Midford
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Midford | |
  Midford shown within Somerset |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Unitary authority | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Ceremonial county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Bath |
| Postcode district | BA2 |
| Dialling code | 01761 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Wansdyke |
| North East Somerset (from next general election). |
|
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Midford is a village 3 miles (5 km) south of Bath, Somerset, England.
The village is dominated by the former viaduct of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway and by the remains of a lesser viaduct that once carried the Somerset Coal Canal, and later the Great Western branch line from Limpley Stoke to Camerton. Midford railway station served the village until 1966. It is now on the route of NCR 24 the colliers way.
For about four years from 1911 to 1915, Midford had a second railway station: Midford Halt railway station on the Limpley Stoke to Camerton railway that followed the former Somerset Coal Canal. At Camerton it made an end-on junction with a branch from Hallatrow on the former Bristol & North Somerset Railway. The line was only open to passenger traffic for seven years in all, from 1910 to 1915, and from 1923 to 1925, and Midford Halt opened a year late and then did not reopen for the second period. Midford Halt was in Wiltshire; the county boundary runs up to the B3110 road at the point where the canal/railway crossed the road, and the halt was on the Wiltshire side.
On the hillside above Midford is Midford Castle, a late 18th century folly castle built in the shape of the ace of clubs (♣). The castle was built in 1775 by Henry Disney Roebuck. It was owned by the Briggs family who spent 45 years restoring the castle, before its sale in July 2007, to actor Nicolas Cage for £5 million.
There is one public house in the village - the Hope and Anchor.
[edit] References
- Somerset Railway Stations, by Mike Oakley, Dovecote Press 2002
- Wiltshire Railway Stations, by Mike Oakley, Dovecote Press
[edit] External links
- Some photos of the viaducts etc.
- Map sources for Midford
