Paulton
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| Paulton | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Population: | approx 5000 |
| Ordnance Survey | |
| OS grid reference: | ST650565 |
| Administration | |
| District: | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Region: | South West England |
| Constituent country: | England |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial county: | Somerset |
| Services | |
| Police force: | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire and rescue: | Avon |
| Ambulance: | South Western |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | Bristol |
| Postal district: | BS39 7 |
| Dialling code: | 01761 |
| Politics | |
| UK Parliament: | Wansdyke to be North East Somerset from next general election. |
| European Parliament: | South West England |
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Paulton is a large village, population around 5000, located to the North of the Mendip Hills, in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset, England. A former coal mining village and was home to the now closed Polestar Purnells printing factory and Ashman's Boot Factory where 'Tuf' boots were manufactured, Paulton is now largely populated by commuters to Bristol and Bath.
The area has been designated as an ‘area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ under section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.[1]
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[edit] Village facilities
Paulton has a small hospital, a library, fire station, two pre-schools (Noahs Ark Preschool and Acorn Preschool), an infant school and junior school. The village is served by a Somerfield and Tesco supermarket, although the latter is actually closer to the neighbouring town of Midsomer Norton as it is located at the edge of the parish boundary.
The five churches include the Central Methodist Church, dated 1894[2], Baptist Church (1724)[3] and Church of the Holy Trinity, dated 1757 and 1839, the latter by John Pinch,[4] which includes a Cholera monument, from the early to mid 19th century[5] and several other monuments in the churchyard.
There are four pubs in the village - The Red Lion, The Winterfield, the Lamb and The Somerset. Until the mid-80s, there was also The Queen Victoria, but this has since been demolished to make way for flats.
The centre of the village is the location for the war memorial, and also the small shopping precinct and library. There is another war memorial just outside of the village. This memorial commemorates the location where 23 men were killed on September 17, 1944 when the glider they were flying in crashed en route from R.A.F Keevil to Arnhem, as part of Operation Market Garden.
[edit] Coal mining
Much evidence of coal mining on the Somerset coalfield still exists in and around the village with a slag heap known as "The Batch" in the shape of a volcano.
Paulton was the terminus of the northern branch of the Somerset Coal Canal and was a central point for at least 15 collieries around Paulton, Timsbury and High Littleton, which were connected to the canal by tramroads.
On the northern side of Paulton basin was the terminus for the tramroad which served Old Grove, Prior's, Tyning and Hayeswood pits, with a branch line to Amesbury and Mearns pits. Parts of this line were still in use in 1873, probably all carrying horse drawn wagons of coal. The southern side of the basin served Brittens, Littleborrok, Paulton Ham, Paulton Hill, Simons Hill terminating at Salisbury Colliery. In addition the Paulton Foundary used this line. The entire line was disused by 1871 as were the collieries it served. [6]
[edit] Modern industry
Paulton was the location of the first Great Mills DIY store, and the company's head office was located adjacent to the store. It used to be called Old Mills DIY, by virtue of the fact that the store was sited on the old Old Mills colliery baths site. The Great Mills business was acquired by Focus DIY Ltd in 2000, and all of the stores were rebranded.
[edit] Sports
Paulton Rovers F.C. play in the Southern Football League Division One South & West League and the club is an entertainment centre for the area. Purnells Cricket Club provides further sports facilities to the village, with tennis courts, bowls, a football field and a cricket pitch.
[edit] References
- ^ Paulton conservation area character appraisal. Bath and North East Somerset Planning. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Central Methodist Church. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Baptist Church. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Church of the Holy Trinity. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Cholera monument. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Down, C.G., A. J. Warrington (2005). The history of the Somerset coalfield. Radstock: Radstock Museum. ISBN 0955168406.
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