Kilmersdon

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Kilmersdon

Coordinates: 51.2712° N 2.4378° W
Population	536^[1]
OS grid reference	ST695525
District	Mendip
Shire county	Somerset
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Bath
Postcode district	BA3
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Wansdyke to be North East Somerset from next general election.
European Parliament	South West England
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Kilmersdon is a small village located in North Somerset between the towns of Radstock and Frome. The settlement is recorded in William I's Domesday book and dates back at least 1000 years; though the core of the village dates from the mid nineteenth century.

The area has the remains of many disused coal mines which were part of the Somerset coalfield. Access to coal mining beneath Kilmersdon was through a network of tunnels from an entrance at Haydon - a nearby hamlet. Because of this visual evidence of mining is sparse; although in the past some buildings have collapsed due to subsidence and others have evidence of movement -including the church.

Kilmersdon is said to be the "home" of the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme; the fabled hill being recently restored as part of a local Millennium scheme. Immediately adjacent to the newly restored well is Kilmersdon Primary School, which was established (though not in the current building) in 1707. Other local amenities include Norton Garden Machinery (formerly a petrol station and garage) and The Joliffe Arms - named after the Joliffe family, whose estate is responsible for building much of Kilmersdon. The local post-office closed in the early 1990s.

Kilmersdon Church (St Peter & St Paul) is located in the centre of the village, and with St Nicholas Church in Radstock holds weekly services. It dates back to the Norman Period, though much of the current structure was built during the Victorian era. It is a grade I listed building.^[2] (please see discussion page). It has a triangular lychgate designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Kilmersdon Parish Council covers the village of Kilmersdon, Charlton, South View and Green Parlour. Kilmersdon falls into the Somerton and Frome constituency.

Kilmersdon is close to the well known Ammerdown Conference and Retreat centre. Lord Hylton's son Andrew and his family currently live at Ammerdown - the current Lord Hylton lives in Hemmington. His estate covers many of the villages around including Kilmersdon, although much of the property in this estate is run by a charitable Housing Asssociation set up by the current Lord Hylton's father.