West of England
Encyclopedia
The West of England is a loose and locationally unspecific term sometimes given to the area surrounding the city and county of Bristol
, England
, and also sometimes applied more widely and in other parts of South West England
.
area, which existed as a local government unit between 1974 and 1996.
According to the West of England Partnership website,
Specifically, the term is also used by the University of the West of England
, the Royal West of England Academy
, and by voluntary groups and clubs such as the West of England Bridge Club, all of which are based in or near Bristol.
, Somerset
and Wiltshire
; sometimes extending to Devon
and Dorset
. These counties also form part of the South West of England, a region
which additionally includes Cornwall
and the Isles of Scilly
, which are in fact the most westerly parts of England.
It is also used by various organisations across the South West, such as the West of England School and College for blind and visually impaired children, based near Exeter
, and the West of England Transport Collection, at Winkleigh
, Devon.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and also sometimes applied more widely and in other parts of South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
.
Use in the Bristol area
The term is increasingly used - for example by the West of England Partnership, Connexions West of England, and the West of England Sport Trust - as a synonym for the former AvonAvon (county)
Avon was, from 1974 to 1996, a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in the west of England.The county was named after the River Avon, which runs through the area. It was formed from parts of the historic counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, together with the City of Bristol...
area, which existed as a local government unit between 1974 and 1996.
According to the West of England Partnership website,
-
- "The West of England is a prosperous area with an excellent quality of life and a growing national and international profile. However, rapid growth means that the sub-region faces increasing pressure on its infrastructure, and it is still the case that there are too many neighbourhoods that do not share in its prosperity. The West of England Partnership was formed in response to these opportunities and challenges. It consists of four unitary authorities - Bath and North East SomersetBath and North East SomersetBath and North East Somerset is a unitary authority that was created on 1 April 1996 following the abolition of the County of Avon. It is part of the Ceremonial county of Somerset...
(B&NES), BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, North SomersetNorth SomersetNorth Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
and South GloucestershireSouth GloucestershireSouth Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
- and a range of social, economic and environmental partners. The Partnership is driving forward action to sustain prosperity and quality of life and to enhance the confidence of public and private investors. Particular attention is being given to transport, appropriate housing supply, economic competitiveness and inclusion, and culture, leisure and tourism."
- "The West of England is a prosperous area with an excellent quality of life and a growing national and international profile. However, rapid growth means that the sub-region faces increasing pressure on its infrastructure, and it is still the case that there are too many neighbourhoods that do not share in its prosperity. The West of England Partnership was formed in response to these opportunities and challenges. It consists of four unitary authorities - Bath and North East Somerset
Specifically, the term is also used by the University of the West of England
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
, the Royal West of England Academy
Royal West of England Academy
The Royal West of England Academy is an art gallery where Queens Road meets Whiteladies Road, in Bristol, England.- History :The Academy was the first art gallery in Bristol. Its foundation was financed by a bequest of £2000 in the will of Ellen Sharples in 1849, and a group of artists in...
, and by voluntary groups and clubs such as the West of England Bridge Club, all of which are based in or near Bristol.
Use more widely in South West England
The term "West of England" is also often used more widely to include the counties of GloucestershireGloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
; sometimes extending to Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. These counties also form part of the South West of England, a region
Regions of England
In England, the region is the highest tier of sub-national division used by central Government. Between 1994 and 2011, the nine regions had an administrative role in the implementation of UK Government policy, and as the areas covered by elected bodies...
which additionally includes Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and the Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
, which are in fact the most westerly parts of England.
It is also used by various organisations across the South West, such as the West of England School and College for blind and visually impaired children, based near Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, and the West of England Transport Collection, at Winkleigh
Winkleigh
Winkleigh is a small village in Devon, England. It is best known outside Devon as the birthplace of Inch's Cider. Inch's Cider was bought by Bulmer's, who then closed the plant down...
, Devon.