Chew Magna

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Chew Magna
Chew Magna (Somerset)
Chew Magna

Chew Magna shown within Somerset
Population approx. 1200
OS grid reference ST577631
Unitary authority Bath and North East Somerset
Ceremonial county Somerset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BRISTOL
Postcode district BS40
Dialling code 01275
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Avon
Ambulance Great Western
European Parliament South West England
UK Parliament Wansdyke
North East Somerset
(from next general election).
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Coordinates: 51°21′55″N 2°36′25″W / 51.3653, -2.6069

Chew Magna (grid reference ST575631) is a village within the Chew Valley in North East Somerset, England. To the south of the village is Chew Valley Lake. The village is on the B3130, about 10 miles (16 km) from Bristol, 15 miles (24 km) from Bath, 13 miles (21 km) from the city of Wells, and 6 miles (10 km) from Bristol International Airport.

It is just on the northern edge of the Mendip Hills (a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), and was designated a conservation area in 1978.[1] There are many listed buildings reflecting the history of the village. The River Chew flows through the village. Just outside the village is Chew Magna Reservoir. This small Bristol Water supply reservoir intercepts the Winford Brook.

It has around 1,200 residents. There are two primary schools and a secondary school, several shops and small businesses, three churches, and three pubs serving the area. There is also a football pitch and children's play area. The village frequently wins regional categories in the Calor Village of the Year competition, and is currently moving towards zero waste status, having been described as "probably the greenest parish in Britain".[2]

Contents

[edit] History

Chew Magna is the largest village in the district, and can trace its importance back to Saxon times. It was a thriving woollen centre in the Middle Ages. The manor of Chew was held by the Bishops of Bath and Wells, from 1062 to 1548, and for that reason the village was called Chew Episcopi or Bishop's Chew. The Bishops built a palace near the church of St Andrews, which was visited by Henry III in 1250.[3] Chew Court is a surviving part of the palace. More recently, since about 1600, the name has been Chew Magna because this has been the most important of the several villages along the banks of the River Chew. According to Robinson it was an episcopal property held by Giso, the last Saxon bishop and the name Magna comes from the Latin meaning 'the greater'.[4]

Around 1700 the Lord of the Manor was Sir William Jones, the Attorney General of England[5] and in the 1820s it was the seat of Lord Lyttelton.[6] Until about 1880 the village had toll roads and a toll house to collect the fees.[7] During the 19th and 20th centuries the importance of the wool trade in the village declined and it became largely a dormitory area for the cities of Bristol and Bath, although it has continued to be the commercial centre of the valley. The building of Chew Valley Lake in the 1950s has brought further opportunities for leisure and tourism.[7]

[edit] Government and politics

Chew Magna has its own parish council,[8] which has some responsibility for local issues, and is part of the Chew Valley North Ward, which is represented by one councillor on the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, which has wider responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism, etc. The village is a part of the Wansdyke constituency, which will change its boundaries at the next general election, with Chew Magna becoming part of the North East Somerset constituency,[9] and is part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.

[edit] Demographics

According to the 2001 Census the Chew Valley North Ward (which includes Chew Magna and Chew Stoke), had 2,307 residents, living in 911 households, with an average age of 42.3 years. Of these, 77% of residents described their health as 'good'; 21% of 16–74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.3% of all economically active people aged 16–74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 26,243 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived.[10]

[edit] Schools

Chew Magna Primary School[11] won a Becta award for the use of ICT in Practice in 2005 for using the fantasy role-playing computer game Myst to support literacy and communication.[12]

Chew Valley School is the main secondary school (11–18 years) for the valley.[13] It is situated between Chew Magna and Chew Stoke. The latest (2004) Ofsted Inspection Report describes this specialist Performing Arts College as a mixed comprehensive school with 1,158 pupils on roll, including 196 students in the sixth form. It says the school is popular and oversubscribed, and has been successful in gaining a number of national and regional awards.[14]

[edit] Famous residents

John Sanger, a circus proprietor, lived in the village in the 19th century.[15] The current residents of Chew Magna include Richard Brock, a Natural history film producer,[16] and Dr Phil Hammond, a General Practitioner and comedian.[17]

[edit] Go Zero project

Chew Magna is the home of the "Go Zero" project, which promotes education for sustainability at all levels in society, and it will seek to conserve and make improvements to the environment in the UK and overseas. The four groups within Go Zero are: Transport and Energy (which includes Dragonflyer Mobility, a plan to develop a range of integrated services that offer communities in the West of England cost-effective, flexible and environmentally sustainable transport), People and Consumption (farmers' markets, local food, skill swaps), Converging World (which supports campaigns and initiatives for social justice and development and is currently pursuing Fair Trade status for Chew Magna) and Waste and Recycling.[18] It is based at Tunbridge Mill, a post-medieval watermill.[19]

[edit] Sport and recreation

Chew Magna has a King George's Field in memorial to King George V. Gymnasium facilities, squash courts, badminton etc., and outdoor all-weather pitches are available at the Chew Valley Leisure Centre between Chew Magna and Chew Stoke. There is a range of clubs and societies for young and old, including Scout groups, gardening society, and the Women's Institute. There is a cricket pitch and teams in Chew Magna.[20]

[edit] Buildings of interest

[edit] Church

St Andrew's Church, Chew Magna
St Andrew's Church, Chew Magna

St Andrew's Church dates from the 12th century with a large 15th-century pinnacled sandstone tower, a Norman font and a rood screen that is the full width of the church. In the church are several memorials to the Stracheys of Sutton Court together with a wooden effigy of a Knight cross-legged and leaning on one elbow, in 15th century armour, thought to be of Sir John de Hauteville or a descendant, and possibly transferred from a church at Norton Hautville before it was demolished.[21] Another effigy in the north chapel is of Sir John St Loe, who was over 7 feet (2 m) tall,[22] and his lady. The armoured figure is 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) long and his feet rest on a lion, while those of his lady rest on a dog. The church was restored in 1860 and has a register commencing in 1562. The tower is about one hundred feet tall and was probably built about 1440.[23] There has been a clock on the tower since the early 1700s. There is a peal of eight bells in the tower. Tenor 28 cwt in C. The original five bells were re-cast by the celebrated Thomas Bilbie of Chew Stoke in 1735 to make a peal of six,[24] and in 1898 four of these were re-cast and two were repaired by Messrs. Mears and Stainbank of London to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Two additional bells, the gift of Brigadier Ommanney, were added in 1928 to complete the octave, which still contains two of the Bilbie bells. The present clock, installed in 1903, plays a verse of a hymn every four hours, at 8 am, noon, 4 and 8 pm, with a different hymn tune for every day of the week.[25] It is a Grade I listed building.[26][27]

The churchyard contains several monuments which are Grade II listed buildings in their own right: the churchyard cross,[28] Edgell monument,[29] Fowler monument[30] and a group of three unidentified monuments.[31] In addition there is an early 19th century limestone round-topped stone which bears the inscription to William Fowler "shot by an Highwayman on Dundry Hill June 14th 1814 aged 32 years".[19] Within the church are wooden plaques commemorating the nineteen people from the village who died in World War I[32] and seven from World War II,[33] and a bronze plaque to an individual soldier who died in 1917.

[edit] Other buildings

The Old School Room, Chew Magna
The Old School Room, Chew Magna

Next to the church is the Church House, which is also known as the Old School Room. The upstairs room was the local school from the mid or early 15th century, with the village poorhouse below. This has been a venue for social activity in the village and in 1971 underwent major renovation.[7] It is a Grade II* listed building.[34] Also close to the church is Chew Court, which was originally a bishop's palace. It was largely rebuilt in 1656, from which a little survives as the Chew Court of today, which includes an Elizabethan doorway with Doric pilasters.[23] The room over the gatehouse is said to have been used as court-room, with the turrets being used for holding prisoners. Chew Court is a Grade II* listed building.[35]

The Manor House has Tudor origins, including a fireplace dated 1656, with a Gothic exterior from 1874, largely redesigned by John Norton. Amongst the brought-in pieces in the house are two South German reliefs, "The Martyrdoms of St Catherine and St Sebastian", from an altar of the early 16th century. There are also a series of panels in the Floris style, probably Flemish and with a repeating date 1562.[23] From 1680 to 1844 the Manor House was the home of prominent Quaker families including the Vickris, the Summers and the Harfords. William Penn preached here in 1687. The house has 4.9 acres (2.0 ha) of gardens laid out in the 19th century. The house is a Grade II* listed building and now forms part of the Sacred Heart Convent School.[36] Two of the stables attached to the Manor House are Grade II listed.[37][38]

High Street and shops, Chew Magna
High Street and shops, Chew Magna
Street showing site of old toll house
Street showing site of old toll house

The high street contains many old buildings. The Beeches was built in 1762, with walls, railings, gates and piers of the same date, although the side wings were added later.[39][40] Acacia House[41] and Igbetti House, which was formerly known as Myrtle House,[42] are from the same period, while Barle House,[43] Holly House,[44] The Sycamores[45] and Portugal House[46] are slightly more recent.

On Battle Lane is the 18th-century Rookstone House, which was formerly the end house in row of seven,[47] and The Rookery[48] and its lodge,[49] which were built in the early 19th century. Harford Square is dominated by the construction, in 1817, of Harford House[50] and its accompanying stable block.[51]

Just south of the village is the medieval Tun Bridge with three pointed arches including double arch rings, spanning 60 feet (18 m) over the river, approached along one of the high pavements that are a feature of the village centre. It has three pointed arches, two of which have double arch rings built in two orders. At its widest point it is 17 feet (5.2 m) wide and 16 feet (4.9 m) in the centre. The two main arches are separated by a sharp cutwater 3.5 feet (1.1 m) and tapering to 8 inches (20.3 cm) above which a 4 inches (10.2 cm) string course runs throughout the length of bridge.[19] The bridge is thought to date from the late 15th century and is a Grade II listed building[52] and a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Avon No. 159). The raised pavement and steps are themselves also listed Grade II.[53]

Surrounding the village are several historic farmhouses including Dumper's Farmhouse, which dates from the 15th century,[54] and Knole Hill Farmhouse, dated 1763.[55]

[edit] References

  1. ^ (1986) Keynsham & Chew Valley Local Plan. Wansdyke District Council. 
  2. ^ Nothing venture. Guardian Unlimited : Society. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  3. ^ Dunning, Robert (1983). A History of Somerset. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN 0-85033-461-6. 
  4. ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimborne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1874336032. 
  5. ^ Cruickshanks (1986). The House of Commons 1690 1715 5 Volume Set p527. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-77221-4. 
  6. ^ Great Britain Parliament (1849). Hansards Parliamentary Debates p779. 
  7. ^ a b c Durham, I. & M. (1991). Chew Magna and the Chew Valley in old photographs. Redcliffe Press. ISBN 1-872971-61-X. 
  8. ^ Chew Magna Parish Council. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  9. ^ Somerset North East: New Boundaries Calculation. Electoral Calculus: General Election Prediction. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  10. ^ Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 021A Chew Valley North. Office of National Statistics 2001 Census. Retrieved on 2006-04-25.
  11. ^ Chew Magna Primary School. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  12. ^ Educative powers lost amid the violence. Guardian Unlimited : Technology. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  13. ^ Chew Valley School. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  14. ^ Ofsted Report on Chew Valley School (PDF) (22 November 2004). Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
  15. ^ When and where was John Sanger born?. Encyclopedia Britanica. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  16. ^ Brock Initiative. Brock Initiative. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  17. ^ BBC Radio Bristol prescribes the perfect pill for Saturdays. BBC Radio Bristol. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  18. ^ Go Zero Project. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  19. ^ a b c Rising Main and Sewage Pumping Station, Chew Magna, North East Somerset. Phase 1: Trial pits and boreholes. An Archaeological Watching Brief. (PDF). ContextOne. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  20. ^ Chew Magna Cricket Club. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  21. ^ Mason, Edmund J. & Mason, Doreen. Avon Villages. Robert Hale Ltd. ISBN 0-7091-9585-0. 
  22. ^ Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985). Curiosities of Somerset. Bodmin: Bossiney Books, 20. ISBN 0906456983. 
  23. ^ a b c Pevsner, Nikolaus (1958). The Buildings of England : North Somerset and Bristol. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-300-09640-2. 
  24. ^ Moore, James; Roy Rice & Ernest Hucker (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0952670208. 
  25. ^ The history of St Andrews Church Chew Magna. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
  26. ^ Church of St. Andrew. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  27. ^ Church of St. Andrew. GENUKI. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  28. ^ Churchyard cross. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  29. ^ Edgell monument. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  30. ^ Fowler monument. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  31. ^ Group of 3 unidentified monuments. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  32. ^ Chew Magna WWI Ref: 7490. United Kingdom National Inventory of Ward Memorials. Retrieved on 2006-05-19.
  33. ^ Chew Magna WWII Ref: 7491. United Kingdom National Inventory of Ward Memorials. Retrieved on 2006-05-19.
  34. ^ Old School Room. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  35. ^ Chew Court. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  36. ^ The Manor House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  37. ^ Stable and attached wall about 30 metres north east. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  38. ^ Stable, attached wall and gate piers about 30 metres south east. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  39. ^ The Beeches. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  40. ^ Walls, railings, gates and piers attached to front of The Beeches. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  41. ^ Acacia House and The Firs. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  42. ^ Igbetti House, formerly called Myrtle House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  43. ^ Barle House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  44. ^ Holly House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  45. ^ The Sycamores. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  46. ^ Portugal House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  47. ^ Rookstone House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  48. ^ The Rookery and attached walls. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  49. ^ Lodge about 80 metres south west of The Rookery. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  50. ^ Harford House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  51. ^ Stable about 30 metres west of Harford House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  52. ^ Tun Bridge. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  53. ^ Raised pavement and steps. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
  54. ^ Dumper's Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
  55. ^ Knole Hill Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

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