Semington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Semington

Semington




Statistics
Population:	830 (2001 census)^[1]
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	ST8960
Administration
Parish:	Semington
District:	West Wiltshire
Shire county:	Wiltshire
Region:	South West England
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	Wiltshire
Services
Police force:	Wiltshire Constabulary [1]
Fire and rescue:	{{{Fire}}}
Ambulance:	Great Western
Post office and telephone
Post town:	Trowbridge
Postal district:	BA14
Dialling code:	01380 (Keevil)
Politics
UK Parliament:	Chippenham (c. 2009) Westbury (2005)
European Parliament:	South West England

Semington is a medium-sized village in West Wiltshire, England. It features 2 locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal, and is the start of the disused Wilts and Berks Canal. Its 2001 population was 830, and it is located 2 miles (4 km) from Melksham and 4 miles (7 km) from Trowbridge.

Semington civil parish includes the hamlets of Littlemarsh and Littleton. ^[2]

1 Canals
2 Geography
3 Culture
4 Economy
5 Notable residents
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Canals

Several moorings and a narrow boat rental business on the Kennet and Avon canal attract frequent pleasure craft traffic

The Kennet and Avon Canal crosses marshy ground on an embankment on the northern edge of the village.

The two Semington Locks were built between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newbury, and this stretch of the canal is now administered by British Waterways. They have a combined rise/fall of 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m).^[3] The two locks at Semington are known as Buckley's (numbered 15) and Barrett's (16).^[4]

Adjacent to the locks is the point at which the disused Wilts and Berks Canal joined the Kennet and Avon. East of the locks, the canal crosses the 2004 Semington Aqueduct, built to allow the A350 road to bypass Semington village. Another aqueduct carries the canal over Semington Brook.^[5]

[edit] Geography

Within the village there are around 500 houses, a village hall, public tennis courts and a park for children.

[edit] Culture

The village has the small mediæval St George's church, which is a grade II listed building.^[6] with a garden fete held every summer in the gardens of the manor house.^[7]

[edit] Economy

Somerset Arms

Semington has a pub, the Somerset Arms,^[8] and a number of other small businesses.

[edit] Notable residents

Thomas Helliker (1784–1803), trade union martyr, executed for rôle in burning Semington mill
Isaac Gulliver (1745–1822), smuggler

[edit] References

^ Wiltshire Community History Semington Census Information. Retrieved on October 23, 2006.
^ election-maps.co.uk, Semington Civil Parish boundary on Ordnance Survey 1:50 000 colour raster layer. Retrieved on October 23, 2006.
^ Pearson, Michael (2003). Kennet & Avon Middle Thames:Pearson's Canal Companion. Rugby: Central Waterways Supplies. ISBN 090786497X.
^ Allsop, Niall (1987). The Kennet & Avon Canal. Bath: Millstream Book. ISBN 0948975156.
^ Semington Aqueduct. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
^ Church of St. George. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
^ Manor House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
^ Somerset Arms. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.