The village of Batheaston
Batheaston is in the far north-east of Somerset closely bordered by Gloucestershire
to the north and Wiltshire to the east. It is less than three miles from
the centre of Bath. Despite 20th Century developments, notably the Elmhurst
Estate, Batheaston is recognisably a linear village. It stretches eastwards,
from the Bath side (Townsend) along the Fosse Way and the north bank of
the River Avon with a branch northwards (Northend) along the west bank
of the St. Catherine’s Brook (1). Geologically it lies on the Upper
and Middle Lias flanked by the high ground of the Oolite series consisting
of Bannerdown to the north- east and Little Solsbury Hill, Holt’s
Down and Charmy Down to the north-west. The total area is about 1800 acres.
The population is around 3,300. Dairy and cattle farming and market gardening
retain some residual importance but the majority of the working population
look to Bath and further afield for employment.
1. Batheaston from the Greenwood Map, 1822
