Charterhouse, Somerset

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Roman lead mines at Charterhouse

Charterhouse, also known as Charterhouse-on-Mendip, at grid reference ST500557, is a small hamlet in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the English county of Somerset.

1 Name
2 History
3 AONB Centre
4 Caves
5 Church
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Name

The name is believed to come from the Carthusian order of Chartreuse in France, which was established in Witham (near Frome) in 1181 and formed a cell at Charterhouse in 1283 with a grant to mine lead ore.^[1]

[edit] History

See also: Charterhouse Roman Town

There is evidence, in the form of burials in local caves, of human occupation since the late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age.^[2]

The lead and silver mines at Charterhouse, were first operated on a large scale by the Romans, from at least AD 49. At first the lead/silver industries were tightly controlled by the Roman military, but within a short time the extraction of these metals was contracted out to civilian companies, probably because the silver content of the local ore was not particularly high.^[3] There was also some kind of 'fortlet' there in the 1st century, and an amphitheatre.^[4]

There is further evidence of mine workings in the medieval and Victorian periods.^[5]^[6]Some of which survives within the Blackmoor Nature Reserve owned by Somerset County Council. There is also evidence of a rectangular medieval enclosure.^[7]

[edit] AONB Centre

The outdoor activity centre and headquarters of the Mendip Hills AONB is based at Charterhouse, with accommodation, classrooms and offices.

[edit] Caves

There are several Caves of the Mendip Hills in the limestone around the village including Manor Farm Swallet and Upper Flood Swallet.

[edit] Church

The Church of England parish church of St Hugh was built in 1908 by W.D. Caroe, on the initiative of the Rev. Menzies Lambrick^[8], from the former welfare hall for the lead miners. It is a grade II* listed building.^[9] A cross in the churchyard^[10] and the churchyard wall^[11] are also listed buildings.

The roof-truss, screen, rood, and altar are all made of carved whitened oak.^[12]

[edit] References

^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1874336032.
^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
^ Major Romano-British Settlement Charterhouse on Mendip, Avon. Roman Britain.org. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
^ Charterhouse. Big Roman Dig. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
^ Gough, J.W. (1967). The mines of Mendip. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. http://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B0000CNKWB.
^ Adkins, Lesley and Roy (1992). A field Guide to Somerset Archeology. Stanbridge: Dovecote press. ISBN 0946159947.
^ Staveacre, Tony (December 2006). "Christmas at Charterhouse". Mendip Times 2 (7): 8. Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
^ Church of St Hugh. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
^ Churchyard Cross in churchyard, Church of St Hugh. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
^ Churchyard Wall to Church of St Hugh. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
^ Staveacre, Tony (December 2006). "Christmas at Charterhouse". Mendip Times 2 (7): 8. Retrieved on 2006-11-30.