Sharpham

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.1356
longitude= -2.7653
official_name= Sharpham
civil_parish=
population = 92 [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= Wells
post_town= Glastonbury
postcode_district = BA
postcode_area= BA
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= ST465376

Sharpham is a village and civil parish on the Somerset Levels near Street and Glastonbury in the Mendip district of Somerset, England.

It is located near the River Brue.

Government and politics

The village has its own Parish Council and part of the Street North ward electing two councillors to Mendip District Council. Sharpham is part of the Mendip West ward which elected one county councillor to Somerset County Council. The village is a part of the Wells constituency which elects one MP to the Westminster Parliament and part of the South West England constituency which elects 7 members to the European Parliament.

Sharpham Park estate

Sharpham Park is a 300-acre historic park dates back to the Bronze Age. The first known reference is a grant by King Edwy to the then Aethelwold in 957. In 1191 Sharpham Park was conferred by the soon to be King John I to the Abbots of Glastonbury who remained in possession of the park and house until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. From 1539 to 1707 the Park was owned by the Duke of Somerset, Sir Edward Seymour, brother of Queen Jane; the Thynne family of Longleat, and the family of Sir Henry Gould. Edward Dyer was born here in 1543. The house is now a private residence and grade II* listed building. [cite web | title=Abbots Sharpham and Sharpham Park Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=267774 | accessdate=2006-11-25] It was the birthplace of Sir Edward Dyer (died 1607) an Elizabethan poet and courtier, the writer Henry Fielding (1707-1754), and the cleric William Gould.

The Sharpham Park estate is now owned by Roger Saul, founder of the Mulberry fashion company, and now produces organic foods specialising in spelt (an ancient cereal grain). [cite web | title=Living | work=Guardian Unlimited | url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/foodmonthly/story/0,,1342299,00.html | accessdate=2006-11-26] A restoration project is underway, partly funded by the "Countryside Stewardship" scheme from DEFRA, involves restoring, preserving and maintaining archaeological and historic features including a Bronze Age trackway and a duck decoy pond that is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This will allow the reintroduction of red deer("Cervus elaphus") along with other rare breeds of sheep and cattle. [cite web | title=Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Schemes Report on performance 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 | work=DEFRA | url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/pdfs/css/css_esas_ann_rep_04-05.pdf | accessdate=2006-11-26]

Sharpham Moor Plot

Nearby is the Sharpham Moor Plot Site of Special Scientific Interest, where detailed plant records exist from as far back as 1915, and continue up to the present day. [cite web | title=Sharpham Moor Plot | work=English Nature | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000434.pdf | accessdate=2006-11-26]

Peat extraction

Peat extraction is still active around the village. [cite web | title=Peat Extraction - Sharpham Bridge | work=Somerset County Council | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/council/board11/2004%20May%204%20Item%208%20Extension%20Period%20of%20Peat%20Extraction%20Sharpham%20Bridge%20Sharpham.htm | accessdate=2006-11-26] This has been a significant industry for many years in the surrounding villages of Meare, Shapwick, Ashcott, and Walton on Westhay Moor, and is remembered at the Peat Moors centre at Westhay.

References

External links

* [http://www.sharphampark.com/default.asp Sharpham Park]