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Explore Bradford on Avon:

Whitehead’s Lane

Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

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Whitehead’s Lane is a short street that goes up hill from Silver Street at around the point where the chapel of St Olave once stood. It is named after Manasseh Whitehead, a 17th century Quaker and the modern Quaker Meeting House is located here.

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Click on the thumbnail pictures for a bigger view

Sundial House, so-named because of the dial on the south-facing end wall, is the first building on the right. It is a 3-bay, 3-strorey mid-Georgian house with an ashlar front with pediments over the doorway and the central window on the next floor and a modillion cornice. It faces the side of the Bunch of Grapes pub; the end wall is on a narrow alley that leads to White Hill.

Beyond is a terrace of Georgian houses that step up the hillside.

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Immediately behind the Bunch of Grapes are old industrial premises that were used by the precision engineering company of Griffin & Fudge, which made moulds, especially for the rubber industry and closed in 2010.  Some parts of the buildings were previously the G.&T. Spencer brewery. Redevelopment for housing by Juniper Homes (South West) of Bristol began late in 2017.

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The next building was formerly the house of the manager of the brewery. It has been the Quaker Meeting House since 1971, a refounding of the Society of Friends in Bradford, which had died out in the 19th century. Previously the Quakers had buildings at Frankleigh and then where St Margaret’s car park is now.

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Set back from the road is Whitehead’s Lane Mill, a very early 19th century woollen cloth factory. It has been empty for a long time and its windows are blocked. Behind is a view up the the former windmill.

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