| Babington | |
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Babington
Babington shown within Somerset |
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| OS grid reference | ST706510 |
|---|---|
| Parish | Kilmersdon |
| District | Mendip |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BATH |
| Postcode district | BA3 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | North East Somerset |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Babington is a small village between Radstock and Frome, Somerset, England, which has now largely disappeared.
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The parish of Babington was part of the Kilmersdon Hundred,[1]
The village dates from medieval times but appears to have been largely demolished to make way for the manor house around 1705.[2] Evidence of the medieval village was found during excavations carried out in 1997.[3]
It is known that the manor was sold by Thomas and Mary Mankham to Joan Elcode, a widow, in a deed dated Easter 1572. The Manor then contained 7 messuages, one cottage, 10 tofts, 1 water mill, 10 gardens, 14 orchards, 300 acres (1,214,057 m2) of land, 120 acres (485,623 m2) of meadow, 160 acres (647,497 m2) of pasture, 20 acres (80,937 m2) of wood, 120 acres (485,623 m2) of furze and 4s annual rent and 1 lb of pepper.[4]
The current Babington House was built around 1705 for Henry Mompesson, probably on the foundations of an earlier building. Babington was inherited by successive members of the Knatchbull family until 1952, when the House and immediate grounds were sold. In 2000, it was bought by the Soho House club, and converted to a hotel, club and wedding venue in 2000.[5]
The Georgian architecture house is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.[6] The 18th-century stable block and coach house have now been made into three separate dwellings.[7] The grounds also contain a listed ice house[8] and two impressive sets of gates.[9][10]
The Church of St Margaret is thought to date from 1748 and was probably built by John Strahan or William Halfpenny,and is considered to be very similar in conception to Redland Chapel in Bristol which was long considered to be by John Strahan but now known to be by William Halfpenny. It is a Grade I listed building.[11] The interior includes an unusual Royal Arms of the Hanoverians on the Rood.[12]
Within the churchyard there are a set of three chest tombs. The monument to John Shute is dated 1688 and that to Thomas Branch 1779.[13]
Charity Cottage (also known as White Cottage) in Charity Lane dates from the 17th century and was built as three cottages, although they have now been converted into one property.[14]