Tockington

History

In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Tockington like this:

:TOCKINGTON (Lower), a tything in Almondsbury parish, Gloucester; 3¾ miles S by E of Thornbury. It has a post-office under Bristol, and cattle fairs on 9 May and 6 Dec. Real property, £4,975. Pop., 464. Houses, 109.

Tockington Manor

Tockington Manor is a boarding preparatory school, which opened in 1947. The three-storey stone building was largely constructed around 1712 but incorporating elements of an earlier house. It is a Grade II listed building.

In the First World War the house was used as a military hospital.

Before the Second World War it was privately owned by the Salmon family. At the outbreak of war it was commandeered as a dispersal site for the Bristol Engine Company's design office. The estimated cost, largely for building a number of additional huts in the grounds, of £9,000 was considered too much, so the main office staff were instead moved to the Fry's chocolate factory at Somerdale and only leading staff and their support staff, a total of 70, went to the Manor.{{Cite web

The Tockington Manor office was where new engine developments were first planned. One of these had major significance, as Bristol's first gas turbine engine, the Theseus turboprop.{{Cite magazine

Towards the end of the war, once the threat of air raids was over, the design office returned to Filton and afterwards the house was returned to the Salmon family. They sold the estate in 1946. The Manor was bought by ex first-class cricketer Gordon Tovey, who opened it as a private school. His son, Richard, later served as headmaster of the school for 38 years.

Tockington Quarry

There is a small limestone quarry to the rear of the Manor. Along with the Manor this formed part of the pre-war Salmon estate. During the war, it was considered to use this quarry as an isolated and enclosed place for engine testing. In the end, Failand Quarry to the south-west was used instead. The quarry is now a climbing site.{{Cite web

Amenities

The hub of the village is 'The Green' and where its church, pub and bus stop are all located. Next to the Swan Inn, a Grade II Listed Building, is an old style red phone box and which is used as a book swap.

The village church: Olveston and Tockington Methodist Church was formed in 2004 when the two former village churches united. The church, in the form of a chapel, was built in 1897. The chapel was extensively renovated in 2007 and now incorporates a toilet with disabled access and a kitchenette. At full capacity the chapel seats 60. Its minister from 1 September 2018 is the Rev Simon Edwards.

Tockington has no shops, but there are several farm shops in the surrounding area. There are also supermarkets and a large shopping mall at nearby Cribbs Causeway as well as those in the nearby town of Thornbury.

Bus services to and from Tockington are operated by Stagecoach Group Gloucester.

References

References

1. "Tockington Manor School". Historic England.
2. (1957). "West Country Houses". Batsford.