Barrow Gurney

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Barrow Gurney
latitude= 51.4045
longitude= -2.6678
civil_parish=
population =374cite web |url=http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/04550F52-CC80-483A-8378-3CC65142860E/0/census_BarrowGurney2001.pdf |title=Parish of Barrow Gurney |accessdate=2008-01-05 |format=PDF |work=North Somerset Council ]
unitary_england=North Somerset
lieutenancy_england= Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster=Woodspring
constituency_westminster1=North Somerset
(at next general election)
post_town=
postcode_district=
Postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= ST535675

Barrow Gurney is a village in North Somerset, England, situated on the B3130, midway between the A38 and A370 near the Long Ashton bypass and Bristol Airport, five miles south west of Bristol city centre. The civil parish includes Barrow Common, and has a population of 374.

The Domesday Book of 1086 records that Barrow Gurney was held by Nigel de Gournay, who would have won his lands in Englishcombe, Twerton, Swainswick and Barrow Gurney by fighting for William I of England. His original home must have been Gournay, which was half-way between Dieppe and Paris.

A Benedictine nunnery was established here about the commencement of the 13th century by one of the Fitz-Hardinges (or Fitzhardinge). [cite web |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/BarrowGurney/index.html |title=Barrow Gurney |accessdate=2008-01-05 |format= |work=GenUKI ] [cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=40924 |title=The Priory of Barrow Gurney|accessdate=2008-01-05 |format= |work=British History Online ]

Thomas de Gournay was involved with the murder of Edward II at Berkeley Castle in 1327. [Manco, J. (1995) "The Parish of Englishcombe: A History", pp. 2, 4.]

It is mentioned in the song 'Drink up thy Zider' by The Wurzels.

It is close to Barrow Gurney Reservoirs, which supply drinking water for Bristol, and Barrow Gurney Hospital.

References

ee also

* Barrow Gurney Reservoirs

External links

* [http://www.barrowgurney.com/ Village web site]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/0516.htm map of Barrow Gurney circa 1900]