Buckland Dinham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Buckland Dinham is a small village near Frome in Somerset, England. The village has a population of 400 (As of 2002 estimate). The village's main industry is farming (arable and dairy), but the village is also a dormitory village for the nearby cities Bath and Bristol.
Michael Bond, the author of Paddington Bear lived in the village.
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[edit] Transportation and geography
Geographically, the village is on the side of a hill (known as Buckland Down). It looks out over a vale formed by several small streams, in particular the Buckland Brook, which leads southwards towards Frome (and other villages such as Great Elm and Mells). The Buckland Brook skirts the north-eastern side of the village.
It is on the A362 road from Radstock to Frome. Coming off this at the bottom of the hill is Lower Street, which subsequently turns uphill (as Sands Cross Hill) before looping back to the main road at the top of the village, opposite the Bell public house. Lanes also lead off to Lullington and Great Elm.
Buckland Dinham has never had a railway station, although the Great Western Railway branch from Frome to Radstock (and thence to Bristol) passes by the bottom of the valley. This is today unused by passenger trains, but limestone trains to Whatley Quarry use the line. They then seem to disappear into a clump of trees; in reality, a tunnel entrance is hidden, leading to Vallis Vale and the quarry.
[edit] History
The village used to be known as Buckland Denham. Denham is believed to be a family name (there are many other villages with Denham in their name) whilst Buckland may refer to a former deer population. Although Buckand Dinham itself doesn't have a manor house, it is close to Orchardleigh House.
There are signs of prehistoric archaeology. A hand axe has been found along Lower Street (which follows the spring line).
The Dorset and Somerset Canal's branch to the Somerset coalfields would have passed via the bottom end of the Buckland vale, had it ever been completed. The Murtry Aqueduct remains.[1] Fussell's balance locks were built on the side of Barrow Hill, an extension of the hill on which Buckland Dinham is perched.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Murtry Aqueduct. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ Atthill, Robin (1964). Old Mendip. Newton Abbott: David and Charles. ISBN 0715351710.
