Axminster

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude = 50.7812
longitude = -3.0001
official_name = Axminster
population = 6,000
shire_county = Devon
region = South West England
post_town = AXMINSTER
postcode_district =EX13
postcode_area = EX
dial_code = 01297
constituency_westminster= East Devon
static_

static_image_caption= Arms of Axminster Town Council
static_image_2=
static_image_2_caption=
os_grid_reference= SY295985

Axminster is a small market town on the eastern border of Devon, England. The town is built on a hill overlooking the River Axe which heads towards the English Channel at Axmouth, and is in the East Devon local government district. The market is still held every Thursday.

Axminster gave its name to a type of carpet. An Axminster-type power loom is capable of weaving high quality carpets with many varying colours and patterns. While Axminster carpet is made in the town of Axminster, this type of carpet is now manufactured all over the world.

History

The town dates back to the Celtic times of around 300 BC. It lies on two major Roman roads: the Fosse Way from Lincoln to Seaton, and the Dorchester–Exeter road. There was a Roman fort on the crossroads at Woodbury Farm, just south of the present town.

Axminster was recorded in the late 9th century as "Ascanmynster" and in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Aixeministra". The name means "monastery or large church by the River Axe" and is a mixture of languages; the river name "Axe" has Celtic origins and "mynster" is an Old English word.

The history of the town is very much linked to the carpet industry, started by Thomas Whitty at Court House near the church in 1755. The completion of the early hand tufted carpets was marked by a peal of bells from the parish church as it took a great amount of time and labour to complete them.

Axminster Railway Station was opened on 19 July 1860, with the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) offering direct services between Queen Street Station in Exeter and Yeovil. The station building was designed by the LSWR's architect Sir William Tite in mock gothic style. In 1903, the branch line from Axminster to Lyme Regis was opened. This branch line was closed with the Beeching cuts, in the 1960s. The engine has been preserved on the Bluebell Line, in Sussex, while the station was dismantled and reconstructed at New Alresford, on the Watercress Line, in Hampshire.

Axminster is the southern starting point of the Taunton Stop Line, a World War II defensive line consisting of pillboxes and anti-tank obstacles, which runs north to the Somerset coast near Highbridge.

Nearby Kilmington was used as a location for the 1998 LWT adaptation of Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The celebrity chef and TV presenter Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has his River Cottage H.Q. at a 60 acre farm in the Axe valley. He has since purchased an old inn of the town to convert to an organic produce shop/market and canteen.

Leisure facilities and shops

The town has Cloakham Lawns, the Axe Valley Sports Centre and Flamingo Swimming Pool, a library, several churches and a museum of local history. Shops include two supermarkets, a small department store and several independent retailers including the world famous [http://www.axminster.co.uk Axminster Power Tool Centre.]

Geography

Axminster is located at coord|50|47|00|N|03|00|00|W| (50.7833, -3.0000)¹.

The parish church is located at Ordnance Survey mapping six-figure grid reference SY 296985.

Devon villages within convert|5|mi|km of Axminster include; Chardstock, Colyford, Combpyne, Dalwood, Hawkchurch, Kilmington, Membury, Musbury, Raymond's Hill, Rousdon, Shute, Smallridge, Tytherleigh, Uplyme and Whitford.

Landmarks

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Education

* Axe Valley Community College
* Axminster Community Primary School
* St. Mary's Primary School
* All Saints Community Primary School

Transport

Road

Axminster is at the crossroads of the A358 which links with the A303 at Ilminster and the A35 from Southampton to Honiton, which has been diverted by a bypass to the south of the town.

Rail

Axminster railway station is on the West of England Main Line that runs from Exeter via Salisbury to London Waterloo.

Twin towns

flagicon|France Douvres-la-Délivrande, France

Notable people

*Steve Benbow—Folk musician
*William Buckland—Geologist and palaeontologist
*Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall—Celebrity chef
*Katie Kewley—Lad
*Alan Jones-Famous Scots Vocalist

ee also

*Taunton Stop Line

References

* Mee, A. "The King's England:Devon" (Hodder and Stoughton, 1965); p. 25–26.
* Mills, A. D. "Dictionary of English Place-Names". Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280074-4.

External links

* [http://www.axminstertown.org AxminsterTown.org - The pro-enterprise, business & community website]
* [http://www.midweekherald.co.uk Axe Valley Midweek Herald - local newspaper]
* [http://dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Devon/Axminster/ Axminster (DMOZ.org)]
* [http://www.axminsterparishchurch.org.uk/ Axminster Parish Church]
* [http://www.semgonline.com/location/axmin.html Southern E-group: Axminster Station]
* [http://www.adc-online.net/ Axminster Drama Club]
* [http://www.axminster-today.co.uk/today/ Axminster Today]
* [http://www.axminster.co.uk Axminster Power Tool Centre]
* [http://www.axevalefestival.org.uk Axe Vale Festival - an annual show held in June, which raises fund for local charities]