Downend, South Gloucestershire

Downend
Downend
 Downend shown within Gloucestershire
Population 12,125 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceST650774
Civil parishDownend and Bromley Heath
Unitary authoritySouth Gloucestershire
Ceremonial countyGloucestershire
RegionSouth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town BRISTOL
Postcode district BS
Dialling code 0117
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Avon
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK ParliamentFilton and Bradley Stoke
List of places
UK
England
Gloucestershire

Coordinates: 51°29′41″N 2°30′18″W / 51.4947°N 2.5049°W / 51.4947; -2.5049

Downend war memorial
A mural of W. G. Grace in Downend

Downend is a suburb of Bristol in Gloucestershire, England. It is in the South Gloucestershire local district, located to the north east of Bristol and bordered by the Bristol city suburb of Fishponds to its south west and the South Gloucestershire suburbs of Staple Hill to the south, Frenchay to the west and Mangotsfield to the east. Between Downend and Frenchay is Cleevewood and Bromley Heath, popular areas for families. Housing stock in Downend consists mainly of 1930's to 1950's semi detached and detached properties.

Downend benefits from beautiful countryside and a host of attractions on its doorstep. Approximately 14 miles to the south lies the historic city of Bath which is steeped in history and has stunning architecture.

In 2015 The Telegraph newspaper constructed an index of the best places to live in England and Wales using official data on average weekly incomes, crime rates, health, home ownership, and economic activity. Downend was ranked 221 out of 7137 areas to live by the Telegraph newspaper. (Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11041812/Mapped-the-best-places-to-live-in-England-and-Wales.html)

The high street is noted for its exuberant decoration with a number of shops hanging flowers above their doors (http://www.downendbromleyheath.org/community-activities/downend-bromley-heath-in-bloom/). The High Street is home to a number of independently owned child friendly restaurants and coffee shops allowing residents to eat out locally. The high street also offers a Deli, Sainsbury's and Co-op supermarkets, various estate agents, an accountancy and most of the Major banks.

Downend has lots of green space and parks including The King George V Playing Fields, and there is also a local cricket club located in the centre of Downend. Secondary and primary schools within catchment areas of Downend include both Ofsted rated "Outstanding" and "Good" schools including Mangotsfield C of E school, Downend School, Stanbridge Primary School, Bromley Heath Junior and Infant Schools and Christ Church Junior and Infant Schools making the area very popular with families moving to Bristol. There are a few local churches although the closest are Downend Baptist Church on Salisbury Road and Christ Church on Downend Road. Badminton Road Methodist Church, between Downend and the Avon Ring Road, serves the newer housing alongside Badminton Road and in the Bromley Heath area.

Jenny Jones (snowboarder) and cricketer W. G. Grace were born in the village. Grace played cricket as a boy for the nearby West Gloucestershire Cricket Club, which had been founded by his father, the Downend GP.Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward, members of the band Bananarama, also grew up in Downend. The rock band New Rhodes also lived in Downend for a short time.

Woodland, situated between Croomes Hill and Overndale Road in Downend, was the site of an air crash on 6 November 1957, when a prototype Bristol Britannia aircraft crashed killing the 15-man crew. The prototype aircraft crashed into nearby Britannia Woods, Downend after sweeping across the expanse of 1950s Downend.

Governance

An electoral ward in the same name exists. The total population of the ward at the 2011 census was 10,785.[2]

Historical associations

W. G. Grace, the cricketer, was born at Downend House on North Street.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "civil parish population 2011.Retrieved 19 March 2015".
  2. ↑ "Ward population 2011.Retrieved 19 March 2015".
  3. ↑ "DOWNEND HOUSE - 1116188 Historic England". Historic England. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
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