Warleigh

This article is about the hamlet in Somerset. For the place in Devon, see Warleigh, Bickleigh.

Warleigh is a hamlet in the civil parish of Bathford, in the Bath and North East Somerset district, in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It lies 2.5 miles (4 km) east of Bath, on the River Avon, it is primarily known as the location of Warleigh Weir and Warleigh Manor.

Warleigh
Warleigh Manor
Warleigh Location within Somerset
Population	336 [1]
OS grid reference	ST792645
Unitary authority	Bath and North East Somerset
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BATH
Postcode district	BA1
Dialling code	01225
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Bath
List of places UK England Somerset 51.401°N 2.302°W / 51.401; -2.302

History

Warleigh Manor

The Skrine family lived at Warleigh from 1643.^[2] The present Warleigh Manor was built in 1815 as a country house for Henry Skrine (d.1853); his father Henry Skrine (d.1803) was known for his writings on his travels in Great Britain. John Webb, a Staffordshire architect, designed the house in the revivalist Tudor style.^[3][4]

Skrines owned the house for the next seven generations; it was altered and extended in 1907. The building was designated as Grade II* listed in 1956 as an early example of the Tudor revival.^[5] In the same year, the contents were sold and the house and its stable block were occupied by a series of educational establishments: Rodbourne College, Bathford College, and Warleigh Manor School.^[6] In 1999, it was renovated and converted into residential units.^[7]

Close to the house are the former stables (around three sides of a courtyard)^[8] and the former orangery.^[9] Both are of the same period as the house – early to mid 19th century – and are now in residential use.

Warleigh Weir

Main article: Warleigh Weir

Warleigh Weir was originally built to supply a head of water from the Avon to a gristmill in Claverton. The weir was raised by 12 inches between 1809 and 1813 as part of the construction program for the Claverton Pumping Station, built on the site of the mill.^[10]

The weir is not publicly accessible from Warleigh, although previously a ferryman operated from Ferry Cottage in Warleigh to the river island, at least until the 1950s.^[11] The weir can be accessed from a bridge on the Claverton side of the river. The weir and the bridge to the island are both owned by the Canal & River Trust.

Today the weir is a popular wild swimming spot^[12] and has been for at least 100 years.^[13]

Swimmers at Warleigh Weir

References

1. "2011 Census Profile". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
2. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1897). "Skrine, Henry" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 52. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
3. Laurence, Godfrey (1985). Bathford Past and Present. Bathford Society. ISBN 0 9510746 1 X.
4. Laurence, Godfrey (2010). Bathford Past and Present. Bathford Society. ISBN 978-0-9510746-2-6.
5. Historic England. "Warleigh Manor School (1157904)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
6. "Warleigh Manor House". The Bathford Society. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
7. "Planning Application Details". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
8. Historic England. "Classrooms to Warleigh Manor School (1115301)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
9. Historic England. "The Cottage (1115300)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
10. Danks, Warwick (2003). Claverton Pumping Station (A Definitive Study). Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. ISBN 978-0-9501173-4-8.
11. "Warleigh Ferry 1950". Bath in Time. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
12. Brinsford, James (14 July 2018). "Why beauty spot near Bath is hailed as UK's best swimming location". somersetlive. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
13. "Posing for the camera at Warleigh Weir, c.1930s". www.bathintime.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2019.