South Petherton

infobox UK place
country= England
latitude= 50.9451
longitude= -2.8055
official_name= South Petherton
population= 3,200
shire_district= South Somerset
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Yeovil
post_town= ILMINSTER
postcode_district = TA13
postcode_area= TA
dial_code= 01460
os_grid_reference= ST435165

South Petherton is a small country town and civil parish on the River Parrett in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is convert|5|mi|km|0|lk=on east of Ilminster and convert|5|mi|km|0 north west of Crewkerne. It had a population of approximately 3,200 in 2002.cite web|url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/030D1/S_Som02%20mye.pdf|title=2002 Population estimates|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=2008-07-23] The parish includes the hamlets of Yeabridge, Compton-Durvill, South Harp, and Over Stratton, and is approximately convert|2|mi|km|0|lk=on from East Lambrook, Martock and Lopen.

It is distinctive for the traditional hamstone construction of many of its buildings.

History

The village’s name may come from the Old English word "Pared" meaning boundary and the Saxon word "ton" meaning settlement, forming ’Paredton’. [cite web|url=http://www.steve-doble.addr.com/history.html|title=A Concise Potted History of South Petherton|last=Balch|first=Tom|publisher=South Petherton web site|accessdate=2008-08-15]

A site at Stoodham, north of the present village, has produced iron age occupation material, though archaeological evidence of any structures have not yet been discovered. Roman material, mostly consisting of coins, has also been discovered locally and, as it is only convert|2|mi|km|0 from the Fosse Way, roman occupation is likely, although it may have been abandoned between the 4th and 8th centuries.

A large royal estate of South Petherton was created and the Saxon settlement, "Sudperetone" (the southern tun on the Parrett), included a minster church, a royal palace and a short-lived 11th century mint. Most of the royal estate passed directly to William the Conqueror and was still a possession of the Crown in 1086. Part of the estate was also held by Bruton Abbey from the 12th century until the Dissolution of the Monasteries, then becoming known as the manor of Hele. In 1213 a royal warrant by King John was granted for a market and fair, but by 1243 the main manor had been granted away from the Crown under Henry II and by 1243 South Petherton manor was owned outright by the Daubeney family, who continued to hold it until the late 15th century, the family dying out after Henry Daubeney acquired the earldom of Bridgwater and then failed to produce an heir to succeed him. [cite book|last=Dunning |first=Robert|title=A History of Somerset|publisher=Somerset Books|location=Tiverton|date=2003|edition=3rd|pages=53|isbn=0861834763] The manor was shared by members of the Brome Family from 1581 to 1615, when it passed to the Hele family who held it for most of the 17th century.

The Saxon Chronicle of 680 refers to a major battle on the site of the village and the Saxon Ine of Wessex of the Kingdom of Wessex built a palace on present day Silver Street. [cite web|url=http://www.fullbooks.com/Wanderings-in-Wessex3.html|title=Wanderings in Wessex|last=Holmes|first=Edric|work=Part 3|publisher=Fullbooks.com|accessdate=2008-08-15]

During the English Civil War troops from both sides occupied the town during 1644 and 1645. The town also had a role in the Monmouth rebellion of 1680 and two townsmen were among those who prosecuted in the Bloody Assizes.

It was also recently discovered that South Petherton was, during the 17th century, one of the main centres of bronze cauldron and skillet production. These cooking vessels were used all over the UK. [cite web|url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/culturecommunity/museums/explore/cookingvessels/potcasting/foundries/|title=Where were the sites of the Somerset Foundaries|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=2008-08-15] [cite web|url=http://www.mlasouthwest.org.uk/index.php?SID=1615&YEAR=2004&ID=28|title=Museum Service acquires nationally important collection|date=2004|publisher=Museums and Library Association|accessdate=2008-08-15]

In 1947 a 17th century house on West Street was converted into the Under-Sheriff's Office, and is now offices for a law firm founded in 1749. [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264271|title=Under-Sheriff's Office|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23]

In 2005 South Petherton was awarded ‘Somerset Village of the Year’ in a national competition. [cite web|url=http://www.steve-doble.addr.com/photos/Village%20of%20the%20Year/index.html|title=Winning the Somerset Village of the Year|date=2005|publisher=South Petherton web site|accessdate=2008-08-15]

During 2007 Somerset Primary Care Trust consulted local residents about proposals for the redevelopment of South Petherton Community Hospital, which provides Out Patient Assessment and Reablement services. [cite web|url=http://www.somerset.nhs.uk/pct/hospitals/southpetherton.html|title=South Petherton Community Hospital|publisher=Somerset Primary Care Trust|accessdate=2008-07-23]

Governance

As a civil parish South Petherton has its own parish council with 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 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 is part of the South Somerset local government district within the wider Somerset County Council.

Yeovil is a 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. The constituency covers the towns of Yeovil, Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster in Somerset. Until 1983 Somerset was split into four constituencies and Yeovil constituency also contained the towns of Ilchester, Martock and Somerton but they were moved into the newly created constituency of Somerton and Frome. From the next election, Yeovil constituency will contain Ilchester once again to equalise the populations of the Somerset constituencies. The Boundary Commission for England estimate the electorate of Yeovil constituency after the pending boundary changes to be 77,049. The current MP is David Laws, a member of the Liberal Democrats. [ cite web | url = http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alcm.cfm#Y | title = Alphabetical List of Constituencies and Members of Parliament | publisher = House Of Commons Information Office | accessdate = 2008-01-19 ]

Residents of Sotuh Petherton also form part of the electorate for the South West England constituency for elections to the European Parliament. [ cite web | url=http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/southwest.asp | title=UK MEPs for the South West | accessdate = 2008-01-11 | format = | work = European Parliament UK Office ]

Geography

South Petherton is situated between the Devon hills to the west, the flat wetland area of the Somerset Levels and Moors to the north, and the hills of Dorset to the south.

It lies on low lying undulating land of Yeovil Sands at the foot of a limestone ridge, which has been quarried for Petherton stone, and for sands and clays suitable for brick and tile making.cite web|url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/cultureheritage/heritage/projects/eus/spetherton/|title=South Petherton|last=Gathercole|first=Clare|work=Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=2008-07-23]

Economy

Agriculture has traditionally been an important local industry, although South Petherton has also been a centre for glove making, cider production and other cottage industries at various points in it's history.

Cloth manufacture, continued into the late 18th and 19th century although this was largely replaced by sailcloth and then leather working. The importance of this industry can be seen by the number of mills which remain including; the Former flax mill or granary in Hayes End, [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264193|title=Former flax mill or granary|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23] Joylers Mill, [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264203|title=Joylers Mill|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23] Shutlers Mill, [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264210|title=Shutlers Mill|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23] and the former flax mill immediately north of Flaxdrayton Farmhouse. [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264187|title=Former flax mill immediately north of Flaxdrayton Farmhouse|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23]

Landmarks

In Silver street is a 14th century manor house. [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264248|title=Manor House, King Ina's Palace|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23] It was restored in the 19th century and nicknamed 'King Ina's Palace'.cite web|url=http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/south-petherton.asp|title=South Petherton|work=About Britain|publisher=AboutBritain.com|accessdate=2008-07-23]

The 15th or 16th century Wigborough Manor House was never completed to its orignal plans and has subsequently been modified many times.cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264275|title=Wigborough Manor House|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23]

Approximately convert|1|mi|km|0 from the village is East Lambrook Manor Gardens created by Margery Fish who was known as the 'Leading Lady of Gardening' from the 1950s until her death in 1969. It holds the National Collection of Geraniums, [cite web |url= http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/east_lambrook_manor_garden|title=East Lambrook Manor Garden |accessdate=2008-02-06 |format= |work=Gardenvisit.com ] and a collection of Snowdrops. [cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2008/01/05/garden-snowdrop105.xml |title=Snowdrops: White magic |accessdate=2008-02-06 |format= |work=The Telegraph ]

The "David Hall" is a local social centre providing indoor activities for villagers, including exhibitions of photography and paintings by local artists, folk music, theatre and film nights. [cite web|url=http://www.thedavidhall.org.uk/|title=The David Hall|publisher=Petherton Arts Trust|accessdate=2008-07-23]

Education

Education is provided within the village by two nurseries for pre-school children, an infants’ school (ages 5-7) and a junior school (ages 7-11). There are secondary schools in Stanchester, Crewkerne and Huish Episcopi.

Religious sites

The Church of England Church of St Peter and St Paul has Saxon origins. It retains a 13th century crosswing, with the remainder of the buildings dating from the 15th century, however it underwent major restorations in late 19th and early 20thcenturies. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building. The tower is an irregular octagon on plan, wider on east-west axis, [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264257|title=Church of St Peter and St Paul|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23] which is believed to be the tallest octagonal church tower in the UK. [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/feb/18/ruralaffairs|title=Country Diary|last=Vallins|first=John|date=2003-02-18|work=The Guardian|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-15]

The Coke Memorial Methodist Church was built in 1881 replacing an 1809 chapel on the site. [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264224|title=Coke Memorial Methodist Church|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23] It was named after Thomas Coke, who was curate of the village 1772-76 and important, along with John Wesley, amongst the founders of Methodism.

A United Reform Church was built in 1863. This is now used as a public hall. [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264235|title=Former United Reform Church|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-07-23]

ports

The South Petherton Walking Group is aimed at the over 50's and aims to encourage this healthy, social activity amongst residents and visitors. [cite web|url=http://southpethertonwalkinggroup.org/|title=South Petherton Walking Group|publisher=South Petherton Walking Group|accessdate=2008-07-23]

The Recreation Ground provides pitches for football and cricket clubs and there are also facilities for tennis and bowls and a children’s play area.

Notable people

William Blake lived for a period of his life in South Petherton-hence the Blake Hall, in the heart of the village.

John Harding, 1st Baron Harding of Petherton (1896-1989)

References

External links

* [http://www.southpetherton.com/ Parish website]