Ashcott

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=
latitude= 51.12
longitude=-02.81
official_name =Ashcott
population = 1,280
shire_district= Sedgemoor
shire_county= Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Bridgwater
post_town= TAUNTON
postcode_district = TA7
postcode_area=TA
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= ST4337

Ashcott is a small village and civil parish located in the Sedgemoor area of Somerset in the south-west of England. The village has a population of 1,280 (2002 estimate). The parish includes the hamlets of Berhill and Ashcott Corner. The village has five pubs and its own brewer, Moor Beer. The Ring O' Bells pub is located at the heart of the village and is renowned for its food. It has a church, shop and a primary school.

The village used to have a station on the Evercreech Junction to Burnham-on-Sea branch of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. The station was two miles away from the village, and was originally called "Ashcott and Meare", reflecting the fact that Meare was also nearby (in fact, nearer). "Meare" was dropped from the official name in 1876, though the station "running board" – the large sign on the platform – continued to give the double name until the railway line closed in 1966 under the Beeching Axe.

It is the birthplace of Joseph Trutch a Canadian engineer, surveyor and politician.

References

* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics/contents/population/estimates/2002mye/ Census data]
* Somerset Railway Stations, by Mike Oakley (Dovecote Press, 2002)

External links

* [http://www.ashcott.somerset.sch.uk/ Ashcott primary school]
* [http://www.ringobells.com/ Ring O' Bells]