Bleadon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bleadon is a village and civil parish in the historic county of Somerset in England. It is about four miles south of Weston-super-Mare and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 1,068.
Bleadon was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Bledone, meaning 'The coloured hill' from the Old English bleo 'coloured' and dun.[1][2]
Just to the north of the village is Bleadon Hill a 13.52 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest.
There is evidence or agricultural use of the land in the medieval period and possibly from Roman times.[3]
The village cross[4] and well[5] are listed buildings.
It lies on the River Axe and had been a small port, sometimes known as Lympsham Wharf, for many years, with the arrival of the railway in 1841 making this the furthest navigable point. It was last used by the ketch Democrat in 1942.[6] An act of 1915 authorised the drainage of the river and installation of a flood gate at Bleadon.[7]
[edit] Church
The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul dominates the village.[8] It was built in the 14th century (dedicated in 1317), being restored and the chancel shortened in the mid 19th century. It is a grade I listed building.[9] The tower contains five bells dating from 1711 and made by Edward Bilbie of the Bilbie family.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1874336032.
- ^ Autumn newsletter 2007 (PDF). Mendip Hills AONB. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- ^ Village Cross. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- ^ Village Well. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- ^ Farr, Grahame (1954). Somerset Harbours. London: Christopher Johnson, 65.
- ^ Toulson, Shirley (1984). The Mendip Hills: A Threatened Landscape. London: Victor Gollancz. ISBN 057503453X.
- ^ Atthill, Robin (1976). Mendip: A new study. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. ISBN 0715372971.
- ^ Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- ^ Moore, James; Roy Rice & Ernest Hucker (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0952670208.
