West Harptree

infobox UK place

country = England
latitude= 51.3085

longitude= -2.6291

official_name= West Harptree
population= approx. 300
unitary_england= Bath and North East Somerset
lieutenancy_england= Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Wansdyke to be North East Somerset from next general election.
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_district = BS40
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 01275
os_grid_reference= ST561568

West Harptree (gbmapping|ST561568) is a small village within the Chew Valley, Somerset in the unitary district of Bath and North East Somerset. The village is 8 miles south of Bristol and 10 miles from Bath. It is just south of Chew Valley Lake on the A368. The village has a pub and several shops including a post office. With its close neighbour East Harptree the villages are collectively known as the Harptrees.

According to Robinson it is listed in the 1086 Domesday Book as "Herpetreu" meaning 'The military road by the wood' from the Old English "herepoep" and "treow". [cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=1874336032]

The shape of some of the existing fields with cross-slope and down-slope field banks and cultivated ridges forming an interleaving irregular mosaic suggest they are of medieval origin. [cite web | title=Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | work=Somerset County Council Archeological Projects | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/896B4/MendipAONB.pdf | accessdate=2006-10-28]

Government and politics

West Harptree, has a Parish council which has some responsibility for local issues, and, along with East Harptree and Hinton Blewett, is part of the Mendip Ward which is represented by one councillor on the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority which has wider responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism etc. The village is a part of the Wansdyke constituency, which will become North East Somerset at the next general election and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.

Demographics

According to the 2001 Census The Mendip Ward (which includes East Harptree and Hinton Blewett), had 1,465 residents, living in 548 households, with an average age of 39.0 years. Of these 79% of residents describing their health as 'good', 22% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.5% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 25,387 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived. [cite web | title=Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 021D Mendip | work=Office of National Statistics 2001 Census | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadProfileSearch.do?profileSearchText=BS39+4DJ&searchProfiles= | accessdate=2006-04-25]

Buildings

Church

The Church of St Mary dates from the 12th Century, although the tower is a much later addition, [cite book |last=Reid |first= Robert Douglas |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Some buildings of Mendip |year=1979 |publisher=The Mendip Society |location= |isbn=0905459164 ] and is a Grade II* listed building [ (IoEentry|32840|Church of St. Mary at Images of England)]

Gourney Court

Gournay Court is a Grade II* Country house. Circa 1600 (IoEentry|32843|Gournay Court at Images of England) The entrance Gates and railings are grade II (IoEentry|32845|Entrance Gates and Railings at Images of England) as are the Gatepiers to the west (IoEentry|32844|Gatepiers to west of Gournay Court at Images of England)

Grade II listed buildings

* (IoEentry|32846|Barn to north west of Gournay Court at Images of England)
* (IoEentry|32842|Gatepiers to boundary wall, south of Tilley Manor Farmhouse at Images of England)
* (IoEentry|32841|Tilley Manor Farmhouse at Images of England)
* (IoEentry|32847|Parsonage Farmhouse at Images of England)
* (IoEentry|32848|The Old Vicarage at Images of England)
* (IoEentry|32849|Turnpike Parish Boundary Marker at Images of England)

References

External links

*
* [http://www.somerset3d.co.uk/gallery.htm#w Photos of West Harptree in 3d (Anaglyphs)]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/1909.htm Map of West Harptree circa 1900]