Stanton Drew
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stanton Drew | |
  Stanton Drew shown within Somerset |
|
| Population | approx. 500 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Ceremonial county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode district | BS39 |
| Dialling code | 01275 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Wansdyke to be North East Somerset from next general election. |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
- This article is about the village. For information on the prehistoric stone circles see Stanton Drew stone circles
Stanton Drew (grid reference ST597632) is a small village within the Chew Valley in Somerset, England, situated north of the Mendip Hills, eight miles south of Bristol in the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority.
The village is most famous for its prehistoric stone circles, the largest being the Great Circle, a henge monument consisting of the second largest stone circle in Britain (after Avebury). The stone circle is 113 m in diameter and probably consisted of 30 stones, of which 27 survive today.
The village also has a range of listed buildings, dating from the 13th to 15th Centuries, including the church of St Mary the Virgin, the Round House (Old Toll House) and various farmhouses.
Contents |
[edit] Village
Stanton Drew was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Stantone, meaning 'The stone enclosure with an oak tree' from the Old English stan and tun and from the Celtic deru.[1]
The village of Stanton Drew has a population of approximately 500. It includes a primary school, pub (the Druids Arms), church and village hall, which is the venue for a mother and toddler group and preschool as well as various village activities. The area around the village has several dairy and arable farms on neutral to acid red loamy soils with slowly permeable subsoils,[2] however it is also a dormitory village for people working in Bath and Bristol.
[edit] Coal mining
During the 19th and 20th centuries there were two coal mines within the parish. Bromley Pit was in operation from 1860 to 1957 and Rydon's (or Riding's) from 1808 to 1833. They formed part of the northern section of the Somerset coalfield.
[edit] Government and politics
Stanton Drew, has a Parish council which has some responsibility for local issues, and, along with Chelwood and Clutton, is part of the Clutton Ward which is represented by one councillor on the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority which has wider responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism etc. The village is a part of the Wansdyke constituency, which will become North East Somerset at the next general election and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.
[edit] Demographics
According to the 2001 Census The Clutton Ward (which includes Chelwood and Clutton), had 1,290 residents, living in 483 households, with an average age of 40.3 years. Of these 72% of residents describing their health as 'good', 22% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 2.2% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 24,527 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived.[3]
[edit] Buildings
[edit] Church
The church is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, which has been a place of Christian worship for at least eight hundred years. In the north aisle is the Norman bowl of the font and further east the small turret steps behind a glass door that in earlier times led up into a rood loft. Although parts date from the 13th. and 14th. centuries the interior, as it is seen today, shows the work that was carried out in the mid 19th. century. It is a Grade II* listed building.[4] The Hazle,[5] Wight Preston[6] and several other unidentified monuments[7][8] in the churchyard are also listed, along with the Piers, gates and overthrow at the north east entrance to churchyard.[9]
[edit] Rectory Farmhouse
The Rectory Farmhouse is a Grade II* listed building, dating from the 15th Century.[10] A barn about 35 metres west of the farmhouse dates from the same period,[11] as does a dovecote in the grounds.[12]
[edit] The Round House
At the northern entrance to the village before the bridge over the River Chew is a white thatched, fifteenth century house which became a toll house in the eighteenth century when turnpikes were in use.[13] It is a Grade II listed building.[14]
[edit] The Court
The Court in Bromley Road dates from 1753 and is a Grade II* listed building.[15] It is now used as a nursing home. The walls and piers around this property are themselves grade II listed.[16]
[edit] Watermill
There is some evidence of a watermill, used as a forge in the 1660s, a copper mill from 1713-1860 and then a paper mill.
[edit] Other Grade II listed buildings
There are several other listed buildings in the village. The oldest being the 15th century Church Farmhouse.[17]
Buildings from the 17th century include Byemills Farmhouse,[18] Codrington Cottage[19] Stanton Wick Farmhouse,[20] Parson's Farmhouse[21] and another cottage and attached wall near the church.[22]
Later buildings include those from the 19th century such as; Mill Place,[23], and its accompanying wall and piers.[24], Rosedale,[25] and Fern Cottage[26]
[edit] Bridge
The narrow limestone bridge over the River Chew is possibly 13th or 14th Century in origin with more recent repairs. The bridge spans about 12 metres, about 5 metres across footway, parapet wall to each side, about one metre high. Each side has 2 pointed arches with chamfered mouldings and relieving arch, central cutwater with off-sets to each side and pyramidal stone top, inner ribs to vaults; on east side, oval plaque with illegible inscription and strengthening with exposed steel girder. Ancient Monument Avon no. 162.[27]
[edit] Popular Culture
Stanton Drew was commemorated by Adge Cutler in his popular song "When the Common Market Comes to Stanton Drew". Written in response to opening up of trade with Europe, Adge suggests what might happen to Somerset culture when Europeans come over. In retrospect, it is more truthful than anyone could have imagined - "when George comes home from milking, ee'll get a big surprise, when 'ee sit's down expecting Irish Stew, an' his wife says George i'll get 'ee, a gert dollop of spaghetti, 'cos the Common Market's come to Stanton Drew".
[edit] References
- ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1874336032.
- ^ Area 2 - Chew Valley. BANES Environmental Services. Retrieved on 2006-01-03.
- ^ Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 020A Clutton. Office of National Statistics 2001 Census. Retrieved on 2006-04-25.
- ^ Church of St. Mary. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Hazle monument. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Wight Preston Monument. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Unidentified monument in the churchyard about 3 metres east of south chapel. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Unidentified monument in the churchyard about 4 metres north east of chancel. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Piers, gates and overthrow at north east entrance to churchyard. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Rectory Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Barn about 35 metres west of Rectory Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Dovecot about 50 metres west of Rectory Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Mason, Edmund J. & Mason, Doreen. Avon Villages. Robert Hale Ltd. ISBN 0-7091-9585-0.
- ^ The Round House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ The court. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Wall, piers and gates about 16 metres west of The Court. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Church Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Byemills Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Codrington Cottage. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Stanton Wick Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Parson's Farmhouse. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Cottage and attached wall. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Mill Place. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Wall and piers about 30 metres north west of Mill Place. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Rosedale. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Fern Cottage. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
- ^ Bridge over River Chew. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||
