Litton, Somerset

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.2890
longitude= -2.5829
official_name= Litton
population = 232 [cite web | title= Mendip Parish Population Estimates 2002 | work=Somerset County Council | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/030F1/mendip_02mye.pdf | accessdate=2006-11-25]
shire_district= Mendip
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Wansdyke
post_town= BATH
postcode_district = BA3
postcode_area= BA
dial_code= 01761
os_grid_reference= ST593546

Litton (gbmapping|ST593546) is a small village between Chewton Mendip and West Harptree in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England. Very close to the village are the Litton Reservoirs.

Litton was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Litune", meaning 'The small enclosure' from the Old English "lyt" and "tun". It was the property of Gisa, Bishop of Wells. [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

Litton is part of the Nedge Ward which is represented by one councillor on the Mendip District Council which has wider responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism etc. The village is a part of the Somerton and Frome constituency and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.

Demographics

According to the 2001 Census the Nedge Ward (which includes Chewton Mendip), had 2,074 residents, living in 893 households, with an average age of 40.0 years. Of these 78% of residents describing their health as 'good', 18% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.8% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 26,803 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 Mendip 006B Nedge | work=Office of National Statistics 2001 Census | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadProfileSearch.do?profileSearchText=BA3+4SW&searchProfiles= | accessdate=2006-05-01]

Church of St Mary

The anglican church of St Mary dates from the 13th Century. It has a perpendicular tower with a bell chamber. It is a grade I listed building. Several of the memorials and crosses in the churchyard are also listed buildings. [cite web | title=Church of St Mary | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=268083 | accessdate=2006-05-28] [cite web | title=Gooden monument at Church of St Mary | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=268087 | accessdate=2006-05-28] [cite web | title=Group of 3 monuments at Church of St Mary | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=268086 | accessdate=2006-05-28] [cite web | title=Group of 4 monuments at Church of St Mary | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=268085 | accessdate=2006-05-28]

Listed Buildings

There are a range of other listed buildings in the village including; Sherborne House is a Grade II listed building (IoEentry|32779|Sherborne House at Images of England) as is Manor Farmhouse, which dates from the early 17th century.

References

External links

* [http://www.litton-village.co.uk/ Litton Village Web Site]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/1915.htm Map of Litton circa 1900]