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One of the nicest features of St Audries Bay are the two waterfalls which cascade down the cliffs along the back of the beach. Access is via a path leading down from the local holiday park, which also provides parking and a shop. Whilst the path is well maintained it is.
(Redirected from West Somerset Council)
Shown within Somerset | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
---|---|
Constituent country | England |
Region | South West England |
Ceremonial county | Somerset |
Admin HQ | Williton |
Created | 1 April 1974 |
Government | |
• Type | Non-metropolitan district |
• Leader | Tim Taylor |
• Council | Conservative |
• MPs: | Ian Liddell-GraingerC, Rebecca PowC |
Area | |
• Total | 280.63 sq mi (726.84 km2) |
Population | |
• Total | 34,900 (Ranked ) |
• Density | 130/sq mi (49/km2) |
Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
Post Code | |
Area code(s) | 01984 |
Website | http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/ |
Map all coordinates using:OpenStreetMap |
Download coordinates as:KML·GPX |
West Somerset was a local government district in the English county of Somerset. The council covered a largely rural area, with a population of 34,900[1] in an area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi);[2] it was the least populous non-unitary district in England. According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics in 2009, the population of West Somerset has the oldest average age in the United Kingdom at 52.[3]The largest centres of population are the coastal towns of Minehead (population 10,000) and Watchet (4,400).
The council's administrative headquarters were located in the village of Williton, with an additional office in Minehead.
In September 2016, West Somerset and Taunton Deane councils agreed in principle to merge the districts into one (with one council) subject to consultation.[4] The new district would not be a unitary authority: it would still be part of the Somerset County Council area.[5] In March 2018 both councils voted in favour of the merger and it came into effect on 1 April 2019, with the first elections to the new council in May 2019. The new authority is known as Somerset West and Taunton Council.[6][7][8]
- 1History
History[edit]
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the previous urban districts of Minehead and Watchet, along with Dulverton Rural District and Williton Rural District.
Listed buildings[edit]
There were 33 Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset: the oldest are Culbone Church (one of the smallest churches in England,[9] and pre-Norman in origin)[10] and Tarr Steps, which some say originates in the Bronze Age, although others date them from around 1400.[11]Dunster has the greatest concentration of Grade I listed buildings including Dunster Castle, the Yarn Market, Gallox Bridge and Priory Church of St George. Other sites include manor houses such as Nettlecombe Court and Orchard Wyndham. The most recent buildings included in the list are Crowcombe Court which was completed in 1739[12] and the Church of St John the Baptist in Carhampton which was rebuilt in 1863.[13] There are numerous religious structures in Somerset, with the largest number being Anglican parish churches, dating from Norman or medieval eras. Some of the churches are included in the Somerset towers, a collection of distinctive, mostly spirelessGothic church towers.
West Somerset Council Offices in Williton
Recent financial difficulties[edit]
In 2012 financial difficulties at the council, including a £1 million reduction over three years, lead to plans to outsource most of the services provided to the population and make most of the staff redundant.[14] It is proposed that some services may be shared with Taunton Deane council.[15] In December 2012 the grant received from central government was increased by 0.9% meaning the council had £3.8million to spend on the provision of services.[16]
Geography[edit]
West Somerset benefits from one of the most scenic landscapes in England. Nearly two-thirds of the western land area of the district forms part of Exmoor National Park, designated in 1954, while on the eastern edge of the district are the Quantock Hills, which in 1956 became the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty created in the UK. Large areas of Exmoor and the Quantock Hills are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest because of their value for wildlife.
The West Somerset Railway runs through most of the district, from Bishop's Lydeard in the south east to Minehead in the north west. Operated mainly as a tourist attraction, the railway runs mostly steam and some diesel locomotives.
Governance[edit]
West Somerset District Council is elected every four years, with currently 28 councillors being elected at each election. From the first election to the council in 1973 to the 1995 election the council had a majority of independents. Since then the Conservative Party won a majority at the 2003 election, but independents took a majority back at the 2007 election. Following the election in 2011 the Conservatives regained a majority and following the 2015 election and several subsequent by-elections, the council is composed of the following councillors:-[17]
Party | Councillors | |
Conservative Party | 19 | |
Independent | 2 | |
UKIP | 2 | |
Liberal Democrats | 4 | |
Labour Party | 1 |
Settlements[edit]
- Allerford, Ashbeer
- Battleton, Bickham, Bicknoller, Bilbrook, Bossington, Brandish Street, Bratton, Bridgetown, Brompton Ralph, Brompton Regis, Brushford
- Carhampton, Chapel Cleeve, Churchtown, Clatworthy, Crowcombe, Crowcombe Heathfield, Culbone, Cutcombe
- Dulverton, Dunster
- East Quantoxhead, Elworthy, Escott, Exford, Exton
- Halsway, Hawkridge, Higher Vexford, Holford, Huish Champflower
- Kilve, Kilton, Kingsbridge, Kingswood
- Lawford, Leighland Chapel, Lilstock, Lower Vellow, Lower Vexford, Lower Weacombe, Luccombe, Luxborough, Lynch, Lyncombe
- Minehead, Monksilver
- Oare, Oareford, Old Cleeve
- Pooltown, Porlock, Preston
- St Audries, Sampford Brett, Selworthy, Simonsbath, Skilgate, Stoke Pero, Stogumber, Stogursey, Stringston
- Timberscombe, Tivington, Torre, Treborough, Triscombe
- Washford, Watchet, Weacombe, West Quantoxhead, Williton, Winsford, Withycombe, Withypool, Woodford, Wootton Courtenay
Parishes[edit]
Image | Name | Status | Population | Former local authority | Coordinates | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bicknoller | Civil parish | 371 | Williton Rural District | 51°09′N3°16′W / 51.15°N 3.27°W | [18][19] | |
Brompton Ralph | Civil parish | 287 | Williton Rural District | 51°05′N3°19′W / 51.08°N 3.31°W | [18][19] | |
Brompton Regis | Civil parish | 449 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°04′N3°29′W / 51.07°N 3.49°W | [18][20] | |
Brushford | Civil parish | 519 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°01′N3°32′W / 51.02°N 3.53°W | [18][20] | |
Carhampton | Civil parish | 865 | Williton Rural District | 51°10′N3°25′W / 51.17°N 3.42°W | [18][19] | |
Clatworthy | Civil parish | 101 | Williton Rural District | 51°04′N3°21′W / 51.07°N 3.35°W | [19] | |
Crowcombe | Civil parish | 489 | Williton Rural District | 51°07′N3°14′W / 51.12°N 3.23°W | [18][19] | |
Cutcombe | Civil parish | 361 | Williton Rural District | 51°08′N3°32′W / 51.14°N 3.53°W | [18][19] | |
Dulverton | Town | 1,408 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°03′N3°33′W / 51.05°N 3.55°W | [18][20] | |
Dunster | Civil parish | 817 | Williton Rural District | 51°11′N3°27′W / 51.18°N 3.45°W | [18] | |
East Quantoxhead | Civil parish | 104 | Williton Rural District | 51°11′N3°14′W / 51.18°N 3.24°W | [18] | |
Elworthy | Civil parish | 103 | Williton Rural District | 51°07′N3°19′W / 51.11°N 3.31°W | [19] | |
Exford | Civil parish | 405 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°08′N3°38′W / 51.13°N 3.64°W | [18][20] | |
Exmoor | Civil parish | 251 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°08′N3°45′W / 51.14°N 3.75°W | [18][20] | |
Exton | Civil parish | 243 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°05′N3°32′W / 51.09°N 3.54°W | [18][20] | |
Holford | Civil parish | 392 | Williton Rural District | 51°10′N3°13′W / 51.16°N 3.21°W | [18][19] | |
Huish Champflower | Civil parish | 301 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°04′N3°22′W / 51.06°N 3.36°W | [18][20] | |
Kilve | Civil parish | 305 | Williton Rural District | 51°11′N3°13′W / 51.18°N 3.22°W | [18][19] | |
Luccombe | Civil parish | 157 | Williton Rural District | 51°11′N3°34′W / 51.19°N 3.56°W | [18][19] | |
Luxborough | Civil parish | 237 | Williton Rural District | 51°08′N3°28′W / 51.13°N 3.46°W | [18][19] | |
Minehead | Town | 11,981 | Williton Rural District Minehead Urban District | 51°12′N3°28′W / 51.20°N 3.47°W | [18][19][21] | |
Minehead Without | Civil parish | 60 | Williton Rural District | 51°12′N3°31′W / 51.20°N 3.51°W | [19] | |
Monksilver | Civil parish | 113 | Williton Rural District | 51°08′N3°20′W / 51.13°N 3.33°W | [18][19] | |
Nettlecombe | Civil parish | 174 | Williton Rural District | 51°08′N3°21′W / 51.13°N 3.35°W | [18][19] | |
Oare | Civil parish | 68 | Williton Rural District | 51°12′N3°43′W / 51.20°N 3.71°W | [19] | |
Old Cleeve | Civil parish | 1,672 | Williton Rural District | 51°10′N3°23′W / 51.17°N 3.38°W | [18][19] | |
Porlock | Civil parish | 1,440 | Williton Rural District | 51°13′N3°36′W / 51.21°N 3.60°W | [18][19] | |
Sampford Brett | Civil parish | 270 | Williton Rural District | 51°10′N3°19′W / 51.16°N 3.31°W | [18][19] | |
Selworthy | Civil parish | 477 | Williton Rural District | 51°13′N3°33′W / 51.21°N 3.55°W | [18][19] | |
Skilgate | Civil parish | 100 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°02′N3°27′W / 51.04°N 3.45°W | [20] | |
Stogumber | Civil parish | 702 | Williton Rural District | 51°08′N3°17′W / 51.13°N 3.29°W | [18][19] | |
Stogursey | Civil parish | 1,385 | Williton Rural District | 51°11′N3°08′W / 51.18°N 3.14°W | [18][19] | |
Stringston | Civil parish | 116 | Williton Rural District | 51°11′N3°11′W / 51.18°N 3.18°W | [19] | |
Timberscombe | Civil parish | 402 | Williton Rural District | 51°08′N3°32′W / 51.13°N 3.54°W | [18][19] | |
Treborough | Civil parish | 51 | Williton Rural District | 51°07′N3°25′W / 51.12°N 3.41°W | [19] | |
Upton | Civil parish | 250 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°06′N3°26′W / 51.10°N 3.44°W | [18][20] | |
Watchet | Town | 3,785 | Watchet Urban District | 51°11′N3°20′W / 51.18°N 3.33°W | [18][22] | |
West Quantoxhead | Civil parish | 343 | Williton Rural District | 51°10′N3°16′W / 51.17°N 3.27°W | [18][19] | |
Williton | Civil parish | 2,607 | Williton Rural District | 51°10′N3°19′W / 51.16°N 3.31°W | [18][19] | |
Winsford | Civil parish | 321 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°06′N3°34′W / 51.10°N 3.57°W | [18][20] | |
Withycombe | Civil parish | 293 | Williton Rural District | 51°10′N3°25′W / 51.16°N 3.41°W | [18][19] | |
Withypool and Hawkridge | Civil parish | 201 | Dulverton Rural District | 51°07′N3°39′W / 51.11°N 3.65°W | [18][20] | |
Wootton Courtenay | Civil parish | 264 | Williton Rural District | 51°11′N3°31′W / 51.18°N 3.52°W | [18][19] |
Education[edit]
County schools (those which are not independent) in the five non-metropolitan districts of the county are operated by Somerset County Council.
For a full list of schools see: List of schools in Somerset
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Statistics & Census Information'. West Somerset Council. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ^'West Somerset (Local Authority): Key Figures for Physical Environment'. Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^'Maps chart UK's ageing population'. BBC News. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^West Somerset Online
- ^Your New Council
- ^'Somerset councils merger approved despite criticism'. BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^Simmons, Alice (19 March 2018). 'Taunton Deane and West Somerset vote in favour of council merger'. Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (24 May 2018). 'The Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018'. legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^'Parish Churches'. Somerset County archives. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
- ^'Culbone church'. historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
- ^'Tarr Steps'. Everything Exmoor. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^'Crowcombe Court'. historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
- ^'Church of St John the Baptist, Carhampton'. historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
- ^Morris, Steven (12 December 2012). 'West Somerset council considers making most of its staff redundant'. London: Guardian. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^'West Somerset Council anti-bankruptcy plan approved'. BBC. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^'Why West Somerset Council is at risk of going bust'. BBC. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^'Council composition 2018'. West Somerset Council. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiaj'Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles'(Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabac'Williton RD'. A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^ abcdefghijk'Dulverton RD'. A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^'Minehead UD'. A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^'Watchet UD'. A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Somerset. |
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Somerset&oldid=916498587'
(Redirected from St Audries)
West Quantoxhead | |
---|---|
The waterfall in St Audrie's bay | |
Location within Somerset | |
Population | 343 [1] |
OS grid reference | ST113420 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Taunton |
Postcode district | TA4 |
Dialling code | 01984 |
Police | Avon and Somerset |
Fire | Devon and Somerset |
Ambulance | South Western |
EU Parliament | South West England |
UK Parliament | |
|
West Quantoxhead is a small village and civil parish in the Somerset West and Taunton district of Somerset, England. It lies on the route of the Coleridge Way and on the A39 road at the foot of the Quantock Hills, 3 miles (5 km) from East Quantoxhead, 2.5 miles (4 km) from Williton and equidistant from Bridgwater and Taunton. The parish includes the hamlets of Weacombe and Lower Weacombe.
West Quantoxhead is also known as St Audries. The St Audries Manor Estate was named for the dedication of the parish church to Æthelthryth known as St Ethelreda, who was also known as St Audrey.
History[edit]
'West Quantoxhead is spelt as Cantocheve in the Domesday Book.[2] West Quantoxhead is listed amongst the large number of manors that are owned by William de Moyon.
In 1086, the book notes that:
'William himself owns West Quantoxhead' . Alnoth held it TRE[3] and it paid geld for three and a half hides. There is land for eight ploughs. In demesne are 3 ploughs and 7 slaves and 10 villans and 4 bordars with 6 ploughs. There are sixteen acres of meadow and 30 of woodland and pasture 1 league by one league. It was worth three pounds, now four.'[4]
The parish of West Quantoxhead was part of the Williton and FreemannersHundred.[5]
The manor was held from the early 13th century by the Cauntelo family, and from about 1400 to 1736 by the Malets.[6]
The manor of St Audries was bought by Sir Peregrine Palmer Fuller-Palmer-Acland of the Acland baronets in 1836.[7]
St Audries Park, the manor house of the Aclands was renovated between 1835 and 1870. The property was divided in 1934, when the house was sold and turned into St Audries School,[8] which remained in occupation until 1990, when the house was sold to the Amitabha Buddhist Centre. It was sold again in 2001.[9]
Alexander Fuller-Acland-HoodPC was the Conservative PartyMember of Parliament for Wellington from 1892 until 1911, Vice-Chamberlain of the Household from 1900 to 1902 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) from 1902 until 1905. He was sworn a Privy Counsellor in 1904. In 1911, he was ennobled as Baron St Audries.[6]
Governance[edit]
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 Somerset West and Taunton, which was established on 1 April 2019. It was previously in the district of West Somerset, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, and part of Williton Rural District before that.[10] 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.
The appropriate electoral ward is 'West Quantock'. The ward stretches from East Quantoxhead south to Bicknoller. The total ward population at the 2011 Census is 1,088.[11]
It is also part of the Bridgwater and West Somersetcounty 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.
Geography[edit]
The Quantock Hills are largely formed by rocks of the Devonian Period, which consist of sediments originally laid down under a shallow sea and slowly compressed into solid rock. In the higher north western areas older Early Devonian rocks, known as Hangman Grits,[12] predominate, and can be seen in the exposed rock at West Quantoxhead quarry, which were worked for road building.[7]
Religious sites[edit]
St Audries church
The old medieval church in the village became so dilapidated that it was entirely rebuilt in 1856 leaving only the shaft of a cross [13] from the original building in the churchyard, two of the bells dated 1440, a Norman font and a stone coffin. The new church, rededicated to St. Ethel Dreda, was built by John Morton for Sir Peregrine Acland and his son-in-law, Sir Alexander Fuller-Acland-Hood, 1st Baron St Audries of the Acland baronets.[14]
References[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Quantoxhead. |
- ^'Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles'(Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 2003. ISBN0-14-143994-7 p.1399
- ^TRE in Latin is Tempore Regis Edwardi. This means in the time of King Edward before the Battle of Hastings.
- ^Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 2003. ISBN0-14-143994-7 p.264
- ^'Somerset Hundreds'. GENUKI. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ^ abBush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The Complete Guide. Dovecote Press. p. 230. ISBN1-874336-26-1.
- ^ abWaite, Vincent (1964). Portrait of the Quantocks. London: Robert Hale. ISBN0-7091-1158-4.
- ^'St. Audries School'. historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^'Landscape park, West Quantoxhead'. Somerset Historic Environment Record. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^'Williton RD'. A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^'West Quantock ward 2011'. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^Dunning, Robert (1980). Somerset & Avon. Edinburgh: John Bartholomew & Son Ltd. pp. 123–124. ISBN0-7028-8380-8.
- ^'Remains of Churchyard Cross'. historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^'Church of St Ethel Dreda'. historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Quantoxhead&oldid=908184961'