A number of histories of Wrington 
have been undertaken and 
elsewhere on this website 
you can see Mark Bullen's 
introduction to his
Wrington Recalled
and read Hugh Smith's
History of All Saints'.
also Cmdr Michael Lawder's explanation
for us having no main road

This page will introduce other
work, starting with the results
of the researches undertaken by 
people on a University of Bristol Extra-Mural course in 1965-66

The map of Wrington in 1738 was
redrawn from the one by John
Rocque. The main road system is similar
to today's, except that Wrington Hill
peters out into open hill land. The road
to Congresbury is 'Waste Lane' rather
than 'Westhay'

The probable layout of Wrington Manor House based on Abbot Richard Beere's Terrier 1516  the deed of 1670
and John Rocque's map of 1738

The research on the Manor House
during the extra-mural course
was done by Hugh and Joyce Smith

"At some time between 1738 and 1754 .. 
the old Manor House (or Court House, 
as it was often termed)  must have been demolished ..  A few remains of outer
walls and moat  can still be seen."

This drawing of Broad Street in
18C was photographed by Mr
Julius Herrstein who also took the
b & w photos for the recently
published history of All Saints'.

The Misses Chambers, Truman and
West point out that "It shows the sign
of the Golden Lion, while opposite the houses on the south side of the road
stand much as today, save for their thatched gables .. and an outside
staircase. .. The Old Rectory can be seen .. In the centre .. stands the market cross .. removed in the 19C  because it is said it inconvenienced the Lord's none-too-
sober coachman".

Mrs Frances Neale, tutor of the
extra-mural course wrote a 
Note on the Old Coach Road 
at a time (1965-66) when "new road-widening works commenced 
on the A38 at Redhill."

There has been a road "down Redhill
and across the Wrington valley ..
since medieval times. ..

The Bristol Turnpike Trust .. set up in
1727 .. took over this road as far as East Brent, levying tolls to pay for its upkeep. 

They planned, indeed, to re-route it through Wrington itself, and only the strong objections of  Rev Henry
Waterland prevented this. ..

The old coach road up the hill, being unsurfaced, was worn very deep into the ground by sheer usage" - as her diagram shows.