(click on a picture for a full size version)
The fountain
stands in the middle of the village and is of a Gothic/Victorian design
The Pound
A small oasis in the village centre. Previously used for impounding stray animals pending collection by their owners who were charged to get them back!
The Box (Church of England) school
in the middle of the village was built in 1875.
Every hour and half-hour the clock in the tower chimes until 2200 when silence reigns until 0700.
The Manor House Originally the 17th Century Manor Farm owned by the Northey family who were considerable landowners. It is now a private house.
The Bybrook river runs through the Parish. Rising from its source near Marshfield it runs through a unique valley filling with fresh water from many of the springs in the area. It reaches its confluence with the Avon as Batheaston.
The Public Toilets an increasing rarity in the country ! Its original use was the stabling of horses for the coaching inn (Queens Head) on the opposite side of the road
Box Railway Tunnel Built by the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1841as part of the Great Western Railway which ran (and still does) from London (Paddington) and Bristol (Temple Meads)
The tunnel was carved out of the hillside of ‘Bath’ limestone by hand. Hundreds of workers stayed in the parish during the construction. The tunnel, along with other features of the Railway line, has been nominated for consideration of becoming a World Heritage Site.
The ‘Lovar’ water garden on the northern perimeter of the recreation ground was constructed in 1998 from waste land purchased from a farmer and Railtrack. It provides a level surface enabling the less able to take a short walk in beautiful surroundings.
A small island sits in the middle of a ‘moat’ which is home to a number of invertebrates and other wildlife. One edge is bordered by the Bybrook river.
Generous grants were made by the Lovar Foundation, a charity, to make this project possible. Although still in the early stages of life, it is already a great asset to the people of Box, especially the children who find the wildlife appealing.
The ByBrook valley in the snow
of late December 1999 (looking west towards Bath)
The Box Valley
seen from the top of Kingsdown (looking north)
A Bybrook Valley sunset
(looking west towards Bath)
