Doulting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Doulting | |
  Doulting shown within Somerset |
|
| Population | 596[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Mendip |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Shepton Mallet |
| Postcode district | BA |
| 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 | |
Doulting is a village and civil parish 1.5 miles (2 km) east of Shepton Mallet, on the A361, in the Mendip district of Somerset, England.
The village dates from the 8th century when King Ine of Wessex gave the local estate to Glastonbury Abbey after his nephew St. Aldhelm died in the village in 709.[2][3] In his honour the local spring which is the sources of the River Sheppey is called St. Aldhelm's Well. The well head was built the late 19th century and incorporates a wrought-iron pump handle. It is marked with a cast-iron plate with raised initials:- "W.N.F.M.", and an additional brass memorial plaque dating from 1976.[4] Folklaw has attributed healing powers to the water from the well.[5]
The parish church is also dedicated to St. Aldhelm and dates from the 12th century. It is a grade I listed building,[6] and has a tall spire rather than the towers which are more usual in Somerset. It has a two storey porch which incorporates a carving of the Green Man into its vaulting.[3] The local primary school is dedicated to St. Aldhelm as well.[7]
The tithe barn at the southern end of the village dates from the 15th century and was used to store tithes, from the local farmers to the ecclesiastical landlord at Glastonbury Abbey.[8]
Around the village there are some extensive quarries of freestone, from which Wells Cathedral and later additions to Glastonbury Abbey and other churches were built.[3] Doulting Stone Quarry has been producing stone since Roman times. Until 1994 it was operated by Amalgamated Roadstone Corporation (part of Hanson plc since 1989), at which time the landowner terminated the tenancy and now operates the quarry as an independent business.[9] The stone is Oolite of middle Jurassic age deposited as sediments in fairly shallow coastal seas.[10]
The heritage East Somerset Railway runs just to the south of the village, and terminates at the Mendip Vale railway station.
[edit] References
- ^ Mendip Parish Population Estimates 2002. Somerset County Council. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ Powicke Handbook of British Chronology p. 254
- ^ a b c Scott, Shane (1995). The hidden places of Somerset. Aldermaston: Travel Publishing Ltd, 58. ISBN 1902007018.
- ^ Well head with pump at NGR ST 6468 4318. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ St Aldhelm's well, Doulting, Somerset. Living Spring Journal. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Church of St. Aldhelm. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
- ^ St Aldhelm's Primary School. St Aldhelm's Primary School. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Tithe Barn in farmyard at Manor Farm. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Quarry History. Doulting Stone Quarry. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Geology. Doulting Stone Quarry. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
