Winsley

Geography

Winsley is distinctly split into the Old Winsley Village and the Tyning Estate. Some public services can be found in the centre of either of these areas. The B3108 road once passed through the old village but a relief road avoiding the narrow roads and double bends was completed in 1997.

The Avon forms the western and southern boundaries of the parish. To the east is Bradford on Avon parish; in the northwest and southwest is the boundary with the county of Somerset, administratively Bath and North East Somerset.

Governance

The civil parish elects a parish council. It is in the area of Wiltshire Council unitary authority, which is responsible for all significant local government functions.

Until 1894, when the Urban District of Bradford on Avon was created, Winsley was a tithing of the ancient parish of Bradford.

The village falls in the 'Winsley and Westwood' electoral ward. This ward starts in the north at Winsley and stretches south through Lower Westwood to Wingfield. The total ward population taken at the 2011 census was 3,944.

Economy

Winsley is mainly a commuter village but there is still a number of farms in the parish. Care facilities for the elderly and infirm include Avon Park Care Village and Lyddieth Court sheltered apartments. Dorothy House Hospice Care operates a ten bed in-patient hospice and a considerable day-care and training facility.

Public services

Winsley has a range of services. On the Tyning Estate built in the 1960s, a local shop with Post Office and a GP's practice with a pharmacy are next to the Church of England primary school. Winsley Acorns Group operates in purpose-built accommodation in the school grounds and a modern well-equipped play area for toddlers and older children is located nearby in Whitehorse Road. In the old village with its manor house and many 17th-century houses and artisan's cottages, the village hall, St Nicholas' parish church, a Methodist church (built 1902) and a bowls club, are around the village pub. Winsley Cricket Club is next to the Manor House grounds overlooking the Avon Valley, while Bradford on Avon and District Rugby Football Club is at the eastern end of the village with access from the by-pass.

Bus service 265 passes through the village, with a regular timetable throughout the day serving Bath, Trowbridge and Warminster. The railway towards Bath and Bristol passes to the south and west of the parish, following the river valley; Avoncliff station is within the parish and Freshford is just outside.

Parish church

A chapel in Winsley has been recorded as early as 1349. The current Church of England parish church of Saint Nicholas was built in 1841, by the order of Rev. Harvey of Bradford on Avon, retaining the 15th-century tower, joined to the church by a small arch. One of the basement stones of the tower is dated 1761. The church clock dates from the late 18th century, and the three bells were hung in the tower in 1951. In 1962 the church was designated as Grade II listed. In 2004 the clock was converted to an electric movement.

The church organ was constructed in 1876 at a cost of £200. By 1922 it had deteriorated, and was dismantled, repaired, cleaned and re-sited. Further repairs and improvements were made in 1931 and again in 1960. The electrical blowing equipment was installed in 1947. In May 1998 the organ was completely dismantled, its 700 pipes removed and cleaned, refurbished, and adjusted. The restoration was completed in September 1998 at a total cost of £9000.

Notable People