Nempnett Thrubwell
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| Nempnett Thrubwell | |
  Nempnett Thrubwell shown within Somerset |
|
| Population | approx. 180 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| 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 to be North East Somerset from next general election. |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Nempnett Thrubwell (grid reference ST526601) is a small village in dairying country on the western edge of Bath and North East Somerset, in the county of Somerset, England. It is about 15 km south west of Bristol. The parish is sheltered by the Mendip Hills, near the River Yeo in the Chew Valley. It is the site of the Fairy Toot oval barrow.
Lying just to the north of Blagdon Lake, isolated Nempnett Thrubwell falls within the network of minor roads bounded by the A38, A368, B3114 and B3130; whilst signposted from each of these major routes, a lack of any further signposting makes it difficult to locate the village when arriving by road. The landscape is characterized by isolated farmsteads, the vernacular older buildings generally of the local Lias limestone or of render with clay-tiled roofs.
The name Nempnett Thrubwell is believed to mean 'The grove at the village well' from the Celtic nemett and the Old English wiell.[1]
The nearby meadows at Plaster's Green Meadows are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Though being largely rural[2] and consisting of one road and a few houses, Nempnett Thrubwell's curiously comedic name makes the village rather a famous local attraction. It has been immortalised in the song Down In Nempnett Thrubwell by The Wurzels.
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[edit] Government and politics
Nempnett Thrubwell is part of the Chew Valley South 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 become North East Somerset at the next general election and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.
[edit] Demographics
According to the 2001 Census The Chew Valley South Ward (which includes Ubley), had 1,032 residents, living in 411 households, with an average age of 42.1 years. Of these 74% of residents describing their health as 'good', 20% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.7% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 22,950 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived.[3]
[edit] The Fairy Toot
:See Main Article: Fairy Toot
In the parish, the Fairy Toot is an extensive oval barrow, formerly a chambered cairn which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, on the national monument register as '22826'.[4] The Fairy Toot south-southwest of Howgrove Farm is a mound 60 m long, 25 m wide and now 2.5 m high, retained by a stone wall. Its summit is covered with ash trees and shrubs.[5] Formerly it was considerably higher. On being opened in 1789 and essentially destroyed, it was found to contain two rows of cells, running from south to north, formed by immense stones set edgeways, and covered by others of larger dimensions. At the time it was conjectured to be a work of the Druids, but its origins are far older and probably date from the Neolithic period.[6]
Wade and Wade in their 1929 book "Somerset" described it as "a remarkably fine tumulus of masonry, said to have been one of the finest in Britain, in the chambers of which skeletons have been discovered. A few vestiges of it now only remain, the rest has been used as a lime-kiln."[7]
[edit] Church of St Mary
The parish church, St Mary's on Knap Hill, has a tower containing five bells. The tower has set back buttresses and two arch bell openings with tracery. The tower is crowned by a parapet with blank arcading, and square pinnacles, it also has a slightly higher stair turret. The late Victorian chancel of 1897 is in the decorated style. Inside the church is a screen attributed to Pugin, although Pevsner is of the opinion the architect is probably Pugin the younger.[8] It is a Grade II* listed building,[9] with a cross in the churchyard being listed Grade II.[10]
Wade and Wade in their 1929 book "Somerset" described it as "a small building with a Perp. W. tower, from the W. face of which project two curious and uncanny carved heads of a man and beast. The walls of the nave still bear the original 13th cent. consecration crosses. The chancel is modern, and contains a rich modern screen and a good E. window of Munich glass. Note (1) rude Norm. S. doorway filled with Perp. tracery; (2) Norm. font carved with a curious device by some later craftsman. Near the porch in the churchyard is (1) base of ancient cross; (2) tomb of first rector — Robert — bearing an incised cross".[11]
The parish register lists christenings, marriages and burials from 1568. The lords of the manor and chief landowners, following the demise of the Bakers during the 17th century have been the baronets Tynte of Halswell.[12] The Tynte's are probably responsible for the obelisk located at Rookery Farm in the parish.
[edit] Regilbury Park Farm
Regilbury Park Farm, in the parish, has a farmhouse which was formerly the ancestral home of the Baber family, one time lords of the manor. Parts of the mansion remain, with mullioned windows in one large gabled wing.[8] It is a Grade II listed building.
[edit] Other Grade II listed buildings
The Old Rectory, which is now a private house, dates from 1860.[13] A 19th century black cast iron pump, with a lion crest, curved handle and fluted finial and its retaining walls, about 10 metres north west of Mendip Farmhouse, which is marked as a spring on Ordnance Survey maps, is grade II listed.[14]
[edit] Village Hall
The Victorian village hall fell into disrepair during the second half of the 20th century, it was restored over a period of years and reopened on July 15, 2006.[15]
[edit] Literature
Nempnett Thrubwell is mentioned in the 1983 book The Meaning of Liff by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd. The book gives alternative meanings to village names in the UK. The village is described as: "NEMPNETT THRUBWELL (n.) The feeling experienced when driving off for the first time on a brand new motorbike."
[edit] References
- ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1874336032.
- ^ 1.Thrubwell Farm Plateau. Rural Landscapes of Bath and Northeast Somerset. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
- ^ Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 021B Chew Valley South. Office of National Statistics 2001 Census. Retrieved on 2006-04-25.
- ^ The Fairy Toot long barrow 350 m SSW of Howgrove Farm. English Heritage's Record of Scheduled Monuments. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
- ^ Fairy Toot. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
- ^ Nempnett Thrubwell. GENUKI. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
- ^ Somerset by Wade, G.W. & Wade, J.H., available at Project Gutenberg.
- ^ a b Pevsner, Nikolaus (1958). The Buildings of England : North Somerset and Bristol. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-071013-2.
- ^ Church of St. Mary. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Regilbury Park Farm. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Somerset by Wade, G.W. & Wade, J.H., available at Project Gutenberg.
- ^ Goathurst. Quantock on line. Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
- ^ Old Rectory. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Pump and retaining walls. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Nempnett's new hall (August 2006). Mendip Times 2 (3): 24.
Anna's Story Basset mead, bt Alfred Fox is set in the Village of Nempnett Thrubwell. ISBN 9781425969493. A loose tale of Bassets, a horse and fun.Montybasset (talk) 11:20, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
[edit] External links
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