Chew Stoke
A view of Chew Stoke
Chew Stoke shown within Somerset
Population	905 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	ST555615
- London	111 mi (179 km) E
Parish	Chew Stoke
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	BS40
Dialling code	01275
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	Great Western
European Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Wansdyke
	(North East Somerset from next general election)
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Coordinates: 51°21′03″N 2°38′18″W / 51.3507, -2.6383

Chew Stoke is a small village and civil parish in the Chew Valley, in Somerset, England, about 8 miles (13 km) south of Bristol. 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 A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001 The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. A civil parish in the United Kingdom is a unit of local government. The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a Unitary authority that was created on 1 April 1996 The ceremonial counties are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as the Counties for the purposes of the Lieutenancies 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 The Avon Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory FRS or Fire and Rescue Service covering the area of what used to be the County of Avon (1974-1996 The Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust (GWAS is UK National Health Service (NHS trust providing emergency and non emergency 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 Wansdyke is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Boundaries The constituency covers the part of Bath and North East Somerset that is not in the Bath constituency. 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 civil parish in the United Kingdom is a unit of local government. The Chew Valley is an area in North Somerset, England named after the River Chew, which rises at Chewton Mendip, and joins the River Avon 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 Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London It is at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, a region designated by the United Kingdom as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is within the Bristol/Bath Green Belt. The Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of Limestone hills situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB is an area of countryside with significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. In United Kingdom town planning, the Green belt is a policy for controlling urban growth The parish includes the hamlet of Breach Hill, which is approximately 2 miles (3. 2 km) southwest of Chew Stoke itself.

Chew Stoke has a long history, as shown by the number and range of its heritage-listed buildings. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance The village is at the northern end of Chew Valley Lake, which was created in the 1950s, close to a dam, pumping station, sailing club, and fishing lodge. Location Chew Valley Lake in the Chew Valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, surrounded by meadows and woods and close to the villages of Chew A tributary of the River Chew, which rises in Strode, runs through the village. The River Chew is a small River in England. It merges with the River Avon after 17 miles forming the Chew Valley.

The population, approximately 900, is served by one shop, two public houses, a primary school and, a bowling club. See also Primary education A primary school (from French école primaire) is an institution where children receive the first stage of Compulsory Bowls (also known as Lawn Bowls or Lawn Bowling) is a precision Sport in which the goal is to roll slightly radially asymmetrical Balls Together with Chew Magna, it forms the ward of Chew Valley North in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset. Chew Magna ( is a village within the Chew Valley in North East Somerset, England In Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, a ward is an Electoral district See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a Unitary authority that was created on 1 April 1996 Chew Valley School and its associated leisure centre are less than a mile (1. Chew Valley School is situated within the Chew Valley in Bath and North East Somerset in South West England. 6 km) from Chew Stoke. The village has some areas of light industry but is largely agricultural; many residents commute to nearby cities for employment.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Prehistory 1.2 Romano-Celtic temple 1.3 Middle Ages 1.4 Bilbie family of bell and clockmakers 1.5 Recent history 2 Governance 3 Geography 4 Demography 5 Landmarks 5.1 St Andrews Church 5.2 Rectory 5.3 New rectory 5.4 Grade II listed buildings 6 References 7 Gallery 8 Bibliography 9 External links

History

Prehistory

Archaeological excavations carried out between 1953 and 1955 by Philip Rahtz and Ernest Greenfield from the Ministry of Works found evidence of extensive human occupation of the area. St Andrews Church ( of the Church of England, is on the outskirts of Chew Stoke, Somerset, England. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Philip Rahtz (born in Bristol in 1921 is a British archaeologist. Ernest Greenfield was a British archaeologist. He served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. The Ministry of Works was a department of the UK Government formed in 1943 during World War II, to organise the requisitioning of property for wartime use Consecutive habitation, spanning thousands of years from the Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods (Old, Middle, and New Stone Age), to the Bronze and Iron Ages had left numerous artifacts behind. The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe Africa The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which Humans widely used stone for toolmaking The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. In Archaeology, an artifact or artefact is any object made or modified by a human culture, and often one later recovered by some archaeological Discoveries have included stone knives, flint blades, and the head of a mace, along with buildings and graves. Flint (or flintstone) is a hard sedimentary Cryptocrystalline form of the Mineral Quartz, categorized as a variety of Chert A mace is a simple Weapon that uses a heavy head on the end of a handle to deliver powerful blows ^[1]

Romano-Celtic temple

Main article: Pagans Hill Roman Temple

Chew Stoke is the site of a Romano-Celtic double-octagonal temple, possibly dedicated to the god Mercury. The Pagans Hill Roman Temple was a Romano-British -style temple excavated on Pagans Hill at Chew Stoke in the English county of Romano-British culture is that of the Romanized Britons under the Roman Empire and later the Western Roman Empire, and of those exposed to Roman culture in the years A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites "Alipes" redirects here For the Centipede Genus, see Alipes (centipede. The temple, on Pagans Hill, was excavated by Philip Rahtz between 1949 and 1951. Philip Rahtz (born in Bristol in 1921 is a British archaeologist. It consisted of an inner wall, which formed the sanctuary, surrounded by an outer wall forming an ambulatory, or covered walkway 56. 5 feet (17. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit 2 m) across. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International It was first built in the late 3rd century but was twice rebuilt, finally collapsing in the 5th century. ^[2] The positioning of the temple on what is now known as Pagans Hill may seem apt, but there is no evidence for any link between the existence of the temple and the naming of the road. ^[3]

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, farming was the most important activity in the area, and farming, both arable and dairy, continues today. In Geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to Plough) is an agricultural term meaning land that can be used for Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an Animal husbandry enterprise for long-term production of Milk, which may be either processed on-site or There were also orchards producing fruits such as apples, pears, and plums. ^[1] Evidence exists of lime kilns, used in the production of mortar for the construction of local churches. A lime kiln is a Kiln used to produce quicklime by the Calcination of Limestone ( Calcium carbonate)

In the Domesday Book of 1086, Chew Stoke was listed as Chiwestoche, and was recorded as belonging to Gilbert Fitz-Turold. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey Gilbert fitz Turold (Thorold was an Anglo-Norman landowner of the eleventh century mentioned in the Domesday Survey, with widely spread holdings in six counties He conspired with the Duke of Normandy against King William Rufus, and subsequently, all his lands were seized. Duke of Normandy is a Title held or claimed by various Norman, French, English and British rulers from the 10th century until the William II (c 1056 &ndash 2 August 1100) the third son of William I of England (William the Conqueror was King of England from 1087 The next recorded owner was Lord Beauchamp of Hache. The titles of Earl of Hertford and Marquess of Hertford have been created several times in the Peerages of England and Great Britain. He became "lord of the manor" when the earls of Gloucester, with hereditary rights to Chew Stoke, surrendered them to him. ^[4] According to Stephen Robinson, the author of Somerset Place Names, the village was then known as Chew Millitus, suggesting that it may have had some military potential. The name "Stoke", from the old English stoc, meaning a stockade, may support that idea. ^[5] Little appears to have been written about this or subsequent periods in the history of the village.

Bilbie family of bell and clockmakers

Main article: Bilbie family

The Bilbie family of bell founders and clockmakers lived and worked in Chew Stoke for more than 200 years, from the late 1600s until the 1800s. The Bilbie family were bell founders and Clockmakers based initially in Chew Stoke, Somerset and later at Cullompton, Devon Bellfounding is the craft of creating bells in a Foundry They produced more than 1,350 church bells, which were hung in churches all over the West Country. The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region Their oldest surviving bell, cast in 1698, is still giving good service in the local St Andrew's Church. St Andrews Church ( of the Church of England, is on the outskirts of Chew Stoke, Somerset, England. The earliest Bilbie clocks date from 1724 and are highly prized. They are mostly longcase clocks, the cheapest with 30-hour movements in modest oak cases, but some have high quality eight-day movements with additional features, such as showing the high tide at Bristol docks. A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, grandfather clock or floor clock, is a freestanding weight-driven Pendulum clock with the In Horology, a movement is the internal mechanism of a Clock or Watch, as opposed to the case, which encloses and protects the movement and Bristol Harbour is the Harbour in the city of Bristol, England These latter clocks were fitted into quality cabinet maker cases and command high prices. Cabinet making is the practice of utilizing various Woodworking skills to create cabinets shelving and Furniture. ^[6][7]

Recent history

In the 20th century, Chew Stoke expanded slightly with the influx of residents from the Chew Valley Lake area. These new residents were moved to Chew Stoke when the lake was created in the 1950s. ^[1] In World War II, 42 children and three teachers, who had been evacuated from Avenmore school in London, were accommodated in the village. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. ^[4] On 10 July 1968, torrential rainfall led to widespread flooding in the Chew Valley, and water reached the first floor of many buildings. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[4] The damage in Chew Stoke was not as severe as in some of the surrounding villages, such as Pensford; however, fears that the Chew Valley Lake dam would be breached caused considerable anxiety. Pensford ( is a village in the Civil parish of Publow and Pensford in Bath and North East Somerset, England. Location Chew Valley Lake in the Chew Valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, surrounded by meadows and woods and close to the villages of Chew ^[8][9]

On 4 February 2001, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, opened the Rural Housing Trust development at Salway Close. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. ^[10] Each year, over a weekend in September (usually the first one), a "Harvest Home" is held with horse and pet shows, bands, a funfair, and other entertainments. Traveling carnival A funfair or simply fair (eg " County fair" " state fair" is a small to medium sized traveling Fair The Harvest Home was cancelled for one year (1997) as a mark of respect following the death of Princess Diana in the previous week. The Radford's factory site, where refrigeration equipment was formerly manufactured, was identified as a brownfield site suitable for residential development in the 2002 Draft Local Plan of Bath and North East Somerset. A residential development (sometimes simply called a subdivision) is typically a Piece of Property that is divided into lots with ^[11] That plan has generated controversy about balancing land use to meet residential, social, and employment needs. ^[12][13]

Governance

Chew Stoke has its own nine-member parish council with responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council’s operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. A Parish council is a unit of Local government in Great Britain. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The Neighbourhood Watch scheme in the United Kingdom is a partnership where people come together to make their communities safer The council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council. ^[14]

The village is part of the ward of Chew Valley North in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset, which has the wider responsibility for providing services such as education, refuse collection, and tourism. In Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, a ward is an Electoral district See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions The ward is currently represented by Councillor Malcolm Hannay, a member of the Conservative Party. A councillor or councilor ( Cllr, Coun, Clr or Cr for short is a member of a Local government council such as a The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. ^[15] It is also 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. Wansdyke is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Boundaries The constituency covers the part of Bath and North East Somerset that is not in the Bath constituency. South West England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. The European Parliament ( Europarl or EP) is the only directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU The sitting Member of Parliament for Wansdyke is Dan Norris, a member of the Labour Party. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Wansdyke is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Dan Norris (born 28 January 1960 London) is the Labour Member of Parliament for Wansdyke in England. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the

The police service is provided by Avon and Somerset Constabulary with two Community Support Officer and one police officer covering the wider Chew Valley area. Avon & Somerset Constabulary is the Home Office Police force in England responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Somerset and Police Community Support Officers ( PCSO) (Swyddogion Cymorth Cymunedol yr Heddlu SCCH or Heddlu Ategol are uniformed personnel working with the Police in England The Avon Fire and Rescue Service have a fire station at Chew Magna. The Avon Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory FRS or Fire and Rescue Service covering the area of what used to be the County of Avon (1974-1996

Geography

The area of Chew Stoke is surrounded by arable land and dairy farms on the floor of the Chew Valley. In Geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to Plough) is an agricultural term meaning land that can be used for Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an Animal husbandry enterprise for long-term production of Milk, which may be either processed on-site or The Chew Valley is an area in North Somerset, England named after the River Chew, which rises at Chewton Mendip, and joins the River Avon It is located along the Strode Brook tributary of the River Chew, on the northwest side of the Chew Valley Lake. The River Chew is a small River in England. It merges with the River Avon after 17 miles forming the Chew Valley. Location Chew Valley Lake in the Chew Valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, surrounded by meadows and woods and close to the villages of Chew While much of the area has been cleared for farming, trees line the tributary and many of the roads. The village is built along the main thoroughfare, Bristol Road, which runs northeast to southwest. An older centre is located along Pilgrims Way, which loops onto Bristol Road and features an old stone packhorse bridge—now pedestrianised—and a 1950s Irish bridge, used as a ford in winter. A packhorse bridge is a Bridge intended to carry Packhorses ( Horses loaded with sidebags or Panniers across a River or Stream A low water crossing (also known as an Irish bridge, causeway in Australia low level crossing or low water bridge) provides a bridge when water A ford is a place in a Watercourse (most commonly a stream or River) that is shallow enough to be crossed by wading on Horseback or in a wheeled ^[4] Houses line both of these roads, with residential cul-de-sacs and lanes extending from them.

Chew Stoke is approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of Bristol, 15 miles (24 km) from Bath, and 9 miles (14 km) from Keynsham. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. Keynsham (ˈkeɪnʃm is a Town between Bristol and Bath in south-west England. It is 1. 3 miles (2. 1 km) south of Chew Magna on the B3130 road that joins the A37 and A38. The A37 is a major Road in southern England. It runs north from the A35 at Dorchester in Dorset into Somerset through The A38 is a major Trunk road in England. Though formally known as the Exeter - Leeds Trunk Road it actually runs from Bodmin in Cornwall The A368 crosses the valley west of the lake. The A368 is a part Primary status A road in North Somerset, England. The "Chew Valley Explorer" bus route 672/674, running from Bristol Bus Station to Cheddar, provides public transport access. This service is operated by Eurotaxis and subsidised by Bath and North East Somerset council. ^[16] In 2002, a 1. 9-mile (3. 1 km) cycle route, the Chew Lake West Green Route, was opened around the western part of the lake from Chew Stoke. It forms part of the Padstow to Bristol West Country Way, National Cycle Network Route 3. Padstow (Lannwedhenek is a small town its great Civil parish and cargo port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom. It has all-weather surfacing, providing a smooth off-road facility for ramblers, mobility-challenged visitors, and cyclists of all abilities. Funding was provided by Bath and North East Somerset Council, with the support of Sustrans and the Chew Valley Recreational Trail Association. Sustrans is a British charity which promotes Sustainable transport. Chew Valley Recreational Trail Association worked with Bath and North East Somerset Council for a cycle and pedestrian route East of Chew Valley Lake part of National The minor roads around the lake are also frequently used by cyclists. Bristol International Airport is approximately 10 miles (16 km) away, and the nearest train stations are Keynsham, Bath Spa, and Bristol Temple Meads. Bristol International Airport is the commercial Airport serving the city of Bristol, England and the surrounding area Keynsham Railway station serves the town of Keynsham in Bath and North East Somerset. Bath Spa railway station is the principal Railway station in the city of Bath, in South West England. Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest Railway station in Bristol, England

Neighbouring parishes

North-West: Winford North: Chew Magna North-East: Stanton Drew West: Nempnett Thrubwell Chew Stoke East: Stanton Drew South-West: Compton Martin South: West Harptree South-East: Stowey Sutton

Demography

The population of Chew Stoke, according to the census of 1801, was 517. Winford ( is a small village within the Chew Valley, Somerset In the unitary authority of North Somerset about 8 miles south of Bristol Chew Magna ( is a village within the Chew Valley in North East Somerset, England This article is about the village For information on the prehistoric stone circles see Stanton Drew stone circles Stanton Drew ( is a small Nempnett Thrubwell ( is a small village in dairying country on the western edge of Bath and North East Somerset, in the county of Somerset, England This article is about the village For information on the prehistoric stone circles see Stanton Drew stone circles Stanton Drew ( is a small Compton Martin ( is a small village within the Chew Valley in Somerset and Civil parish in the North Somerset Unitary authority West Harptree ( is a small village within the Chew Valley, Somerset in the unitary district of Bath and North East Somerset. Stowey Sutton is a Civil parish in Somerset, England within the Chew Valley containing the villages of Stowey and Bishop Sutton This number increased slowly during the 19th century to a maximum of 819 but fell to around 600 by the end of the century. The population remained fairly stable until World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including During the latter half of the 20th century, the population of the village rose to 905 people. ^[17] The 2001 Census gives detailed information about the Chew Valley North ward, which includes both Chew Magna and Chew Stoke. A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001 In Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, a ward is an Electoral district The ward had 2,307 residents, living in 911 households, with an average age of 42. 3 years. Of those, 77% of residents described their health as 'good', 21% of 16–74 year olds had no work qualifications, and the area had an unemployment rate of 1. 3%. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, the ward was ranked at 26,243 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived and 32,482 the least deprived. ^[18] A small number of light industrial/craft premises exist at "Fairseat Workshops", formerly the site of a dairy. Light industry is usually less Capital intensive than Heavy industry, and is more Consumer -oriented than Business -oriented (i However, they provide little employment, and many residents commute to jobs in nearby cities. ^[4]

Population of Chew Stoke[17] Year 1801 1811 1821 1831 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 Population 517 524 681 693 825 819 758 693 696 653 Year 1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 Population 635 598 622 654 n/a 738 819 841 818 866 Year 2001 Population 905

Landmarks

St Andrews Church

Main article: St Andrews Church, Chew Stoke

St Andrews Church, a Grade II* listed building on the outskirts of Chew Stoke, was constructed in the 15th century and underwent extensive renovation in 1862. St Andrews Church ( of the Church of England, is on the outskirts of Chew Stoke, Somerset, England. ^[19][20] The inside of the church is decorated with 156 angels in wood and stone,^[4] and the church includes a tower with an unusual spirelet on the staircase turret. In the tower hang bells cast by the Bilbie family. A church bell is a bell which is rung in a (especially Christian) church either to signify the Hour or the time for worshippers to go to ^[20] The reconstructed Moreton Cross in the churchyard was moved there when Chew Valley Lake flooded,^[1] and the base of the cross shaft, about 80 feet (24 m) southwest of the tower, is thought to date from the 14th century and is itself a Grade II* listed building,^[21] as is the Webb monument in the churchyard. ^[22] The churchyard gate, at the southeast entrance, bears a lamp provided by public subscription to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee of 1897 and is a Grade II listed structure. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary of a monarch's reign ^[23]

In the church are bronze plaques commemorating the eleven local people who died in World War I and the six who were killed in World War II. Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal ceramic stone wood or other material typically attached to a wall stone or other vertical surface and bearing World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including ^[24] There is also a stained glass window showing a saint with a sword standing on a snake, and crossed flags commemorating those from World War II. ^[25] There is also a memorial plaque to the local Bilbie family of bell founders and clockmakers inside the church, and just inside the porch, on the left of the church door, is a stone figure holding an anchor, which was moved to the church from Walley Court with the flooding of the lake. There is an unconfirmed story that this was given to the Gilbert family, then living at the court, by Queen Elizabeth I. ^[26]

Rectory

The rectory, at the end of Church Lane, opposite the church hall, is believed to have been built in 1529 by Sir John Barry, rector 1524–46. Depending on denomination, local custom and the status of the minister the Building inhabited (or formerly inhabited by the leader of a local Christian church can It has since undergone substantial renovations, including the addition of a clock tower for the Rev. W. P. Wait and further alterations c. 1876 for Rev. J. Ellershaw. The clock tower has since been removed. The building has an ornate south front with carvings of shields bearing the coat of arms of the St Loe family, who were once chief landowners in the area, alone or impaled with arms of Fitzpane, Ancell, de la Rivere, and Malet. It is Grade II* listed. ^[27]

New rectory

The Reverend John Ellershaw built the new rectory in the 1870s. The last rector to occupy it was Lionel St Clair Waldy from 1907 to 1945. It was then bought by Douglas Wills, who donated it and the rectory field to Winford Hospital as a convalescent home for 16 children. Winford ( is a small village within the Chew Valley, Somerset In the unitary authority of North Somerset about 8 miles south of Bristol A sanatorium (also sanitorium, sanitarium) is a medical facility for long-term illness typically Tuberculosis. It was later used as a nurses' home before being sold for private use. ^[4] It is now split into several residential units. ^[28]

Grade II listed buildings

As with many cities and towns in the United Kingdom, the age of a number of the buildings in Chew Stoke, including the church, school, and several houses, reflects the long history of the village. For example, Chew Stoke Church Primary School has approximately 170 pupils between 4 and 11 years old. See also Primary education A primary school (from French école primaire) is an institution where children receive the first stage of Compulsory After the age of 11, most pupils attend Chew Valley School. Chew Valley School is situated within the Chew Valley in Bath and North East Somerset in South West England. ^[29] These two buildings were constructed in 1858 by Samuel Burleigh Gabriel on the site of a former charity school founded in 1718. Additional classrooms were built in 1926, and further alterations and extensions were carried out in 1970. ^[30]

An obelisk on Breach Hill Lane, dating from the early to mid-19th century, is said to have been built as a waterworks marker. An obelisk (from Greek ὀβελίσκος - obeliskos, diminutive of ὀβελός - obelos, "spit nail pointed pillar" It has a square limestone plinth about 3 feet (1 m) high. The obelisk is about 32 feet (10 m) high with a pyramidal top and small opening at the top on two sides. ^[31]

The importance of farming is reflected in the age of many of the farmhouses. Manor Farm, on Scot Lane (not to be confused with at least two other Manor Farms in the locality) is thought to date from 1495 and, as such, is probably the oldest building in the village. Presently (2007) occupied by Mr and Mrs Slater; the building has recently (2002) undergone a sympathetic extension to incorporate an old semi-derelict barn onto the main house for use as a garage and workshop. Mr Slater, a qualified engineer, is interested in bringing the art of clock making back to the village. Rookery Farmhouse, in Breach Hill Lane, is dated at 1720, with later 18th-century additions to either side of the central rear wing. ^[32] An attached stable, 20 feet (6 m) northeast of the farmhouse, is also a Grade II listed building. A stable is a Building in which Livestock, especially Horses are kept A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance ^[33] School Farmhouse, in School Lane, dates from the late 17th century and has a studded oak door in the side of the house. ^[4][34] Wallis Farmhouse, farther along School Lane, is dated at 1782. ^[35] Yew Tree Farmhouse, one of the oldest buildings in the area, dates to the 15th century but has had extensive alterations since then. ^[36] North Hill Farmhouse also has 15th century origins. ^[4][37] Paganshill Farmhouse dates from the 17th century. ^[38] Fairseat Farmhouse is from the 18th century and includes a plaque recording that John Wesley preached at the house on 10 September 1790. John Wesley (ˈwɛslɪ ( – March 2, 1791) was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian who was the founder of the (Evangelical Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. Year 1790 ( MDCCXC) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year In August of that year, Fairseat Farmhouse was "registered among the records of this County as a House set apart for the worship of God and religious exercise for Protestant Dissenters. " At that time the house belonged to Anna Maria Griffon. In the garden is a large evergreen oak (Ilex) which measured 98 feet (30 m) across until half of it broke away in a gale in 1976. The Holm Oak ( Quercus ilex) also called Holly Oak or Evergreen Oak is a large Evergreen Oak native to the Mediterranean region. ^[4][39]

The Methodist Chapel was built in 1815/16 after religious services had been established at Fairseat Farm, and the chapel was rebuilt in the late 19th century with limestone walls with stone dressings and a slate hipped roof with brick eaves stacks and crestings. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations A chapel is a holy place or area of Worship for Christians, which may be attached to an institution such as a large church, a College, a Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Slate is a fine-grained foliated homogeneous, Metamorphic rock derived from an original Shale -type Sedimentary rock composed of Clay A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of Roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls usually with a fairly gentle slope ^[4][40]

In the hamlet of Stoke Villice, which is south of the main village, there is a 19th century milestone inscribed "8 miles to Bristol" that also has listed status. ^[41]

References

Gallery

The oldest buildings of Chew Stoke School

Methodist Chapel

The pedestrian and "Irish" bridges at Chew Stoke

Bibliography

• Durham, I. & M. (1991). Chew Magna and the Chew Valley in old photographs. Redcliffe Press. ISBN 1-872971-61-X.  
• Janes, Rowland (ed) (1987). The Natural History of the Chew Valley. ISBN 0-9545125-2-9.  
• Hucker, E (1997). Chew Stoke recalled in old photographs. ISBN 0-9531700-0-4.  

External links

• BANES Environmental Services Area 2 – Chew Valley
• Chew Stoke Harvest Home
• Chew Stoke village web site
• Map of Chew Stoke circa 1900
• Chew Valley web site
• Chew Valley School
• River Chew Web Site

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