Limpley Stoke
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It was historically a part of the ancient parish and manor of Bradford within the Hundred of Bradford, only becoming a separate parish in 1884.
St Mary’s parish church, formerly a chapelry of the mother church in Bradford and dedicated to St Edith of Wilton, is situated right on the boundary with Freshford, Somerset. It was presumably built for the Abbess of Shaftesbury and still includes some Saxon features.
Etymology
The name Stoke is very common, with North and South Stokes in nearby Bath. The word stoc seems to signify an outlying settlement, presumably with reference to Bradford. It was often referred to as Hanging Stoke, because of its situation on a steep hillside. The “Limpley” part, which seems to mean a bright clearing, was only added from the 16th century, but looks like a much older name.
Economy
The 2001 census recorded a population of 637 inhabitants, although this must have included people staying at the hotels. There was formerly a water-driven, then steam-driven woollen cloth factory which has at times been a corn mill, saw-mill, rubber works and has now been converted to offices. Two pubs still exist: the Rose & Crown, just off the main A36 road and the Hop Pole Inn, which is tied up with the Limpley Stoke Hotel, which was previously the West of England Hydropathic Establishment (or just The Hydro), founded in 1862. The Cliffe Hotel operated between 1961 and the end of 2011. The station closed in 1966, although the building remains. Today Stoke is very much tied up with adjoining Freshford (Somerset), with which it shares an award-winning community shop. The ecclesiatical parish is shared with Freshford and Hinton Charterhouse.
What is there in the Museum collection?
The Museum has some old photographs and is keen to collect other objects from Limpley Stoke. Please see if you have any old photographs that you could give to the Museum, or just let us copy.
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> Old pictures of Limpley Stoke