| Axbridge | |
  Axbridge shown within Somerset |
|
| Population | 2,025 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Sedgemoor |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | AXBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | BS26 |
| Dialling code | 01934 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Wells |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Axbridge is a town in Somerset, England, situated in the Sedgemoor district on the River Axe, near the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government Sedgemoor is a local government district of Somerset in England. Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of Local government outside Greater London Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one South West England is one of the Regions of England. It is the largest such region in terms of area and extends from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The, also known as the Bristol postcode area, is a group of postal districts around Axbridge, Banwell, Bristol, Cheddar, Clevedon The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Avon & Somerset Constabulary is the Home Office Police force in England responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Somerset and The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service or FRS, covering the counties of Devon and Somerset; it Divisions & Stations The trust is split into 2 divisions West - Devon and Cornwall including West Divisional HQ 999 and PTS Control at South West England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Wells is a County constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a list of cities, Towns Villages and hamlets in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A town is a type of settlement ranging from a few to several thousand (occasionally hundreds of thousands inhabitants although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Sedgemoor is a local government district of Somerset in England. The River Axe is a River in south west England. The river rises from the ground at Wookey Hole Caves in the Mendip Hills in The Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of Limestone hills situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset The town population according to the 2001 census was 2,025. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001 [1]
Contents |
History
Early inhabitants of the area almost certainly include the Romans (who are known to have mined lead on the top of the Mendips) and earlier still, prehistoric man, (who lived in the local caves) whose flint tools have been found on the slopes of the local hills. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly Flint (or flintstone) is a hard sedimentary Cryptocrystalline form of the Mineral Quartz, categorized as a variety of Chert The history of Axbridge can be traced back to the reign of King Alfred when it was part of the Saxons' defence system for Wessex against the Vikings. Alfred the Great (also Ælfred from the Old English Ælfrēd ˈælfreːd (c The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. West Saxon redirects here For other meanings of Wessex or West Saxon see Wessex (disambiguation. A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas Axbridge appears in the Domesday survey of 1086 as Alse Bruge, meaning 'The ash tree bridge' from the Old English ysle and brycg. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey [2] It was part of the royal manor of Cheddar.
It was granted a Royal Charter in 1202, when King John sold most of the royal manor of Cheddar to the Bishop of Bath and Wells. King John's Hunting Lodge is a Wool -merchant's house of around 1500 in Axbridge, Somerset, England. A Royal Charter is a Charter granted by the Sovereign on the advice of the Privy council to legitimize an incorporated body such as a city company John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. Axbridge grew in the Tudor period as a centre for cloth manufacture, This was reflected in its early royal charters allowing it to hold markets, fairs and become a royal borough. The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was an English royal Dynasty that lasted 118 years from 1485 to 1603 a period known as the Tudor period A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. It even had its own mint, with coins showing the town's symbol: the Lamb and Flag. [3] Trade was possible as the River Axe was navigable to wharves at Axbridge. The River Axe is a River in south west England. The river rises from the ground at Wookey Hole Caves in the Mendip Hills in [4]
Later the towns importance declined which led to stagnation and the preservation of many historic buildings in the town centre. These include King John's Hunting Lodge (actually a Tudor building) which is now used as a museum. King John's Hunting Lodge is a Wool -merchant's house of around 1500 in Axbridge, Somerset, England.
Axbridge is a very old borough and sent members to parliament in the reigns of Edward I and Edward III. Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307 popularly known as Longshanks, was a King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost Edward III (13 November 1312 &ndash 21 June 1377 was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. [5]
During the 19th and early 20th centuries iron ore was extracted from the hill above and east of Axbridge. Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 [6]
The town had a railway station which opened on 3 August 1869 and closed to goods traffic on 10 June 1963 and passengers on 9 September 1963. Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The route of the railway is now the A371 Axbridge bypass but the station buildings and goods shed still survive. The A371 is a primary Road in England running from Wincanton in Somerset, to Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset. [7]
The Square was used as the setting for a Natwest Bank advert in the early nineties, and in particular the Town Hall which doubled as Natwest Branch. Ironically a real branch of Natwest, which was situated in the High Street, was closed not long afterwards and the premises are now private residential accommodation.
Church
The thirteenth century parish church of St John is a grade I listed building. A parish church, in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a Parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance [8]
Work on the current building began in the early 1400s, and grew from an earlier building dating back to about 1230. The church is built of limestone and decorated with Doulting stone, while the steps are an interesting example of Dolomitic Conglomerate (pudding stone). [9] The crossing tower is over 100 feet high, and holds six bells, one of which dating from 1723 was made by Edward Bilbie of the Bilbie family. The Bilbie family were bell founders and Clockmakers based initially in Chew Stoke, Somerset and later at Cullompton, Devon [10] The statue on the east side is that of St John the Baptist. Saint John the Baptist ( heb. Jochanan ben Sacharja, arab. يحيى Yaḥyā or يوحنا Yūḥanna, aram. On the west side is a king - perhaps Henry VII, which would place it after 1485. The North aisle ceiling retains some mediaeval painted panels, and amongst the carved bosses is the head of a Green Man, with leaves sprouting around his face. A Green Man is a Sculpture, Drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. [11] The nave roof is Jacobean and dates from 1636. [9]
Village or town?
In contrast to the much larger settlement of Cheddar immediately to the south east that remains a village, Axbridge is a town. Cheddar is a large Village and Civil parish in the district of Sedgemoor in the English county of Somerset. This apparently illogical situation is explained by the relative importance of the two places in historic times. While Axbridge grew in importance as a centre for cloth manufacture in the Tudor period and gained a charter from King John, Cheddar remained a more dispersed dairy-farming village until the advent of tourism and the arrival of the railway in the Victorian era. The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was an English royal Dynasty that lasted 118 years from 1485 to 1603 a period known as the Tudor period John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities
This situation is unlikely to change in the near future, with the residents of both Axbridge and Cheddar proud of their settlement's respective status and the inevitable friendly local rivalry between the two.
The town was part of the Axbridge Rural District from 1894 to 1974, after which it became part of Sedgemoor. Axbridge was a Rural district in Somerset, England from 1894 to 1974 Sedgemoor is a local government district of Somerset in England.
Workhouse
The Axbridge Union workhouse was erected in 1837 at the south side of West Street in Axbridge. The Poor Law Commissioners authorised an expenditure of £4,496. 17s. 6d on construction of the building which was intended to accommodate 250 inmates. It was designed by Samuel T Welch who was also the architect of workhouses at Wells and Clifton. Wells is a small Cathedral city and Civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Clifton is the name of both one of the thirty-five council wards in the city of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and of a suburb of the city that lies mostly By 1929 the workhouse had become officially known as Axbridge Poor Law Institution. [12]
Events
Axbridge has a very active community and holds a number of events each year.
On the first Saturday in September, the annual Somerset Showcase takes place, which is a fun filled day for the whole family featuring the best Somerset has to offer, including craft displays and market, farmers' market, entertainment, exhibitions and live music in the evening. It has become a firm favourite amongst the events held in the town each year, and attracts visitors from all over the area.
September also sees the annual Blackberry Carnival, Fair in the Square and Harvest Home which was introduced in 2007. Other events throughout the year include the Progressive Supper and Santa in the Square.
References
- ^ Ward Profile for Axbridge (PDF). Sedgemoor District Council. Retrieved on 2007-12-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of
- ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1874336032.
- ^ Axbridge visitors information. Retrieved on 2006-08-25. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the
- ^ Toulson, Shirley (1984). The Mendip Hills: A Threatened Landscape. London: Victor Gollancz. ISBN 057503453X.
- ^ Axbridge. GENUKI. Retrieved on 2006-08-25. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the
- ^ Gough, J. W. (1967). The mines of Mendip. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. http://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B0000CNKWB.
- ^ Axbridge. Bristol Railway Station Archive. Retrieved on 2006-08-25. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the
- ^ Church of St John The Baptist. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-05-09. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1457 BC - Battle of Megiddo (15th century BC between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of
- ^ a b Reid, Robert Douglas (1979). Some buildings of Mendip. The Mendip Society. ISBN 0905459164.
- ^ Moore, James; Roy Rice & Ernest Hucker (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0952670208.
- ^ Church of St John The Baptist. Retrieved on 2006-08-25. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the
- ^ Axbridge Workhouse and Poor Law Union. Retrieved on 2006-08-25. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the
See also
External links
- Axbridge information from the town council
- Axbridge Archaeological Survey
- The Somerset Mercury
- Somerset Showcase information
- Axbridge at the Open Directory Project
- Photos of Axbridge in 3d (Anaglyphs)
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