The Church of St Helen has a Norman font that was removed from the old Church of St Helen. The Old Church of St Helen near Alveston is protected as a Scheduled Monument, with its surviving above-ground and underground remains.
Church history and building phases
Most of the north nave wall of the Old Church dates from the 12th or 13th century, while the west tower dates from the early 15th century. The different dates show that its building history cannot be reduced to a single period. The surviving tower is built of two-coloured limestone in a rough chequerboard pattern. Its west window has Decorated-style tracery and is dated to around 1300.
By 1882, the Old Church was no longer in use and had been replaced by a new church with the same dedication. Its gradual demolition began in 1962; the final phase was completed in 1967. This places the end of its use as a church and its later demolition as two distinct stages.
Alveston War Memorial was erected around 1921 and is listed as a Grade II building. Street Farmhouse is dated to 1638, providing a much earlier point of reference than the memorial.
Archaeological traces and landscape
Little Abbey is a Scheduled Monument near Alveston. It comprises a slight, single-rampart hillfort and associated Roman remains; the earthwork is well preserved. Little Abbey lies on a ridge with wide views north across the Forest of Dean and the Severn Valley. The site is notable both for the form of its archaeological remains and its landscape setting. This clearly distinguishes it from the Old Church: there, the focus is on building phases and the surviving tower, while at Little Abbey it is on the fortification, Roman traces and elevated location.
Circular walk and local history
The Alveston circular walk starts at Jubilee Hall; check the starting point locally. Along the route, the path passes an old village pump, which was an open well until 1929, and goes by The Old Smithy, one of the village’s original five smithies. The walk takes in two distinct aspects of the village’s past: water supply and smithing.
Activities with different character
The Timber Trail is a professionally designed and built wooden agility course for children aged 3 to 10. The pump track in Alveston is suitable for BMX riders, skateboarders and scooter riders of all ages. The information distinguishes the activities by age group and type of movement. If you plan to use the pump track, check before visiting whether it is currently available.
The Wolfridge Alpaca Wander is an information trail through the paddocks, is available year-round and takes about 30 to 45 minutes. This approximate duration makes it an easy activity to fit into a schedule. Customers of Wolfridge Café can walk through the paddocks and view the alpacas at no extra charge.
Discover more destinations: Petty France, Rangeworthy, Filton, Bitton, Chippenham, Acton Turville, Doynton, Yate.
For the wider travel overview: South Gloucestershire.
