Pensford

During the 19th and 20th Centuries the main industry was coal mining, with Pensford and the surrounding area forming a major part of the Somerset coalfield. bThe Pensford colliery openened in 1909 and closed in 1955.^[1]

[edit] Government and politics

Pensford and Publow has its own Parish council which has some responsibility for local issues, and is part of the Publow and Whitchurch 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 Publow and Whitchurch Ward (which includes Belluton and Publow), had 1,087 residents, living in 429 households, with an average age of 40.8 years. Of these 73% of residents describing their health as 'good', 24% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 2.3% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 26,408 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived. ^[2]

[edit] Buildings

[edit] St Thomas A Beckett Church

St Thomas A Beckett Church

Unused since flood damage in 1968. The church was rebuilt in 1869 although parts such as the west doorway date back to the 15th Century. ^[3] It is a Grade II* listed building.(Church of St. Thomas a Becket at Images of England)

Further information and pictures of the church are available from:

GENUKI:St Thomas à Becket's Church, Pensford

[edit] The Lock-up

The Lock Up

An octagonal eighteenth century lock up where criminals and drunks could be kept for the night. ^[4] This is a Grade II listed building (Lock-up at Images of England) and is Scheduled as an Ancient Monument.

[edit] Pubs

George and Dragon

During the 17th and 18th Centuries it was an important staging post for stage coaches which stopped at the George and Dragon and Rising Sun. ^[4]

The George and Dragon dates from 1752. It is a Grade II listed Building (George and Dragon Public House at Images of England)

[edit] Other Grade II listed buildings

Bridge over the River Chew

The village war memorial commemorates the seven people from the village who died in each of World War I and World War II. It is a wheel cross, with a celtic-style carving, of stone set on a tapering rough-hewn stone shaft which surmounts a stone plinth which bears names and inscriptions.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Transport

Pensford Viaduct

For centuries Pensford has been an important crossing point on the River Chew.The modern road bridge was rebuilt in 1968 after flood damage, but the much older (1839-1885) bridge, by the church, survived the flood. ^[5]

On the western side of the village is a disused railway viaduct, built in 1873, which was closed to trains in 1968 after the great flood of Pensford (the River Chew flooded), after which it was deemed unsafe. The last passenger train was the 9.25 a.m. from Frome to Bristol on 31st October 1959, after that there were only goods trains (mainly bringing coal from Radstock) and very occasional excursion trains. The Pensford viaduct is 995 feet long, reaches a maximum height of 95 feet to rail level and consists of sixteen arches. The viaduct is now a Grade II listed building (Pensford Viaduct at Images of England)

[edit] Surrounding Area

Nearby is Lord's Wood, Pensford

[edit] Famous Residents

Pensford is also home to the international clarinet player, Acker Bilk. Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead lived in the vilage from 1979-1981.

[edit] References

^ Down, C.G., A. J. Warrington (2005). The history of the Somerset caolfield. Radstock: Radstock Museum. ISBN 978-0-9551684-0-6.
^ Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 020D Publow and Whitchurch. Office of National Statistics 2001 Cenusus. Retrieved on 2006-04-25.
^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1958). The Buildings of England : North Somerset and Bristol. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-300-09640-2.
^ ^a ^b Mason, Edmund J. & Mason, Doreen. Avon Villages. Robert Hale Ltd. ISBN 0-7091-9585-0.
^ Janes, Rowland (2003). Pensford, Publow and Woollard: A Topographical History. Biografix. ISBN 0-9545125-0-2.

[edit] Bibliography

Durham, I. & M. (1991). Chew Magna and the Chew Valley in old photographs. Redcliffe Press. ISBN 1-872971-61-X.
Janes, Rowland (ed) (1987). The Natural History of the Chew Valley. ISBN 0-9545125-2-9.