Carhampton, Somerset

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carhampton is a village in West Somerset, four miles to the east of Minehead.

Carhampton civil parish stretches from the Bristol Channel coast inland to Exmoor. The parish has a population of 1,195 (2002 est).

1 History
2 Legend
3 Wassailing
4 References
5 See Also

[edit] History

Iron Age occupation of the parish is evident from the remains of Bat's Castle hillfort and associated earthworks. Archaeological excavation in the mid-1990s suggested the existence of early Christian settlement and burial to the east of the village. Carhampton is thought to have been the centre for a Saxon royal estate. The king and his court would locate temporarily to Carhampton as part of a visiting circuit. One function was that officials of the royal court operated from Carhampton to collect taxes from surrounding estates. The village was subject to Viking raids. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles state that, in 836, King Egbert fought the crews of 35 ships at Carhampton. With the Danes in possession of the battlefield, the Chronicles recount a great slaughter.

[edit] Legend

Carhampton is associated with the Arthurian legend of Saint Carantoc. Carantoc is said to have slain a serpent that was terrorising the inhabitants of Carrum (Carhampton). On victory, Carantoc was granted by Arthur the right to build a monastery in the village.

[edit] Wassailing

Carhampton is famous for its wassailing celebration. Wassailing in Carhampton takes place on January 17th in the orchard of the Butchers Arms Pub. This is preceded by a smaller event in the Community Orchard in the centre of the village next to the pub. The villagers from a circle around the largesta pple tree, hang pieces of toast soaked in cider in the branches for the robins, who represent the 'good spirits' of the tree. A shotgun is fired overhead to scare away evil spirits (Christian 1972).

Carhampton Wassailing Song

Old apple tree, we wassail thee,

And hoping thou wilt bear

For the Lord doth know where we shall be

Till apples come another year.

For to bear well, and to bear well

So merry let us be,

Let every man take off his hat,

And shout to the old apple tree!

Old apple tree, we wassail thee,

And hoping thou wilt bear

Hatfuls, capfuls and three bushel bagfuls

And a little heap under the stairs,

Hip, Hip, Hooray!