- Wraxall, Somerset
"This article is about a village in
Somerset ,England . For other uses, please see Wraxall (disambiguation)."infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Wraxall
latitude= 51.440231
longitude= -2.727955
civil_parish=
population =
unitary_england=North Somerset
lieutenancy_england=Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Woodspring
constituency_westminster1= (North Somerset
from next general election)
post_town=
postcode_district=
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= ST495715Wraxall is a
village inNorth Somerset inEngland ; theparish of the same name also includedNailsea andFlax Bourton until 1811.History
The origin of the name Wraxall (which is shared with several other villages in
Somerset ,Wiltshire andDorset ) is thought to be "a nook of land frequented by Buzzards".Wraxall Court was the original
manor house . After theNorman conquest the Manor belonged to the De Wrokeshale family until it passed to the Moreville and then the Gorges families by marriage. InVictorian times the Ford family lived at Wraxall Court, which was taken over by theAdmiralty during theSecond World War , and became a Hall of Residence forBristol University afterwards.The
parish church of All Saints was built in the 14th century, withtower ,clock and bells being added in later centuries. Parish registers survive from 1562, and include examples of thebaptism of black slaves. There are painted stone figures of Sir Edmond Gorges and his wife in thechancel . The chiurch has been designated byEnglish Heritage as a grade Ilisted building . [cite web | title=All Saints Church | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33595 | accessdate=2007-07-18] The nearbyrectory was built in the 17th century. The largechurchyard contains several monuments to the Tynte family which gave its name to the nearbyTyntesfield Estate, which has recently been purchased by the National Trust following the death ofBaron Wraxall .Along with
Tyntesfield another tourist attraction in the village is theNoah's Ark Zoo Farm . This zoo has a large collection of animals, with hands on experience and also includes many play areas for kids. On everyMay Day bank holiday, there is an agricultural fair at the North Somerset Showground.A
dame school was recorded as early as 1801 and several schools followed, the present one being built in 1856. Across the road from this was the Village Smithy, and nearby was thestocks andwhipping post , for centuries the site of the annual "Stumps Fair".An area known as "The Rocks" stretches north to
Failand Hill, its many quarries being the source of most of the local building stone. Failand once had achapel of ease , but now has the Victorian Church of St Bartholomew; the village is relatively modern.During the 1940s "Tyntesfield Camp" was built as an American
Hospital . After the war it was turned into housing, and much more housing has been built since then, Wraxall becoming adormitory town for Bristol.In April 2007 a new
Children's hospice will opened at Charlton Farm, part of the Tyntesfield Estate. Children's Hospice South West provides in-patient palliative care for 8 children and their families, plus outpatient and day-care facilities for a number of other children. The opening follows years of fund raising in theBristol andSomerset area.Transport
The nearest railway station is Nailsea and Backwell.
References
External links
* [http://www.wraxallwithfailand.org.uk/ All Saints Church, Wraxall]
* [http://www.wraxallandfailand.org.uk/index.htm Wraxall]
* [http://www.wraxallandfailand.org.uk/school.htm Wraxall School]
* [http://www.chsw.org.uk/charlton-farm.php Children's Hospice South West, Charlton Farm]
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