Bishops Lydeard

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.06150
longitude= -3.18720
official_name= Bishops Lydeard
population =3,949
shire_district= Taunton Deane
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= ST169298

Bishops Lydeard is a village and parish in Somerset, UK, situated on the A358 road and West Somerset Railway convert|5|mi|km|0|lk=on north west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 3,949 [Somerset County Council, [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics/contents/population/estimates/2002mye/ 2002 population estimates] .] .

West of the village is Sandhill Park.

Bishops Lydeard is an important railway station on the West Somerset Railway.

History

The name of the village probably relates to Gisa, Bishop of Wells who was one the principle episcopal landowners of Somerset at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086. Lydeard is a compound of two Saxon personal names "Lide" (Lloyd) and "Geard", the latter remaining as a local name , "Yarde". As well as a personal name, "geard" means 'a fence, enclosure, courtyard or dwelling'. [cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=1874336032]

Church

The church of St Mary dates from the 14th and 15th century and in 1860-62 extended by one bay and a vestry by Jeboult of Taunton. It is a grade I listed building. The tower has pierced tracery battlements, pinnacles, set back buttresses terminating in pinnacles at the bell-storey, and pinnacles on the buttresses at each stage. [cite web | title=Church of St Mary | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=270227 | accessdate=2007-02-09] Several of the tombs in the churchyard are also of historical importance, and two crosses one dating from the 14th century [cite web | title=Cross in Churchyard, Church of St Mary | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=270228 | accessdate=2007-02-09] and the other the towns market cross which was moved to the churchyard in the 19th century. [cite book |last=Adkins |first=Lesley and Roy |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A field Guide to Somerset Archeology |year=1992 |publisher=Dovecote press |location=Stanbridge |isbn=0946159947 ]

Watermill

There were originally two flour mills in the village. Higher mill has been demolished, but the lower mill, dating from the 18th century, with an overshot waterwheel has been restored and is open to the public. [cite web|url=http://www.bishopslydeardmill.co.uk/|title=Bishops Lydeard Mill|publisher=Bishops Lydeard Mill|accessdate=2008-08-08] It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II listed building. [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=270244|title=Old Mill and Millhouse together with waterwheel|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-08-08]

andhill Park

Sandhill Park was built as a county house around 1720. [cite web|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=270268|title=Sandhill Park Hospital|work=Images of England|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=2008-08-08] It was built by John Periam, the Member of Parliament for Minehead, as Hill House [cite web|url=http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=43372|title=Sandhill Park, Ash Priors|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=2008-08-08] and lived in by the Lethbridge family from 1767 to 1913. During World War I it was used as a prisoner of war camp for German and Austrian Officers. [cite web|url=http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15362|title=Prisoner of War camp, Sandhill Park|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=2008-08-08] In 1919 it was converted it into a home for handicapped children by Somerset County Council. [cite web|url=http://www.chocolatechipdesign.co.uk/nettleden/sandhill/index.shtml|title=Sandhill Park|publisher=nettleden.com|accessdate=2008-08-08] It was requisitioned by the military in August 1940 and became the 41st General Military Hospital, providing accommodation in tents and huts. From 1941 the hospital was leased to the Americans as a neurological hospital for over 1000 patients in 32 new wards which were completed in 1942. The hospital remained in military use until 1944. [cite web|url=http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15361|title=Military hospital, Sandhill Park|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=2008-08-08] The psychiatric hospital reopened under the National Health Service in 1948 and further buildings were constructed. The hospital was sold in 1991 and housing built on part of the area. [cite web|url=http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15363|title=Mental Hospital, Sandhill Park|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=2008-08-08]

References

External links

* [http://www.kingschurchquantocks.org.uk Kings Church Quantocks]
* [http://www.bishops-lydeard.co.uk Bishops Lydeard Village Website]
* [http://www.somerset3d.co.uk/logos%20&%20pictures/town%20&%20village%20pages/bishopslydeard.htm Photos of Bishops Lydeard in 3d]