°N 2.433°W
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