Nowhere and Back
Mile Straight
From the railway bridge at Parkway Station, New Road the old road, runs SW
and was known as three quarter mile, or the mile straight. This road from
Stoke Gifford to Filton, replaced an older road which ran to Conygre Farm in
Filton. New Road has also been replaced, for through traffic, by Brierley
Furlong.
Sun Life Lake
A new pathway winds around the artificial lake. The water tapped for the
lake is also the source of the little stream which winds its way behind
New Road to Stoke Brook. The path follows the route of the old church path
to Harry Stoke Road. The public footpath is diverted via Church Road and
Westfield Lane.
'The Paddocks'
Before crossing Harry Stoke Road into the field, turn right for 50 metres
to the post box in the wall. Over the wall is the old farm pool, with a
resident moorhen. The big farm building was one of several in the Stoke
Gifford Parish. Harry Stoke Farm was renamed The Paddocks early this
century.
Nowhere
A place where the three parishes joined Stoke Gifford, Winterbourne and
Frenchay. On the original map boundary lines were not quite accurate. If
it is not in any of the other parishes, it must be nowhere; was the
quote. Future maps were drawn correctly, but the name stuck.
Rock Lane
Turning left over a stile and crossing first Hambrook Lane, then the
railway lines by the bridge, the new footpath cycleway is on the east of
the old hedge. In Rock Lane, there was a tiny stone cottage covered in
roses with the name of 'God's House'.
'Little Leaze'
One of a group of houses with Watch Elm and Baileys Court Farms.
Sherbourne's Brake
This wood was planted during the 19th century. It stands on a piece of land
originally known as Hales Common, and may have been named in honour of
Harry Sherbourne, who was living at Watch Elm at the time of the 1851
Census ‑ he was described as a nephew. The largest trees are three
protected Turkey Oaks at the top of the wood, but look for the felled
Poplar close to where the cycle path enters the wood from the south.
Several of its off-spring are growing nearby. This wood is an excellent
place to see bluebells in spring.
Whitebeam Tree
This was planted in 1995 to celebrate the centenary of Mrs. Higgins.
Stoke Brook
We have been walking alongside Stoke Brook for a while now and this is the
point where three others feed into it.
© Stoke Gifford Parish Council
