Bisley, Surrey

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Bisley
map_type= Surrey
latitude= 51.3296
longitude= -0.6399
population = 3,615 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=800098&c=bisley&d=16&e=15&g=491887&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1201728202195&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Census] ]
shire_district= Surrey Heath
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Surrey Heath
post_town= Woking|postcode_district = GU24
postcode_area= GU |dial_code= 01483
os_grid_reference= SU948598 The village of Bisley, in Surrey, England which is notable for rifle shooting. Bisley's immediate neighbours are West End, Chobham and Knaphill.

History

The name 'Bisley' was first recorded in the 10th century as 'Busseleghe'. It is derived from the old English words 'Bysc', meaning bushes, and 'Leah', a clearing. Therefore, it means the 'clearing where bushes grow'. [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~engsurry/bisley/ History] ]

In medieval times, the village lay on the edge of the Chertsey Abbey estate. The 13th century church, St John the Baptist, was donated to the village by the Abbey monks over 600 years ago. The church features a medieval bell and a 15th century porch which is said to have been built from a single oak tree. A nearby spring was once known as the 'Holy Well of St John the Baptist', and was said to have medicinal powers. Its waters were used for local baptisms until the early 20th century.

Actor Barry Evans attended Bisley boys' school which was an orphanage run by The Shaftesbury Homes. [ [http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/barry_evans/#synopsis Barry Evans] ]

Current

Bisley is also home to Bisley C of E Primary School. This school is situated in the centre of the village and its logo is a frog. It was described as delivering a satisfactory education to students in its recent Ofsted report. [ [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=255525&providerCategoryID=4096&fileName=\school\125\s10_125153_20040205.pdf Ofsted for Bisley Primary] ]

Coldingly - a maximum security prison - is also situated in Bisley, and a number of the local estates were originally built to house prison officers.

Bisley is now a thriving village and house prices are high. This includes on the Flowers Estate development (the road names are flower names, with one for each letter of the alphabet) which benefits from a very big playing field.

Rifle range

In 1890, the village became the location for the UK's National Rifle Association Championships which moved there from Wimbledon. The competition is hosted by the NRA on its Bisley ranges - land owned by the Ministry of Defence, and also providing a base for the Royal Logistic Corps. Bisley hosted most of the shooting events in the 1908 Olympic Games, and all the shooting for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. During the 2012 Olympic Games the shooting will be held at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich.

Colt, the US firearms manufacturer, sold since 1894 the "Bisley Model" equipped with English styled target grips and shot low pressure ammunition. [ [http://www.modelguns.co.uk/bisley_455eley.htm Model Guns] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.nsc-bisley.co.uk/ The National Shooting Centre at Bisley]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~engsurry/bisley/photos.htm Old pictures]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~engsurry/bisley/church.htm Bisley church]
* [http://www.bisleychat.org.uk Local community website]