| Martock | |
All Saints' Church |
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Martock
Martock shown within Somerset |
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| Population | 4,468 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | ST463192 |
| District | South Somerset |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MARTOCK |
| Postcode district | TA12 |
| Dialling code | 01935 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Yeovil |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels 7 miles (11.3 km) north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the village and bounded by Hurst and the A303. The village has a population of 4,468.[1]
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The name Martock comes from the Old English words "mart" meaning market and "ac" for Oak and relate to an Oak tree on the spot now occupied by the Market House.[2]
Martock had a single entry in the Domesday book and expanded rapidly in the succeeding years to include dependent settlements at Bower Hinton, Hurst, Newton, Coat, Stapleton, Ash, Witcombe, Milton and Long Load, expanding between 1086 and 1302 from 89 tenants to more than 200.[3] It was the only parish in the Martock Hundred.[4][5][6]
In 1810 1,025 acres of common land were enclosed as a result of the Inclosure Acts.[3]
The village was once a junction on local branches of the Great Western Railway, now dismantled.
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council’s operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.
The village falls within the Non-metropolitan district of South Somerset, which was formed on April 1, 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Yeovil Rural District.[7] The district council is responsible for local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism.
Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, policing and fire services, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning.
It is also part of the Somerton and Frome county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election, and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament which elects seven MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.
Local businesses include arts and crafts (stonemasonry, woodworking, silversmithing) a reclamation yard,[8] and a fish and chip shop.
The Treasurer's House is a National Trust-owned property built from hamstone during the 13th century.[9]
Notable dwelling houses include Church Lodge.
Local places of interest include the Burrow Hill Cider Farm.
The Parrett Iron Works was a series of industrial buildings next to the River Parrett.The site was originally named Carey's Mill and the adjoining bridge is called Carey's Mill Bridge which was built of Ham stone in the 18th century.[10] The Iron Works was founded in 1855,[11][12] on the site of a former snuff mill.[13] The site included a foundry, with a prominent chimney,[14] ropewalk,[15] workshops[16][17] and several smaller workshops and cottages.[18][19][20][21] The sluice which powered the waterwheel[22] and sluice keepers cottage still exist.[23]
The hamstone Market House on Church Street was built around 1753 and restored and reopened in 1960. It is a Grade II listed building.[24] Grants of over £200,000 have been obtained to restore the building and establish a community office.[25] In front of the Market House is a Market Cross, also known as The Pinnacle, with a column which dates from 1741 with a fluted Tuscan column, on a stepped plinth, which supports a ball finial crowned with a wrought-iron weathervane.[26]
The Church of All Saints dates from the 13th century. It was acquired by the Treasurer of Wells Cathedral in 1227 and he became the rector and patron of the church.[27] The church was restored by Benjamin Ferrey, who was architect to the Diocese of Bath and Wells from 1841 until his death, and also in 1883–84 by Ewan Christian. The tower was built in four stages, to replace the previous one over the central crossing. It has offset corner buttresses to the full height of the tower. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[28] It is said to be the second largest in Somerset and has unique carved wooden statues in the eaves.