Bath - Twerton Gate

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Twerton, situated in the esteemed city of Bath, Somerset, is a well-established suburb with a rich history. According to the records of the Domesday Book of 1086, Twerton was under the ownership of Nigel de Gournay, whose acquisition of lands in Englishcombe, Twerton, Swainswick, and Barrow Gurney likely stemmed from his service to William I of England. It is presumed that Nigel de Gournay's original residence was Gournay, positioned midway between Dieppe and Paris. Twerton was encompassed within the Wellow Hundred, an administrative division of the time.Thomas de Gournay, a member of the de Gournay family, was implicated in the murder of Edward II at Berkeley Castle in 1327, marking a notorious event intertwined with Twerton's historical narrative.During the era when Isambard Kingdom Brunel was devising plans for the Great Western Railway, his initial proposal entailed the railway line from Bath to Bristol passing through the heart of Twerton. Twerton-on-Avon, the railway station located on the main line, remained operational until 1917. Additionally, Twerton served as the terminus for one of the lines of the Bath Tramways system until its closure in 1939.St. Michael's Church underwent expansion in 1824 under the guidance of esteemed local architect John Pinch the elder. Later, it was rebuilt in 1839 by George Phillips Manners, the architect of the city. Twerton Gaol, also designed by Manners, was constructed in 1840 and ceased operations in 1878. Presently, only the governor's house remains, having been converted into apartments.Notably, the renowned author Henry Fielding, celebrated for his work "Tom Jones," resided in Twerton and is believed to have penned a significant portion of the novel during his stay. Unfortunately, Fielding's Lodge, his former residence, fell victim to road improvements carried out by Bath City Council in 1963.Following World War II, Twerton experienced housing shortages and a surge in population, necessitating substantial construction of council housing in Twerton and Whiteway. This development occurred on a larger scale compared to other areas of Bath. Consequently, the demographics of the region reflect this circumstance, with approximately 48% of households in the ward renting from the council or other social housing entities. Twerton has maintained its predominantly working-class character, distinguishing it from the rest of the city.A noteworthy architectural gem in Twerton is the Centurion pub, which was erected in 1965. Recognizing its historical and cultural significance, the pub was designated as a Grade II listed building in 2018.This camera was installed and is maintained by the Environment Agency and can be viewed here. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0.