Whitchurch, Bristol

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Whitchurch
latitude= 51.4064
longitude= -2.5594
map_type=
static_

static_image_caption= Boundaries of the city council ward.
civil_parish=
population = 11,061 [cite web | title=Whitchurch | work=2001 Census Ward Information Sheet | url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/WardFinder/pdfs/whitchurch-park-wis.pdf | accessdate=2007-02-20]
unitary_england= Bristol
lieutenancy_england= Bristol
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Bristol South
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_district = BS
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 01275
os_grid_reference= ST611676

Whitchurch is a suburb of south eastern Bristol, England, bounded by Hartcliffe to the west and Hengrove and Knowle to the north. The original village of Whitchurch lies outside the city boundary in Somerset. The suburb was initially developed during the 1930s.

The parish church is dedicated to St Nicholas.

The A37 trunk road, which passes through Whitchurch, links Bristol with Dorchester. Within Whitchurch the A37 is known as the Wells Road. It was one of the first dual carriageways to be built in Bristol.

Although the greater part of the suburb lies within the city boundary, it is the only part of Bristol not to use the 0117 dialing code, Whitchurch numbers using the 01275 of North Somerset instead.

The suburb is home to the Whitchurch Sports Centre, and an occasional venue for pro-boxing bouts and the dilapidated Whitchurch athletics stadium. The sports centre is also earmarked for redevelopment as part of the regeneration drive throughout the Hartcliffe, Withywood and Whitchurch areas.

In October 2006 Whitchurch Sports Centre was taken over by Action Sport UK, a South African company. All of Whitchurch Sports Centre's activities are now based at Withywood Sports Centre.

Facilities close by include the Hengrove Leisure Park which includes a Cineworld Cinema, various restaurants, a Gala Bingo hall and a popular activities park including skateboard and climbing frame type facilities.

On 2 August 2005 the beginnings of a tornado (a funnel) floated in the skies above South Bristol. As it did not touch it cannot be classed as a tornado but nevertheless it provided an unusual yet impressive sight for the residents of Whitchurch and surrounding parts of Bristol, such as Stockwood. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4737807.stm]

Pubs

Whitchurch boasts the following pubs:
*Shield and Dagger - East Dundry Road
*The Yeoman - Wells Road
*Maes Knoll - Bristol Road
*The Baccy Jar - Goodwin Drive (closed at time of writing 06/2008)

Airport

Whitchurch Airport was located on the land which is now home to the Hengrove Leisure Park. The airport was used before the war by internal UK scheduled flights. During the war it was the base for various types of military aircraft (which flew from there on various missions) and civilian aircraft (which were moved in the event that they may be destroyed at airports such as Heathrow). Whitchurch Airport and Liverpool Airport were the only civil airports in England to remain in use during World War II. Imperial Airways (later BOAC) flew to Lisbon in neutral Portugal. There were also a large number of espionage flights to France and elsewhere in occupied Europe. When the war finished Bristol needed a larger airport. Farm land in Lulsgate was purchased and Lulsgate Airport was opened. These days Lulsgate, now named Bristol International Airport, is an international airport - with daily flights to Europe and the USA.

References

External links

* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/0616.htm Map of Whitchurch circa 1900]