Welcome to my Bradford-on-Avon home page! This home page has been around since December 1994 when I had the first batch of pictures scanned in, which makes it the first dedicated Bradford-on-Avon page on the WWW. I certainly couldn't find anything else using a Lycos search at the time!
Bradford-on-Avon is one of my favourite places in the world and that's why I live there! I also have strong family connections in Bradford which is another good reason why I should want to spend time there. Here I have written about some of my personal opinions and interests of Bradford-on-Avon; please don't take them too seriously!!
This is the classic view of the bridge over the river Avon which you will
see on all the postcards, restaurant signs, business advertisements
and just about everywhere else you look - it's even on the front cover of
the Ordnance Survey map of the area (Landranger 173)!
The history of this bridge spans seven centuries. The "broad ford" across the Avon, which gave the town its name, served as a crossing point until the original packhorse bridge was built in the 13th century. Two ribbed and pointed arches from this ancient bridge survive on the eastern side of the river (one of them is visible in the bottom left of the picture). Various repairs and alterations have been carried out over the centuries, including the widening of the bridge to twice its original width.
John Aubrey visited the town in 1660 and commented, "Here is a strong and handsome bridge in the middest of which is a little chapell for masse as at Bathe." This chapel on the bridge dates from the 17th century and was converted into a prison or "Blind House" at a later date.
Bradford-on-Avon is the home to one of the country's
finest examples of a medieval Tithe Barn. Built in the early 14th century,
this gigantic barn was constructed to store the taxes or "tithes" paid by the
local peasants. Produce would be brought to the barn across the 14th century
packhorse bridge (still in existence, picture below)
which was built especially for that
purpose. In 1971, the farmhouse, barn, bridge and farm was purchased by the
local council and became Barton Farm Country Park.
The raft race takes place in May every year and is organised by the
Bradford Lions. These pictures of the finish line (left) and a raft
on the stretch of the river past Abbey Mill (below right) were taken
in 1995.
Look carefully at the picture on the right
(click to load up a bigger version): Roughly in the centre is a swan
which attacked every single raft in the race; To the left, behind the
wall, are some spectators throwing eggs.
The raft race finish line is Barton Bridge in the country park
(shown left). Note how many people are lined up over the Bridge.
About 20 minutes after this picture was taken, the sky turned very
very dark (this was summer after all), and the heavens opened.
I have never seen a summer's day turn so wet quite so quickly - it was
like a monsoon. However, the competitors (who were already soaked
after multiple dips in the Avon) must have been happy to see all those
people who had previously thrown eggs at them, being soaked to the skin
through t-shirts and summer coats!!
Any visitor to Bradford-on-Avon will find out that walking uphill
is inevitable sooner or later!
Many of the small weaver's cottages in Bradford-on-Avon are balanced on
the side of a steep hill, each row visible over the rooftops of the
rank in front.
The climb to St. Mary's Tory is an exhausting one, through the narrow passageways between each row of houses, but it is well worth the effort. From the top of the hill the view is amazing! The whole town is spread out before your eyes; the outlying countryside is also clearly visible including the Marlborough Downs, the Mendip Hills and Westbury White Horse. A clear day is obviously best and it's also worth the trip to see the view at night.
Overlooking the town is the chapel of St. Mary which is open to
visitors. Originally this tiny church was a medieval building where
pilgrims would stop on their way to Glastonbury. Unfortunately, it fell
into ruin and was almost lost until the Victorians came along and
restored it in a style that was fashionable at the time...
An annual event in Bradford-on-Avon is the charity pancake race across the
town bridge.
Competitors dress up in fancy costumes and take their positions
on the starting line, pancakes at the ready.
Much to the annoyance of car drivers, the busy
town bridge is closed off at both ends by the local police
and the race is underway!
After a mad dash to the other end of the bridge and back (with a pause to
stop and toss the pancake), the winner is announced and it's all over
for another year!
The building in the background, second from the right, is the famous
Bridge Tea Room which must be visited at some point simply so that you
can say, "Yes, I went to the Tea Rooms" when you are asked.
There are a wide range of teas and cakes to choose from, but make sure
you ask the price before you buy - you may not have enough!
Here is Trinity church in the centre of Bradford-on-Avon.
It doesn't really lean backwards like it does in this
picture, it's just that I can't afford a TSE lens for my camera to correct
the effect! The church is originally Norman and was extensively modified
between 1300-1310 and 1350-1500. The Victorians also left their
mark in the north aisle.
Nearby is the famous Saxon church of St Laurence. This 7th century building is all that remains of a monastery which once existed in the area now known as Abbey Yard. For many years the Saxon church was forgotten as a religious buliding and had varied uses throughout the 17th and 18th centuries including an ossuary (skull or bone house), cottages and a free school for boys.
William of Malmesbury knew of the Saxon church in the year 1125 when he wrote in his best-selling novel the Gesta Pontificum, "At that place there is to this day a little church which Aldhelm is said to have built to the name of the blessed Laurence."
In 1871 the vicar of nearby Holy Trinity, Canon W.H.R. Jones, came across the above passage whilst browsing in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. This was enough to confirm his previous suspicions about the antiquity of the building (aroused when repair work in 1856 uncovered carvings of angels) and he purchased the chancel of the church and a plot of land enclosing the entire building. Eventually, a trust fund-raising trust, formed with the intention of saving the building, succeeded in aquiring and restoring the church for future generations.
Bradford-on-Avon has Canon Jones to thank for the preservation of
one of the country's most important and beautiful ancient churches!
Family history spot: This grand looking house is the place where my
Great-Granfather used to live with his wife and
ten children.
One of those children was my Grandfather who was my father's
father, and that's my family connection with Bradford-on-Avon!
I've often wondered about the name of the road this house is in: "Sladesbrook",
whether the place was named after the family name, or perhaps it is just
a coincidence; maybe they chose to live there because of the name?
Every time we drive past this house I ask myself these same questions.
One of these days, I'm going to knock on the door and ask for a look
round!
Thursday mornings in Bradford-on-Avon, the library car park is closed
off and the market is assembled in between cars who have ignored the
giant "No Parking" notices! Stalls vary from week to week, but generally
there is a cheese stall (free samples), a fishmonger and a card stall.
Make sure that you turn up early if you want to browse around.
Some stalls clear up early, depending on the weather, and it's generally
all over by about two o'clock in the afternoon.
One of the things which slightly spoils the town for me is the huge
amount of traffic which finds its way into the centre. The only place to cross
the river is over the town bridge, so thank goodness we have all the very
latest technology in traffic control!!
Note the big blue and white arrow sign - it's there to let the workmen
know which part of the road they're supposed to be working on.
Take a look at our
Wiltshire Photo Album
Bradford-on-Avon:
This page! (Don't click, you're here already!)
bradfordonavon.com: A non-profit website for Bradford-on-Avon.
This is Wiltshire: The latest news from Bradford-on-Avon and the
rest of Wiltshire.
Kennet Cottage: Whether you are looking for an active holiday of walking,
cycling, fishing, horse riding, or sight-seeing in the world famous cities,
or would prefer just relaxing by the waterside, Kennett Cottage offers an
unrivalled location from which to enjoy this beautiful part of England.
The Lock Inn is a pleasant canalside pub, and directly opposite
is the cycle shop.
Bearfield Congregational Church
is a small, active and friendly Christian
community in Bradford on Avon.
Applecart produces videos about the county of Wiltshire.
Well worth a look for a fascinating tour video around the
West Wiltshire area.
MPC Data: Modern technology in Bradford-on-Avon!
Anglo-Saxon Church
at Bradford-on-Avon, by Stephanie L. James of the University of Toronto.
An excellent outline history of the Saxon Church, including pictures
and links to more in-depth information.
BOAFS is the Bradford-on-Avon Film Society. Listed are an
up-to-date film programme, details of how to join and some of the
history of the society. Voted "Film Society of the Year" for the
second time in three years.
The Knowhere Guide
to UK towns and cities which, apparently, is a skateboarding guide to
Great Britain and features my photograph (with permission!).
The Wiltshire Web
is an excellent site with resources from all over the county.
If you are a native Moonraker, or intend to be visiting at any time,
then this site has everything you want to know!
Dont forget to check out their historical
Bradford-on-Avon page.
West Country On-Line
is a guide to
Wiltshire and the South-West of England.
British Sub-Aqua Club meetings in Bradford-on-Avon.
Water Polo in Bradford-on-Avon.
Corsham is not far from Bradford-on-Avon; read all about the
Queen's nuclear bunker!
Bradford-on-Avon Magazine is a new publication, on sale in the town.
www.bradford-on-avon.org is a comprehensive website for services
and events in Bradford-on-Avon.
This site is part of the Wiltshire Ring network
