Winscombe

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.3136
longitude= -2.8263
official_name= Winscombe
population =
unitary_england= North Somerset
lieutenancy_england=Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Weston Super Mare
post_town= WINSCOMBE
postcode_district = BS25
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 01934
os_grid_reference= ST425575

Winscombe is a village in North Somerset, England, close to the settlements of Axbridge and Cheddar, on the western edge of the Mendip Hills, convert|7|mi|km south east of Weston-super-Mare and convert|14|mi|km south west of Bristol.

It has been suggested that the name is presumed to mean a valley belonging to aSaxon named Wine. [cite web |url=http://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/publications/up_081015_autumn07_lo.pdf |title=Autumn newsletter 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-25 |format=PDF |work=Mendip Hills AONB ]

There are two schools in the village, as well as community and sports facilities. State secondary education is provided at nearby Churchill Community School. Sidcot is a nearby fee-paying independent school run by the Society of Friends'.

The Parish of Winscombe and Sandford, centred around the Parish Church of Saint James, includes the villages of Barton, Oakridge, Sandford, Sidcot and Woodborough.

The Church of St James has origins from the 12th Century. The Church is in the middle of the original hamlet of Winscombe. St James Holds regular services on Sundays and with bell ringing being provided for both the morning service and evensong. The Bells of St James have long called people to worship, with the original bells being cast in 1773 by local founders the Bilbie family. Two newer bells were added in 1903 by Taylors Founders. The 8 Bells are in the key of E flat and the tenor weighs 18-1-8 – 18 hundredweight, 1 quarter of a hundredweight and 8 lb (930 kg).

Winscombe grew in the 19th century with the arrival of a branch of the Great Western Railway, opened in 1869. This was the Cheddar Valley line, also known as "The Strawberry Line", which ran from Yatton to Wells via Cheddar. The railway was closed in 1963, and today, the route is a public footpath, and the site of the former Winscombe station is now the "Millennium Green". It is possible to walk, or cycle, from the station to Yatton, and in the opposite direction through the railway tunnel at Shute Shelve Hill to Axbridge and Cheddar.

Every year in September, the village hosts the annual Michaelmas fair in the community centre, a chance for the villagers to show of their handiwork and produce.

References

External links

* [http://www.winscombeandsandfordpc.org.uk/ Winscombe and Sandford Parish Council]
* [http://www.wsmg.org.uk/ Winscombe and Sandford Millennium Green]
* [http://www.winscombeca.org.uk/ Winscombe Community Association]
*