About Iron Acton

Location 

The village of Iron Acton lies approximately 3 miles from Yate, 4 from Chipping Sodbury, 9 miles from Bristol and 26 from Gloucester. The parish includes the hamlet of Latteridge and covers over 2, 900 acres. Take a look at Google Maps

Expansive areas of open space surround the village effectively segregating it from the by-pass to the north and Nibley Lane to the south. The village green with its Maypole also provides another focal point to the west of the village away from the main street. These areas of open space also contain numerous shrubs and hedges which form an attractive setting and provide a network of footpaths well used by local people.

The name

In early times mining of iron-ore took place and oak trees grew plentifully in the area. These were felled to fuel the forges used in the iron smelting process.

In 2003 the Parish council commissioned a history of Iron Acton Parish to celebrate the Millennium. The book researched and written by Patricia Alcock is titled "Iron Acton - Parish with a Heart of Oak". Only 500 copies were printed and though hard to track down they are well worth finding.

A short history

Shortly after the Norman conquest, the family of Acton held the manor of Iron Acton. It descended through several generations to Sir John Acton who died in 1344. His estates passed to his cousin Maud and it is here where the Poyntz connection begins. Maud was the second wife of Sir Nicholas Poyntz who had died in 1312. He had been dead for many years and Maud was an elderly woman when the estates passed into the family. The Iron Acton estates the passed to her son Sir John Poyntz and from 1344 continued son succeeding father until the death of Sir John Poyntz in 1680. He was the last of the family to be Lord of the Manor and after his death the manor was split up and Acton Court was sold to William Playes esq.

Acton Court is an impressive and striking building which, although it has suffered from years of neglect. is now being restored to its former glory by English Heritage. It is a large, mainly Tudor building, formerly the Medieval manor house of the Poyntz family. Its main features include large brick diagonal chimneys and moulded stone doorways. The gateway to Acton Court is late 16th Century and forms a notable entrance way to the Court. It is highly decorative with shields and foliage adorning the spandrels. The Poyntz family was related to the Tudors and it is said that Henry VII, Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh were all entertained at Acton Court.

Another interesting feature is the elaborate early 15th Century churchyard cross, considered by some to be a preaching cross and by others a memorial cross to one of the Poyntz family. The original height was some 30 feet and the builder was the first Sir Robert Poyntz who died in 1439.