Westerleigh

Background

Contrary to earlier edits of this page, there are no documentary references to Westerleigh prior to the Norman Conquest. Indeed, and again contrary to earlier text here, neither is Westerleigh recorded by name in the pages of Domesday Book (1086). Historically, Westerleigh emerges as a chapelry of the very large estate of Pucklechurch, which before being granted to Glastonbury Abbey in the 10th century, had been a royal manor. Westerleigh's Domesday assessment is therefore most likely included silently within the account of that estate. At present, the earliest mention of Westerleigh in a document appears to be from the late 12th century. The place-name means 'the more westerly clearing', probably in relation either to the Sodburys or Dodington. The second element of the name, which is Old English lēah, can also have a meaning of 'wood pasture; meadow'. There is no evidence of any kind whatsoever, whether historical or archaeological, about exactly when the church at Westerleigh was founded. On a balance of probabilities, however, it is very likely that there would have been a church on the present site, possibly of timber, by the year 1000.

In medieval times the village would probably have been green with the houses and church around it, and prosperous. The northern wall and porch of St James church are from the 13th century, as the carved stone pulpit. The church was rebuilt in the perpendicular style, with the tower (once used as the village lock-up), added at a later date. The 700th anniversary was celebrated in 2004.

By 1600, the village supported a shoemaker, a blacksmith, a sawyer, a flour mill, a malt house, and two public houses. In 1617, John Crandall was baptised to James and Eleanor Crandall at St. James the Great church, and became one of the founders of Westerly, Rhode Island, United States.

The discovery of coal in 1660 provided employment for the villagers, with further finds at Coalpit Heath and Parkfield providing more employment. The mines closed in the last century, when the coal was exhausted.

By 1876 occupations in the village included farmers, a bootmaker, shopkeepers, innkeepers, butchers, a plasterer, a blacksmith, a wheelwright, a market gardener and a carrier. At the end of the 19th century many of the old houses were demolished. At the beginning of the 20th century, the railway and mining provided most of the work. Now residents find work in nearby Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Bristol, and in the village itself.

Governance

An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches from Dodington in the east, through 'Westerleigh'. The total population for the ward at the 2011 census was 3,755. On 1 April 2023 the parish was renamed from "Westerleigh" to "Westerleigh and Coalpit Heath".

Amenities

The village has two public houses: the New Inn and Ye Olde Inn. As well as Wot Not second-hand shop, and two garages. The village shop has now closed.

Transport

In the late 18th century roads were built to Downend. The Great Western and Midland Railways were constructed in the 19th century. Westerleigh Junction was a crossing point of east-west and north-south main lines. In particular it is considered to be the present end of the line from milepost zero at Derby. Westerleigh formerly had a goods depot on the Bristol & Gloucester Railway. Demolished in the 1960s as part of the Beeching cuts, the site is now the home of one of Murco's oil storage terminals.

Westerleigh is served by the WESTlink on-demand bus, available to the public Monday-Saturday.

Location grid

References

References

1. "Parish population 2011".
2. '''Moore, J.''' '''(ed), 1982.''' ''Domesday Book: Gloucestershire''. Phillimore. {{ISBN. 0 85033 321 0.
3. '''Abrams, A., 1996.''' ''Anglo-Saxon Glastonbury: Church and Endowment.'' Boydell. Pages 211-214. {{ISBN. 0 85115 369 0
4. '''Coates, R., 2017.''' ''Your City's Place-Names: Bristol.'' English Place-Name Society. Page 198 for Westerleigh. {{ISBN. 0 904889 96 3.
5. '''Gelling, M., Cole, A., 2000'''. ''The Landscape of Place-Names''. Shaun Tyas. Pages 237-242. {{ISBN. 1 900289 26 1.
6. "Ward population 2011".
7. "The South Gloucestershire (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2023". [[South Gloucestershire Council]].
8. "Home".