Buckland Dinham

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Buckland Dinham
latitude= 51.2620
longitude= -2.3504

population = 400
shire_district= Mendip
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Somerton and Frome
post_town=
postcode_area=
postcode_district =
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= ST755515
Ambulance= South Western

Buckland Dinham is a small village near Frome in Somerset, England. The village has a population of 400 (As of 2002 estimate). The village's main industry is farming (arable and dairy), but the village is also a dormitory village for the nearby cities Bath and Bristol.

Michael Bond, the author of Paddington Bear lived in the village.

Transportation and geography

Geographically, the village is on the side of a hill (known as Buckland Down). It looks out over a vale formed by several small streams, in particular the Buckland Brook, which leads southwards towards Frome (and other villages such as Great Elm and Mells). The Buckland Brook skirts the north-eastern side of the village.

It is on the A362 road from Radstock to Frome. Coming off this at the bottom of the hill is Lower Street, which subsequently turns uphill (as Sands Cross Hill) before looping back to the main road at the top of the village, opposite the Bell public house. Lanes also lead off to Lullington and Great Elm.

Buckland Dinham has never had a railway station, although the Great Western Railway branch from Frome to Radstock (and thence to Bristol) passes by the bottom of the valley. This is today unused by passenger trains, but limestone trains to Whatley Quarry use the line. They then seem to disappear into a clump of trees; in reality, a tunnel entrance is hidden, leading to Vallis Vale and the quarry.

History

The village used to be known as Buckland Denham. Denham is believed to be a family name (there are many other villages with Denham in their name) whilst Buckland may refer to a former deer population. Although Buckland Dinham itself doesn't have a manor house, it is close to Orchardleigh Estate.

There are signs of prehistoric archaeology. A hand axe has been found in Lower Street (which follows the spring line).

The Dorset and Somerset Canal's branch to the Somerset coalfields would have passed via the bottom end of the Buckland vale, had it ever been completed. It is now just off the route of NCR 24 the colliers way. The Murtry Aqueduct remains. [cite web | title=Murtry Aqueduct | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=267107 | accessdate=2006-11-25] Fussell's balance locks were built on the side of Barrow Hill, an extension of the hill on which Buckland Dinham is perched. [cite book |last=Atthill |first=Robin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Old Mendip |year=1964 |publisher=David and Charles |location=Newton Abbott |isbn=0715351710 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics/contents/population/estimates/2002mye/ Census data]
* [http://rtjhomepages.users.btopenworld.com/dscanal.html Dorset and Somerset Canal]