Keynsham

infobox UK place
country= England
region= South West England
latitude= 51.4135
longitude= -2.4968
official_name= Keynsham
population= 15,533 (2001 Census [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=791539&c=Keynsham&d=16&e=15&g=397954&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Parish Census 2001] ] )
civil_parish= Keynsham
unitary_england= Bath and North East Somerset
lieutenancy_england= Somerset
constituency_westminster= Wansdyke
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_area= BS
postcode_district = BS31
dial_code= 0117
os_grid_reference= ST654684

Keynsham (IPAEng|ˈkeɪnʃm), is a town between Bristol and Bath in south-west England. It was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Cainesham", meaning St Keyne's home. It is believed that Saint Keyne lived in the 5th century. Her father was named as Brychan. [cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=1874336032] Traditionally a town in the county of Somerset, Keynsham was administered as part of the shortlived county of Avon between 1974 and 1996 and now resides in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset which, along with North Somerset and the non-metropolitan county of Somerset, forms the ceremonial county of Somerset.

History and geography

Located on the confluence where the River Chew meets the River Avon, the town has a prehistoric history and is scattered with Roman remains, such as the Roman villas at Somerdale and Durley Hill and a burial site between Keynsham and Saltford. Research by the University of Bristol Department of Archeology suggests that early settlement may have been at Oakleaze Farm between Keynsham and Stockwood. The town also has links to the Mormen, the hostile forebears to the Angles, the original settlers in the area are said to have been allied with the Mormen and it is due to this alliance that Keynsham survived the 1147 Angle sacking.

The settlement, said to be named after Saint Keyne, developed into a medieval market town, its growth prompted by the foundation of an influential and prosperous abbey, founded by the Victorine order of Augustinian monks founded around 1170. It survived until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 and a house built on the site. The remains have been designated as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage. [cite web | title=Keynsham Abbey | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=485012 | accessdate=2007-07-18] The town was the site of a battle between royalist forces and the rebel Duke of Monmouth.

According to local legend, St Keyne was warned by the local King that the marshy area was swarming with snakes, which prevented habitation. St Keyne prayed to the heavens and turned the snakes to stone. Folklore has it that the fossilized ammonites that are very prevalent in the town are the remains of the snakes.

Keynsham played a part in the Civil War as the Roundheads saved the town and also camped there for the night.

Described in a dictionary published in 1752 as 'a foggy smoaky town, whose market is weekly on Thursday; it has fine stone bridge over the River Avon, and its principal trade is malting; in the neighbourhood of this town is a quarry in which are frequently found stones in form of serpents, but generally without any representation of a head.' These fossil Ammonites have become the symbol of many institutions connected with the town.

Before the creation of Chew Valley Lake and river level controls at Keynsham Lock and weir, Keynsham was prone to flooding. The Great Flood of 1968 inundated large parts of the town, destroyed the town's bridges including the county bridge over the Avon which had stood since medieval times, and private premises on Dapps Hill; the devastation was viewed by the Duke of Edinburgh. After the flood the Memorial Park, which had been laid out after World War II was extended. [cite web|url=http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,2265/tab,summary/Itemid,/|title=Memorial Park, Keynsham, Keynsham, England|work=Parks & Gardens UK|publisher=Parks and Gardens Data Services Limited (PGDS)|accessdate=2008-09-17]

The town is served by Keynsham railway station on the London-Bristol and Bristol-Southampton trunk routes. It is on the Monarch's Way long distance footpath.

In 1969 the town was featured as the title of the fourth album "Keynsham" by the Bonzo Dog Band. The title was chosen after Keynsham rose to fame after featuring on an advert on Radio Luxembourg for Horace Batchelor's Infra-draw betting system. The name of the town was spelled out, "Keynsham – spelt K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M – Keynsham, Bristol".

Industry

An important industry in the town is Cadbury's chocolate factory. The J.S. Fry and Sons business merged with Cadbury in 1919, and moved their factory in the centre of Bristol to Keynsham in 1935. As Quakers, the factory was built in a 228-acre greenfield site with social facilities, including playing fields and recreational sports grounds. Called Somerdale after a national competition in 1923, Keynsham Cadbury is the home of Fry's Chocolate Cream, the Double Decker, Dairy Milk and Mini Eggs, Cadbury's Fudge, Chomp and most importantly, the Crunchie. According to Cadbury employees (or 'Chocolate Welders' as they are locally known), the Crunchie Machine makes enough bars to stretch to the Moon and back every week.

On 3 October 2007, Cadbury announced plans to close the Somerdale plant by 2010 with the loss of some 500 jobs. In an effort to maintain competitiveness in a global marketplace, production will be moved to factories in Birmingham and Poland. In the longer term it is likely the greenfield site will be re-classified and provide Keynsham with much needed additional housing. Labour MP for Wansdyke, Dan Norris, said "news of the factory's closure is a hard and heavy blow, not just to the workforce, but to the Keynsham community as a whole". [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7025413.stm |title=Cadbury factories shed 700 jobs |accessdate=2007-10-03 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date=3 October 2007 |work=BBC News |publisher=]

In late 2007 campaigns to save the Cadbury's factory in Somerdale were in full swing. One local resident started a campaign to urge English Heritage to protect the site, and preserve the history of the factory. If successful this campaign will, it is hoped, stop the land being sold for housing, and the historic Somerdale factory being destroyed. As of 13 December 2007 this petition has 24 signatures of local residents, including Roger Berry - MP for Kingswood in South Gloucestershire. The campaign, titled 'Save Our Somerdale', is being run online at [http://www.savecadburys.co.uk savecadburys.co.uk]

Education

Keynsham is home to many schools. There are two secondary schools, Wellsway School and Broadlands School. There are also several primary schools, including St Johns primary school, Castle Primary school, Chandag infants and junior school and new school St Keyna primary school (a merge of Keynsham primary school and 150 yr old Temple Primary school).

Noteworthy residents

((B) denotes born)
*Gareth Andrew, Somerset County Cricket Club player.
*Bill Bailey, famous comedian.
*Neil Forrester, research assistant known as a cast member on "". [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0286738/ Neil Forrester at the Internet Movie Database] ]
*Charlie Jones, bassist for Goldfrapp. (B)
*Mark Regan, professional rugby player and a former player at Keynsham RFC.
*Luke Sutton, Lancashire wicketkeeper and batsman.
*Marcus Trescothick, Somerset and England cricketer.
*Judd Trump, young snooker professional.

Sport

Keynsham Town F.C. Keynsham CC (Cricket Club) produced Marcus Trescothick. There is a bowls club situated at the memorial park.

Keynsham Rugby Football Club

Keynsham is the town's rugby football club.

The club's most notable and tragic event occurred on 24 December 1992, when there was a fatal road accident outside the club's ground. A Ford Fiesta car ploughed into 11 people leaving the annual festive disco. One woman, 21-year-old Sarah Monnelle, died at the scene. A second person, 24-year-old rugby player Richard Barnett, died in hospital two days later from his injuries. Clive Sutton was later found guilty on a double charge of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to four years in prison at Bristol Crown Court. [http://www.keynshamrugby.co.uk/mess.html] Mr Sutton later made the headlines in January 1999, when he was rescued in Papa New Guinea after surviving 22 days in the country's mountains where he had got lost on a hiking holiday. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/255680.stm]

Keynsham Town Football Club

Keynsham Town was established in 1896 and play at the Crown Fields in amber and black. In the 1988-89 season Keynsham Town hosted Chelsea and achieved a record attendance of 3,000. Stuart Nethercott was recently appointed their new manager. Liam Southall has recently taken charge of the under 9's team. The under 12's under the leadership of manager Nigel Kay won the North Devon Trophy in May 2007, Liam Crispin, Joe Osborne, Callum Kay and Daniel Mackley scoring the goals in a 4-1 win. The trophy was presented by former Tottenham legend Gary Mabbutt.

Keynsham Town Ladies Football Club

Keynsham Town Ladies were established in 1993 as an under 11s girls six-a-side club. They play in green and white hoops. Remarkably, they have risen through many leagues to currently (2007/08) play in the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division, just one step below the top level, competing against women's clubs such as West Ham, Portsmouth and Millwall. They also have reserve team playing in the South West Women's Football League Division One North, and a development squad plus various age group teams.

Twin towns

Keynsham has one official twin town:
* - Libourne, France

Outskirts

On the outskirts of Keynsham lies Keynsham Humpy Tumps, one of the most floristically rich acidic grassland sites within the Avon area. Between Keynsham and Saltford, an area of green belt has been planted as the Manor Road Community Woodland and was designated as a Nature Reserve in 2005. Nearby is the Avon Valley Country Park tourist attraction.

Other Uses

There is also a small hamlet in Woolaston (Gloucestershire) of the same name. (GR ST 584 999).

References

=External links=
* [http://www.savecadburys.co.uk Help Save Keynsham Chocolate Factory]
* [http://www.moretolife08.org.uk/ More to Life 08]
* [http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/keynewbg.html St Keyne]
* [http://www.caneshum.co.uk Cane Shum] - lighthearted view of the town.
* [http://www.keynsham-tc.gov.uk/ Keynsham Town Council]
* [http://www.kecsag.org/ Keynsham East Community Safety Action Group]
* [http://www.keynshamgreenbelt.org/ Proposed housing on greenbelt land.]
* [http://www.clevr.com/pano/94 Panorama including the church]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/0713.htm Map of Keynsham circa 1900]
* [http://2386atc.googlepages.com 2386 (Keynsham) Sqn Air Training Corps ]
* [http://www.wellsway.bathnes.sch.uk/students/activities/sport/default.htm Sport at Wellsway School]