Coalpit Heath

Coordinates: 51°31′34″N 2°28′12″W / 51.526°N 2.47°W / 51.526; -2.47

Coalpit Heath
The South Wales Main Line viaduct at Coalpit Heath.
Coalpit Heath  Coalpit Heath shown within Gloucestershire
Population	c. 8,000
OS grid reference	ST675806
Unitary authority	South Gloucestershire
Ceremonial county	Gloucestershire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRISTOL
Postcode district	BS36
Dialling code	01454
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	Great Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Northavon
List of places: UK • England • Gloucestershire

Coalpit Heath is a small village in the parish of Westerleigh, South Gloucestershire, England, south of Yate and east of Frampton Cotterell in South Gloucestershire.

Background

Bitterwell Lake
(see Henfield)

Coalpit Heath Cricket Club
(see Ram Hill)

The Kendleshire Golf Club
(see Henfield)

Due to the expansion of Coalpit Heath and the neighbouring villages in the late 20th century, the borders of Coalpit Heath with Frampton Cotterell have become vague. The village contains three Pubs, one post office, a 27-hole golf course (The Kendleshire) and numerous local stores. The village also includes a parish church (St. Saviours), and a local primary school, the Manor CE VC Primary school.

It was founded as a coal mining settlement. One pit was on Frog Lane at ST 685 815 (to the north east of the village). Other mines operated between Mays Hill and Nibley to the north and at Ram Hill and Henfield to the south.^[1] These were served by a railway line, closed some decades ago and no longer visible on the ground. In 1949 the coal ran out, and since then it has become a sought after place to live, with fields and easy accommodation.

Frampton Cotterell lies along the northwest border, but the rest of the village is surrounded by the rolling Cotswold countryside, stocked full of wildlife and country pursuits.

St Saviour's Church lies within the village. It was designed by William Butterfield in 1844 and was his first Anglican Church.

Amenities used and supported by the village include Bitterwell Lake at Henfield and Coalpit Heath Cricket Club at Ram Hill.

Coalpit Heath in literature

A number of sources, including Frank Barrett's book Where Was Wonderland? A Traveller's Guide to the Settings of Classic Children's Books, cite Coalpit Heath as the setting for the Dick King Smith children's book The Sheep-Pig, later adapted for film as Babe.^{[citation needed]}

Location grid

External links

• St Saviour's Church, Coalpit Heath
• The Manor C of E Primary School, Coalpit Heath
• Review of Frank Barrett's "Where Was Wonderland? A Traveller's Guide to the Settings of Classic Children's book, which, within the text of the review, identifies Coalpit Heath as the location of the Sheep-Pig
• A site detailing the locations of popular books, which also identifies Coalpit Heath as the Sheep-Pig's location
• interview with Paul Hawkins for God is in the TV magazine in which he talks about a song being set in Coalpit Heath

References

1. ^ Ordance survey one-inch map of Great Britain, Sheet 156 Bristol and Stroud, Seventh series 1949, 1963 revision