Frenchay was designated as a conservation area in 1975 in recognition of its unique architectural and historic character and appearance.

The village is situated between the B4058 road, which runs parallel to the M32 motorway in the west, and the wooded River Frome valley to the south and east.

Frenchay village has much green space, including the common, walks along the River Frome, and a moor owned by The National Trust.

[2] Frenchay's largest place of worship is the Anglican Church of St John the Baptist, adjacent to the large village common, which is overlooked by a number of 18th-century houses principally built by wealthy Quaker families.

[5] Frenchay's earliest place of worship was the Quaker Meeting House, established in 1670 and replaced with a new building in 1809.

Thomas's son Edward Wadham (1828–1913), Mineral Agent to Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch took his skills as a civil engineer who had worked under Brunel and his love of cricket to Barrow-in-Furness where, from 1851 until his death in 1913, he played an important part in the development of what had been a tiny hamlet into the biggest iron and steel centre in the world, and a major shipbuilding force, in just forty years.