Butleigh

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Butleigh
Butleigh (Somerset)
Butleigh

Butleigh shown within Somerset
Population 1,000
OS grid reference ST525335
District Mendip
Shire county Somerset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town GLASTONBURY
Postcode district BA6
Dialling code 01458
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
European Parliament South West England
UK Parliament Wells
List of places: UKEnglandSomerset

Coordinates: 51°05′55″N 2°40′40″W / 51.0987, -2.6777

Butleigh is a small village and civil parish, located in Somerset. The nearest village to it is Barton St David, and it is located a short distance from Glastonbury and Street. Its population is approximately 1,000, and is home to a church, small village shop and a Church of England school, Butleigh School [1] and Butleigh Nursery School.

Butleigh Court, which was abandoned for many years and has now been brought back into use, is noted for its interesting architecture including the tall carved chimney stacks, which are all different. Local legend has it that the family was cursed to die out within a hundred years, which subsequently happened. Another interesting landmark is the cedar avenue, just outside the village. It was built in 1845 by J. C. Buckler, for Henry Neville-Grenville, on the site of an earlier building.[1]

The village history is told in a slim book, Butleigh - One thousand years of an English Village, by E F Synge, former vicar at the parish church.

The Church of St. Leonard dates from the 14th century, and was restored and extended in the mid 19th century by J. C. Buckler. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building.[2]

There is the lofty column of the Admiral Hood Monument raised to the memory of Sir Samuel Hood on a hill near Butleigh and in Butleigh Church is another memorial,[3] with an inscription written by Robert Southey.

There is also a 16th century pub in Butleigh called The Rose and Portcullis.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Butleigh Court. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
  2. ^ Church of St. Leonard. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
  3. ^ Hood family monument. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.