West Harptree

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West Harptree
West Harptree (Somerset)
West Harptree

West Harptree shown within Somerset
Population approx. 300
OS grid reference ST561568
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: UKEnglandSomerset

Coordinates: 51°18′31″N 2°37′45″W / 51.3085, -2.6291

West Harptree (grid reference ST561568) is a small village within the Chew Valley, Somerset in the unitary district of Bath and North East Somerset. The village is 8 miles south of Bristol and 10 miles from Bath. It is just south of Chew Valley Lake on the A368. The village has a pub and several shops including a post office. With its close neighbour East Harptree the villages are collectively known as the Harptrees.

According to Robinson it is listed in the 1086 Domesday Book as Herpetreu meaning 'The military road by the wood' from the Old English herepoep and treow.[1]

The shape of some of the existing fields with cross-slope and down-slope field banks and cultivated ridges forming an interleaving irregular mosaic suggest they are of medieval origin.[2]

Contents

[edit] Government and politics

West Harptree, has a Parish council which has some responsibility for local issues, and, along with East Harptree and Hinton Blewett, is part of the Mendip 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 Mendip Ward (which includes East Harptree and Hinton Blewett), had 1,465 residents, living in 548 households, with an average age of 39.0 years. Of these 79% of residents describing their health as 'good', 22% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.5% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 25,387 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived.[3]

[edit] Buildings

West Harptree showing the church
West Harptree showing the church

[edit] Church

Church of St Mary West Harptree
Church of St Mary West Harptree

The Church of St Mary dates from the 12th Century, although the tower is a much later addition,[4] and is a Grade II* listed building[5]

[edit] Gourney Court

Gournay Court is a Grade II* Country house. Circa 1600 (Gournay Court at Images of England) The entrance Gates and railings are grade II (Entrance Gates and Railings at Images of England) as are the Gatepiers to the west (Gatepiers to west of Gournay Court at Images of England)

[edit] Grade II listed buildings

[edit] References

  1. ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1874336032. 
  2. ^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
  3. ^ Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 021D Mendip. Office of National Statistics 2001 Census. Retrieved on 2006-04-25.
  4. ^ Reid, Robert Douglas (1979). Some buildings of Mendip. The Mendip Society. ISBN 0905459164. 
  5. ^ (Church of St. Mary at Images of England)

[edit] External links