BRADFORD ON AVON - A Truly Picturesque Town
Bradford on Avon grew up around 'broad ford' and the slopes
of the river. The narrow roads are lined with grey buildings in
mellowed Bath stone. The textile industry had been the backbone of the
local economy for six ceturies until its demise at the begining of
this century. At one time Bradford had more than thirty cloth
factories. However when King James I enacted a law compelling all
cloth to be dyed in London, by a merchant to whom he was in debt. This
law ruined most of the trade in the West Country.
The trade
changed when Paul Methuen (one of Bradfords great clothiers, whose
family now own Corsham Court ) brought over
a colony of Flemish weavers to introduce improved techniques.
The
19th century cloth mills still line the banks of the river and the old
clothiers houses and weavers cottages provide plenty of old world
charm.
Well worth a visit is the Saxon church of St
laurence, this building dates back to the eleventh century but was
only rediscovered in 1871. It may even be built on the site of the
earlier construction by St Aldhelm in 700AD. It is incredible that a
building this old is still in such a good condition. It owes its
survival to the fact that it was not recognised as a church at all, as
families used to live in it and even a school was once housed inside.
Other places of interest include the Holy Trinity Church, St Mary's
Chapel and the Tithe Barn at Barton
Farm.
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