Pilning

Pilning is a village in South Gloucestershire, England, close to Redwick and Severn Beach. Pilning is close to the M4, M49 and A403 roads, and has the South Wales Main Line railway running through it, with a minor station.^[2]

Pilning
Pilning Location within Gloucestershire
Population	3,647
OS grid reference	ST556852
Civil parish	Pilning and Severn Beach [1]
Unitary authority	South Gloucestershire
Ceremonial county	Gloucestershire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Bristol
Postcode district	BS35
Dialling code	01454
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Thornbury and Yate
List of places UK England Gloucestershire 51.5640°N 2.6417°W / 51.5640; -2.6417

The civil parish is Pilning and Severn Beach. The population at the 2011 census was 3,647.^[3] An electoral ward exists in the same name.^[4]

Because of the close proximity of the River Severn and the English Stones section of the river bed, Pilning has found itself the ideal place to make both a substantial railway tunnel and motorway bridge. The Severn Tunnel opened in 1885 and the Second Severn Crossing opened in 1996.^[5][6]

Landmarks

The Plough Inn

The village is home to St Peters Primary School and a number of other amenities including a shop, a doctor's surgery, and several pubs such as The King's Arms.^[2] The Plough Inn hosts a jazz evening on the first Sunday of every month.^[7] Pilning Cricket Club was established in 1883.^[8]

The parish church of St Peter was completed in 1855 (consecrated 9 August), the principal architect was Thomas Henry Wyatt with H. Crisp. It also has a late 20th-century south extension in same style. It is a grade II listed building.^[9] The village also contains the St Mary's Indian Orthodox Church.^[10]

Pilning had an annual Carnival,^[11] and an amateur dramatic society, "The Village Players". At Christmas 2015 the "Players" put on a pantomime production of "Mother Goose".^[12]

Transport

Pilning railway station is located 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the village. As of 2023, only two eastbound trains a week serve the station due to the removal of the footbridge during Great Western Main Line electrification works.

Pilning is served hourly by bus route 12, operated by Stagecoach West, between Stoke Gifford (for Bristol Parkway) and Severn Beach.

References

1. "Pilning and Severn Beach Parish Council | Home".
2. "Pilning" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
3. "Which South Gloucestershire station is one of the quietest in the UK?". Bristol Post. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
4. "2015 parish election results". South Gloucestershire Council. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
5. Biddle, Gordon; Nock, Oswald Stevens (1983). The railway heritage of Britain: 150 years of railway architecture and engineering. M. Joseph. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-7181-2355-0.
6. The Severn crossings toll: third report of session 2010-11, report, together with formal minutes and written evidence. Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee. The Stationery Office. 22 December 2010. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-215-55570-0.
7. "The Plough Inn". What's On In Bristol. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
8. Cox, Richard William (January 2003). British Sport: Local histories. Psychology Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-7146-5251-1.
9. "Church of St. Peter". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
10. "Indian Orthodox Church consecrated for Bristol". British Orthodox Church. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
11. "Pilning carnival draws in the crowds". Gazette. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
12. "The Village Players in Pilning bring Mother Goose to the village for some seasonal entertainment". Gazette. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2016.

External links

• Pilning village website
• Pilning and Severn Beach Parish Council
• St Peters Primary School
• Pilning Flower Show website