Compton Martin

The village has a population of approx 500. A spring rises near the church and feeds the village duck pond, which used to power a paper mill, and ultimately becomes the River Yeo.

The Big Green Gathering takes place at Fernhill Farm above the village.

1 Government and politics
2 Demographics
3 Church of St Michael the Archangel
4 History
5 Other Grade II listed buildings
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Government and politics

Compton Martin is part of the Chew Valley South Ward which is represented by one councillor on the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority which has wider responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism etc. The village is a part of the Wansdyke constituency which elects one MP to the Westminster Parliament and part of the South West England constituency which elects 7 members to the European Parliament.

[edit] Demographics

According to the 2001 Census The Chew Valley South Ward (which includes Nempnett Thrubwell), had 1,032 residents, living in 411 households, with an average age of 42.1 years. Of these 74% of residents describing their health as 'good', 20% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.7% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 22,950 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived. ^[1]

[edit] Church of St Michael the Archangel

Church of St Michael the Archangle, Compton Martin

The church, which was built in the Norman period is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. Norman vaulting can be seen in the chancel and Jacobean work in choir stalls and organ screen. The tower is approached from the nave via a lofty Tudor panelled arch which together with the tower itself dates from the early 16th century. It is some 70 feet high and contains six 18th century bells, five of which were cast by the Bilbies of Chew Stoke. In the north wall is a recess containing the effigy of Thomas de Moreton which was discovered in 1858.

Above the ceiling of the Bickfield Chapel there is a void which contains a columbarium or dovecote. This housed 140 “squabs” or pigeons in 1606 for the rector’s table. ^[2]

The church is a grade I listed building (Church of St Michael and All Angels at Images of England), and several of the monuments in the church yard also have listed status; (King Walter monument at Images of England), (Symes monument at Images of England), (Unidentified monument and Crosse monument at Images of England)

Wade and Wade in their 1929 book "Somerset" described the church as "quite remarkable" "The church is one of the finest bits of Norm. work in the county. The nave is entirely late Norm., and possesses the unusual feature of a clerestory. The fine arcades, with their cylindrical columns and circular abaci, are too obvious to escape notice, but particular attention should be paid to the twisted pillar on the N.E. The chancel has an extremely low quadripartite vault, the effect of which is rather spoilt by the distortion of the chancel arch through some defect in the foundations. The aisles are Perp., and the one on the S. curiously encloses the clerestory. Note (1) the junction of the Perp. arch and Norm. pillars, (2) recessed effigy of a lady at E. end of N. aisle, (3) semi-circular recess, probably for additional altar (cp. Cudworth); (4) Norm. font on a fluted pedestal, (5) Perp. screen, said to have been an importation. There is a Perp. W. tower of weak design and poor workmanship, opening into the nave by a panelled arch."Somerset by Wade, G.W. & Wade, J.H., available freely at Project Gutenberg

[edit] History

There is evidence of habitation of the area from prehistoric times and the romans mined lead in the local hill.

The Manor of Compton was given by William the Conqueror to Serlo de Burci. It the passed to a Norman family named Martin who gave the village the latter half of its name. The first of the Martin family in England was Martin de Tours, a powerful nobleman and a great religious benefactor. In the reign of Henry I of England his son Robert Fitz-Martin inherited the Manor.

In the 14th century the Manor passed to the Wake family. Alice, wife of Ralph de Wake was tried and sentenced to be burned for the murder of her husband. Perhaps she is the inspiration for the legendary White Lady, a ghostly figure said to haunt the parish.

Compton Martin Duck Pond

Compton Martin was the birthplace of Saint Wulfric (1080-1154), hermit and miracle worker.

Around 1500 Teazle farming for use in the weaving of cloth became a major local industry.

In 1770 a new whipping post was installed by the pond for corporal punishment for minor offenses such as petty larceny and vagrancy or absence from church.

Compton Martin Ochre Mine is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ^[3]