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About Patchway
Patchway, before the First World War, consisted of some farms, farm cottages and Victorian houses along the A38 and a small farming settlement on Patchway Common.
Major development of the area, then part of the parish of Almondsbury, took place in the latter part of the 1930s with the building of the Callicroft Estate on the site of Callicroft Farm.
Building ceased when war broke out and recommenced in 1946 when 50 houses were built in Bradley Road by the Air Ministry to re-house those displaced from Charlton Village. This was followed by council house building and by private development in 1956.
The 1960s saw the large chalet bungalow development of Stoke Lodge and the building of over 600 Wimpy houses at Coniston Road to house Bristol overspill and the remainder of the Thornbury Rural District waiting list. The development of Highwood and Stoke Dene and the flats in Coniston Road left little land in the town undeveloped.
The Almondsbury Parish Ward of Patchway became a Parish in its own right in 1953. Much needed to be done in order to provide the amenities now enjoyed. At that time there was no street lighting, no fire station, library, modern clinic, day centre for the elderly, children’s play area, cricket pitch, football pitch, secondary school or sports hall.
In 1992, Patchway’s boundaries changed. We regretted losing a large part of Patchway Common and its residents to Bradley Stoke but were pleased to welcome Aztec West Business Park, as our boundary now extends to the M5. In 2010, new residents started to move into Charlton Hayes, which is part of Patchway. In 2015, a new parish of Stoke Lodge and The Common Parish Council was created from the Stoke Lodge Ward and Patchway Common, and Patchway was very sorry to lose these residents.
In 1998 the Parish Council became a Town Council. The Town Council is determined to continue the progress already achieved in the interest of all its residents. In 2008 the Council achieved Quality Council status, which is now renamed Local Council Award Scheme, however this award has since expired. In 2015, Stoke Lodge was made a parish in its own right and is now no longer a part of Patchway.
Norman Scott Park
Patchway’s original playing field was donated by the developers of the Callicroft Estate in 1937. It was situated behind Stroud Road at the junction with Coniston Road. This was exchanged with land owned by Thornbury Rural District Council to provide a play area closer to the centre of Patchway. More land was bought with money received from the Air Ministry as compensation for the loss of common land at Charlton Village which was needed to extend the runway for the Brabazon aircraft project. It was named Norman Scott Park in recognition of the outstanding public service rendered by Alderman W. N. Scott, first chairman of Patchway Parish Council.
The park, which provides leisure and sports facilities for the community, is owned and managed by the Town Council. Part of the land is leased by Patchway Sports and Social Club. Three football pitches and a cricket pitch, in 2020 a 3G floodlit pitch and cricket nets were also installed all of these are available for hire. Bookings should be made through the Town Clerk (07903 628422).
The Council has provided a fenced play area for children under 12 and 2 picnic areas in attractive landscaped gardens. There is also a floodlit skateboard rink with ramps for use by young people of all ages. The play area was refurbished in 2011 with government funding and its facilities are now fully accessible. Further funding is was used towards the new pavilion which was completed in 2022.
About Patchway: Issues
About Patchway: Welcome
The Tumps
The Tumps is an open space behind the houses in Coniston Road owned by the Town Council and which extends over the railway tunnel. It consists of the spoil from the excavations when the railway tunnel was built. The land was given to the Council in part compensation for the common land lost at Charlton Common.
It has been designated a Community Nature Area and is managed by Patchway Conservation Group. It provides an informal play area for children and a natural open space which can be enjoyed by members of the local community. There is a viewpoint and beacon on the largest tump.
The land to the north of Waterside Drive is leased to a local BMX Club which has built a cycle track for competitive and leisure use. This is available for the public when not being used by the club.
The area adjacent to the motorway includes an old field pond formerly part of Upper Hempton Court Farm, which, prior to the building of Aztec West Business Park, was farmed by Mr Turner. The Conservation Group has cleared and enhanced this pond, now known as Turner’s pond. Byelaws prohibit the use of motorbikes and guns and the picking or destruction of any flowers, plants and trees on any part of the Tumps. The Forest of Avon Community Forest Path follows the line of the Tumps and interpretation boards have been provided to explain the value of the area for people and wildlife.
About Patchway: Issues
About Patchway: Welcome
Coniston Community Centre
The Centre, opened in 1993 in a Portakabin, was the first community building in the Coniston area of Patchway since it was developed in the 1960s. The Centre was rebuilt in 2004 and extended in 2011. It has four community rooms, which are fully accessible for people with disabilities, and provides accommodation for various community groups and leisure activities. Southern Brooks Community Partnerships has its main offices on the top floor along with Battle Against Tranquilisers. Southern Brooks also run the community café on the ground floor.
Patchway Community Centre
The Community Centre, in Rodway Road, owned by the Town Council but leased to the Community Association is open seven days a week from 8.00am to midnight and is home to a great variety of clubs and activities. Rooms of all sizes are available to hire with competitive charges. It was built in the 1930s and originally known as the Social Hall. Between 1989 and 1991 a building programme was carried out by the Town Council, which extended and modernised the facilities with financial support from the District Council and Almondsbury Charity. Further improvements have been made in recent years including the redevelopment and extension.
About Patchway: Issues
Patchway Community Centre
Coniston Community Centre
Patchway Community Centre
About Patchway: Welcome
About Patchway
Patchway Sports and Social Club
The Sports & Social Club is a private, non-affiliated club, which was founded in 1977 by members of the cricket and football clubs. The premises, built on land leased from the Town Council, were opened in May 1981. The pleasantly furnished accommodation includes a function room, lounge bar and a darts, pool and skittles room. Members may hire rooms for private activities. Food is served at lunchtimes and at weekends.
Patchway Youth Centre
FACE (the Foundation for Active Community Engagement) are a youth and community charity who are based in Patchway Youth Centre for their youth clubs held between 4.30-6.30pm for project sessions, and 7-9pm for seniors on Tuesdays, and between 3.30-5.30pm for Junior youth club (Year 5, 6 & 7) on Thursdays.
Allotments
The Council has two allotment sites; one at Pretoria Road, and one at Blakeney Road.
Children’s Play Areas
In addition to the play area in Scott Park, there is play equipment in the following locations:
Arlingham Way: Patchway is the only community in South Gloucestershire to have been awarded funds to set up a Pocket Park. The project on the former playground area (partly tarmac and partly grass) behind the houses in Arlingham Way will now provide play equipment for younger children, raised beds for flowers and vegetables, wildflowers and fruit trees, bench, a basketball hoop and football goal post.
Bevington Walk: fenced play area for younger children and a basketball court.
Blakeney Road Play Area (next to Coniston School): fenced play area with swings and a small basketball court installed in 2021.
Gorse Covert Field: fenced play area for younger children and adventure/fitness trail for older children and adults.
Callicroft Road: An open area with benches and small play equipment.
Twinning
Patchway Town Council and local Schools work together to promote Patchway’s official twinning links with the towns of Clermont l'Hérault in Southern France and Gauting in Southern Germany.
Fundraising events are held and exchanges take place with the French and German communities involving school pupils, residents of the community and local organisations.
About Patchway: Issues
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