Cromhall


Cromhall is a village in South Gloucestershire, England. It is located between Bagstone and Charfield on the B4058, and also borders Leyhill. The parish population taken at the 2011 census was 1,231.

Location

Cromhall is about from Falfield on the A38 Tortworth turn-off. The village is spread out and about 1 mile long, being one of the longest villages in England, although not as long as Falfield.

Facilities

The gargoyled church of St Andrews is situated in Rectory Lane and was built over a monastery. There is an area named Abbotside close to the church. The church of England village school, is also called St Andrews and is situated next to the church. It is said that there is a tunnel which runs under the church yard, across the field and eventually comes out at Abbotside. The tunnel is believed to have been used in Tudor times during the reign of Henry VIII as a safe passage by monks from the abbey. At the other end of the village towards Yate, there is a small lane called Cowship Lane. In the village there is a post office, garage and a pub called The Royal Oak.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century there was a colliery at Cromhall. The coal was in several strata but they varied so much in thickness, in places being thirty inches thick and in others six inches or dwindled away altogether, that the profitability of the pit was low and it closed. It reopened again a few years later but soon failed again. The remains of the engine house and shaft top, now completely filled in, are still visible.

Notable people

The author and writer on natural history Anthony Collett was born here, where his father was the rector. He was the nature correspondent for The Times during the 1910s and 1920s.

Notable Buildings

The Parish Church of St Andrew is a Grade I listed building and the Old Rectory is listed at Grade II.