Abbot's Leigh

ABBOT’S LEIGH is a small parish and village, 4 miles west from Bristol. There is a Parish Hall and Reading Room

Leigh Court, the residence of Sir Henry Robert William Miles, bart, who is the Lord of the Manor, Lay Rector and principal landowner is a noble mansion, erected by Philip John Miles, Esq., who died 24^th March 1845.

The soil is sandy, and the sub soil is limestone, which is quarried in two places.  The chief crops are roots, wheat and barley, though a large part of the parish is in pasture and woods. The area is 2,258 acres ; rateable value £4,845; Population in 1911 was 326 

ABBOT’S LEIGH is part of the

• Northern division of the County [Somerset], 
• Hundred of Portbury,
• Long Ashton Petty Sessional Division – [previously known as Bedminster,
• Long Ashton Union – [previously known as Bedminster],
• County Court District of Bristol, Rural deanery of Clifton,
• Archdeaconry of Bristol,
• Diocese of Bristol.

THE CHURCH

The Church of the Holy Trinity, with the exception of the tower and chancel was destroyed by fire in 1848 but the church was rebuilt in the same year at the expense of the late  Sir William Miles bart., and  is now an edifice of stone in the perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of six bays, aisles and south porch, and an embattled western tower, with pinnacles, containing a clock, and 6 very fine bells. 

The monument to the late P. J. Miles, Esq., as well as the memorials to the Norton family were preserved from the fire.  The Church plate was given by Lady Norton in the reign of Charles the Second.

Norton’s Charity left in 1659 amounts to £11 yearly for apprenticing, and £13 6s  4d yearly for distribution; Miles Charity, founded by Will in 1842 consists of £20 yearly for bread and beef; Roach’s Charity amounts to £1 annually and Addis’s Charity to £4 10s annually. There are sittings for 258 persons. 

The register dates from the year 1651.

• Sexton – Charles Symes.  
• Assistant Overseer & Clerk to the Parish Council – William Frampton

Non-Conformist

There are no Non-Conformist Chapels

THE School

Public Elementary School (mixed) for 70 children - average attendance, 65.

•   School Master – James William Hare

Post

Post, Money Order & Telegraph Office.   Letters from Bristol arrive and are delivered daily at 7.10am, 2.15 & 7.15pm, on Sundays at 7.30am.  Letters are dispatched daily at 10.00am, 3.15pm & 7.15pm  Sundays at 4 pm.  

• Sub-postmaster – Arthur Ed Giddings