Chewton Mendip

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Chewton Mendip
Chewton Mendip (Somerset)
Chewton Mendip

Chewton Mendip shown within Somerset
Population approx. 300
OS grid reference ST597531
District Mendip
Shire county Somerset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BATH
Postcode district BA3
Dialling code 01761
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
European Parliament South West England
UK Parliament Wells
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Coordinates: 51°16′32″N 2°34′37″W / 51.2755, -2.577

Chewton Mendip is a village and civil parish in the Mendip District of Somerset, England. It is situated 4 miles (6 km) north of Wells, 16 miles (26 km) south of Bristol on the Mendip Hills and is the source of the River Chew. The parish includes the hamlet of Bathway.

Contents

[edit] History

There were several lead-mines and stone quarries in the parish.

There is a long barrow to the north of the village 100 ft by 50 ft (30 m by 50 m). Excavation in 1946 revealed six Bronze Age barrows below the crest of the Mendips.[1] The shape of some of the existing fields suggest they are of medieval origin.[2]

The village used to have a Gothic style mansion built for the Waldegrave family before 1791, however all that remains is an 18th century lodge.[1]

The Mendip Engineering Company Ltd. was based in Chewton Mendip around the time of World War I. It was originally founded in the early 1800s as Cutler's Green Ironworks and supplying the British Army with swords. By the 19th century they were repairing farm machinery and casting drain covers and road signs. By the start of the 20th century the company was controlled by CW Harris and were trading as the Mendip Engineering Company. CW Harris designed and built steam lorries in 1907/8 that were sold as Mendips, later in 1911 petrol engine vans were added to the range. WL Adams was employed to design an engine and by 1913 had built a four-cylinder unit suitable for Cyclecars. In March 1914 Harris announced a Light Car completely made by the company, this was sold up to 1916 when war intervened. After World Ward I the company moved to Southmead Road in Bristol, and was later taken over by Baines Manufacturing Company Ltd. of Westbury on Trym, Bristol.[3] Although over 300 cars were built, only one incomplete Mendip car survives having been dug out of a hedge at Cookham near Marlow, Buckinghamshire in 1967.[4]

[edit] Wind turbine proposal

In 2004 there was a proposal to build a wind turbine near Chewton Mendip, but it was eventually turned down by Mendip District Council. There was particular concern about the effect the wind turbine would have on the Mendip Hills AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). That decision has been appealed and was considered at a public enquiry in 2006, at which Ecotricity was given the go ahead to build the turbine.[5] The planned 2 MW turbine will be built at Shooters Bottom Farm (grid reference ST595503). It will have three 35 metres (115 ft) blades rotating at 6–22 rpm around a 65 metres (213 ft) high hub. It is expected to produce 6.7 megawatts of electricity, enough to power up to 2,000 homes in the area.[6]

[edit] Government and politics

Chewton Mendip has its own Parish council which is responsible for local matters and is part of the Nedge Ward which is represented by one councillor on the Mendip District Council it is also part of the Mendip North West Division which is represented by one councillor on the Somerset County Council. The village is a part of the Wells constituency and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.

[edit] Demographics

According to the 2001 Census the Nedge Ward (which includes Litton), had 2,074 residents, living in 893 households, with an average age of 40.0 years. Of these 78% of residents describing their health as 'good', 18% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.8% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 26,803 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived.[7]

[edit] Church

St Mary Magdalene Church, Chewton Mendip
St Mary Magdalene Church, Chewton Mendip

The church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, is made of Lias Stone, with a tower 126 feet (38 m)[8] of Doulting Stone which was "unfinished" in 1541. The tower contains a bell dating from 1753 and made by Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family.[9] In addition, there is a peal of eight bells by Taylor's of Loughborough. The church, which was started in 1441 by Carthusian monks,[8] incorporates several Norman features including the north doorway. The register commences in the year 560. Near the alter is a stone seat, known as a 'frid' for those, especially criminals, who took sanctuary in the church.[8] The church includes monuments to Sir Henry Fitzroger and his wife who died in 1388 and Frances Lady Waldegrave 1879.[1] The Waldegrave family have owned Chewton from 1553, but did not live in the village until the 1860s.[10] It is a Grade II listed building[11] A stone cross in the churchyard also has listed building status[12]

Wade and Wade in their 1929 book "Somerset" described the church as a "singularly interesting church, which possesses one of the most stately towers in the county".[13]

Their description continued "The arrangement of double belfry windows in the two upper stages is unusual, and the conventional lines of the elaborately pierced parapet above are relieved by the projecting stair turret and spirelet. The general effect is rich and impressive. The figure of our Lord, surrounded by four pairs of adoring angels, over the W. doorway should also be observed (cp. Batcombe). In the body of the church note should be taken of the good Norm. doorway forming the N. entrance. The interior is remarkable for an ugly bit of mediaeval vandalism. To render the altar observable from all parts of the church, a Norm. triplet, which once formed the chancel arch, has been mutilated; a pointed arch has been inserted, and the corner of the S. wall pared away. The chancel contains the only extant specimen in Somerset of a frid stool, a rough seat let into the sill of the N. window of the sacrarium for the accommodation of any one claiming sanctuary. Note (1) piscinas of different dates in chancel; (2) change of design in arcading of nave, showing subsequent lengthening of church—the earlier columns stand on Norm. bases; (3) rood-loft doorway and ancient pulpit stairs near modern pulpit; (4) Jacobean lectern and Bible of 1611. The "Bonville" chantry, S. of chancel, contains a 15th-cent. altar-tomb with recumbent effigies of Sir H. Fitzroger and wife, and a modern mural tablet with medallion to Viscountess Waldegrave. In the churchyard is a weather-worn but fine cross, with a canopied crucifix. The Communion plate is pre-Reformation, dating from 1511."[13]

[edit] Other Grade II listed buildings

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Pevsner, Nikolaus (1958). The Buildings of England: North Somerset and Bristol. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140710132. 
  2. ^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (PDF). Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
  3. ^ Mendip Engineering Company Ltd.. British Motor Manufacturers 1894-1960. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
  4. ^ Toulson, Shirley (1984). The Mendip Hills: A Threatened Landscape. London: Victor Gollancz. ISBN 057503453X. 
  5. ^ Wind Turbine granted. Mendip District Council (22 May 2006). Retrieved on 2006-05-28.
  6. ^ Shooters Bottom - Info Sheet (PDF). Ecotricity. Retrieved on 2006-05-28.
  7. ^ Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Mendip 006B Nedge. Office of National Statistics 2001 Census. Retrieved on 2006-05-01.
  8. ^ a b c Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985). Curiosities of Somerset. Bodmin: Bossiney Books, 20. ISBN 0906456983. 
  9. ^ Moore, James; Roy Rice & Ernest Hucker (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0952670208. 
  10. ^ Atthill, Robin (1976). Mendip: A new study. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. ISBN 0715372971. 
  11. ^ Church of St Mary Magdalene at Images of England
  12. ^ Churchyard cross at Images of England
  13. ^ a b Somerset by Wade, G.W. & Wade, J.H., available at Project Gutenberg.

[edit] External links

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Chew Valley
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Mendip Hills
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Asham Wood · Axbridge Hill and Fry's Hill · Banwell Caves · Banwell Ochre Caves · Barns Batch Spinney · Blagdon Lake · Bleadon Hill · Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins · Burledge Hill · Burrington Combe · Chancellor's Farm · Cheddar Complex · Cheddar Reservoir · Cheddar Wood · Chew Valley Lake · Cloford Quarry · Compton Martin Ochre Mine · Cook's Wood Quarry · Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill · Dolebury Warren · Draycott Sleights · Ebbor Gorge · Emborough Quarries · Harptree Combe · Hobbs Quarry · Holwell Quarries · Kingdown and Middledown · Lamb Leer · Priddy Caves · Priddy Pools · Perch · Rodney Stoke · St. Dunstan's Well Catchment · Sandpit Hole and Bishop's Lot · Shiplate Slait · Viaduct Quarry · Windsor Hill Quarry · Wurt Pit and Devil's Punchbowl
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