West Bagborough

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West Bagborough
West Bagborough (Somerset)
West Bagborough

West Bagborough shown within Somerset
Population 394[1]
OS grid reference ST171333
District Taunton Deane
Shire county Somerset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Postcode district TA4
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
European Parliament South West England
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Coordinates: 51°05′37″N 3°11′06″W / 51.0935, -3.1849

West Bagborough is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 394[1].

The village lies on the south-west slopes of the Quantock Hills and together with the neighbouring hamlets of Shopnoller, Seven Ash and Westwood combine to form a parish, collectively covered by the name West Bagborough. The village today consists of a wide variety of properties, with a wide range of building techniques and ages. Due to its availability local red sandstone features heavily in buildings, both ancient and modern. The village includes a 16th century inn (The Rising Sun). A Village Hall, and a number of establishments offering accommodation.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

The origin of the village name is open to some debate and is thought to either come from the name "Begas Barrow" (meaning badgers hill)[3] or from an amalgamation of the family name "Baga" and the Old English word for hill "beorg", In either case by 1086, when the Domesday book was compiled, the name had become Bageberge.

Enclosure of lands within the parish was authorised by an act of parliament in 1806.

In October 2001 a hoard of 4th century Roman silver was discovered in the village. The 681 coins included two denarii from the early 2nd century and 8 Miliarense and 671 Siliqua all dating to the period AD 337 – 367. The majority were struck in the reigns of emperors Constantius II and Julian and derive from a range of mints including Arles and Lyons in France, Trier in Germany and Rome.[4]

[edit] Church

The village church, St Pancras, dates from the 15th century, with the north aisle being added in 1839, and further restoration in 1872. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.[5] Further work was undertaken in the 1920s under the guidance of Sir Ninian Comper.[6] The church stands high above the main village, and allegedly owes this separation to the black death which reduced the population to below one hundred souls in the fourteenth century. In an attempt to rid themselves of this plague the villagers abandoned the original settlement and re-built, away from the church. The lychgate is dedicated to the memory of Robert Brooke-Popham.[7]

The old rectory is now known as Little Court.[8]

[edit] Bagborough House

Bagborough House was built in 1739 by the Popham family and now lived in by Diana and Philip Brooke-Popham,[9] and enlarged in 1820 and 1900.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b 2002 population estimates. Somerset County Council. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  2. ^ West Bagborough pages. West Bagborough pages. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  3. ^ Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimbourne: Dovecote press. ISBN 187433627X. 
  4. ^ The West Bagborough hoard of Roman silver. Somerset County Museums Service Collections. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  5. ^ Church of St. Pancras (formerly listed as Church of Holy Trinity or St Pancras). Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  6. ^ Saint Pancras Church. West Bagborough pages. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  7. ^ Waite, Vincent (1964). Portrait of the Quantocks. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 0709111584. 
  8. ^ Little Court. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  9. ^ Bagborough House. West Bagborough pages. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  10. ^ Bagborough House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.