Shepton Beauchamp

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Shepton Beauchamp
Shepton Beauchamp (Somerset)
Shepton Beauchamp

Shepton Beauchamp shown within Somerset
OS grid reference ST403173
District South Somerset
Shire county Somerset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ILMINSTER
Postcode district TA19
Dialling code 01460
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
European Parliament South West England
UK Parliament Yeovil
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Coordinates: 50°57′09″N 2°51′01″W / 50.9525, -2.8504

Shepton Beauchamp is a village and civil parish, 1 mile (2 km) from Barrington and 4 miles (6 km) north east of Ilminster between the Blackdown Hills and the Somerset Levels in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England.

Contents

[edit] History

The first part of the name of the village has Saxon origins meaning sheep settlement. The second part was added to honour the Beauchamp family (pronounced ‘Beecham’) who held the manor from the mid 12th century.[1]

It passed to the Seymours in 1361, and Sir John Seymour lived here when High Sheriff of Somerset 1515-16, possibly with his young daughter Jane Seymour, later third Queen of Henry VIII.[1]

[edit] Church

The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is built of local Hamstone, and has 13th century origins, although it has been extensively changed since then, with major renovation in 1865 by George Edmund Street. It has a tall 3-stage tower with set-back buttresses ascending to the shafts of former pinnacles, set off with an embattled parapet and gargoyles. There are 2-light traceried bell-chamber windows with stone grilles, continuing as blank openings on the ringing chamber below. There are clocks with Roman numerals to the west and south faces and a higher polygonal stair-turret to the north corner. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.[2]

The former rectory, now called Beauchamp Manor, was built in 1874 for the rector V.S.S. Coles to house his curates and visitors.[3][4]

[edit] School

The village school caters for children aged 4 to 9 years.[5] It was built in 1856.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Village introduction. Shepton Beauchamp. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  2. ^ Church of St. Michael. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  3. ^ Dunning, Robert (1980). Somerset and Avon. Edinburgh: John Batholomew & Son, 125. ISBN 0702883808. 
  4. ^ The Old Rectory and Beauchamp Manor. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  5. ^ Shepton Beauchamp Church of England First School. Shepton Beauchamp Church of England First School. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  6. ^ Shepton Beauchamp C. of E. (VC) Primary School. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.

[edit] External links

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