Chew Magna
Chew Magna | |
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Chew Magna is a village and civil parish within the Chew Valley in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset, in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. The parish has a population of 1,149.[1]
To the south of the village is Chew Valley Lake. The village is on the B3130 road, about 10 miles (16 km) from Bristol, 15 miles (24 km) from Bath, 13 miles (21 km) from the city of Wells, and 6 miles (10 km) from Bristol Airport.
The village is close to the northern edge of the
There is one primary school, and an adjacent secondary school, several shops and small businesses, three churches, and three pubs serving the area. There is also a football pitch and children's play area. The village frequently wins regional categories in the Calor Village of the Year competition, and is currently moving towards zero waste status, having been described as "probably the greenest parish in Britain".[3]
History
Chew Magna has long been the largest village in the district, and can trace its importance back to
The manor of Chew was held by the
According to Robinson its
The parish was part of the
In the eastern corner of the south aisle of the church is a monument of the Baber family, who formerly had large possessions in the parish.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Since about 1600, the name changed to Chew Magna as this has been the most important of the several villages along the banks of the
Around 1700 the Lord of the Manor was Sir William Jones, the
Until about 1880 the village had toll roads and a toll house to collect the fees.[14]By 1848 the population was partly employed in coal mines in Bishop Sutton, and in the manufacture of stockings and of edge tools to a limited extent; formerly there was a factory for cloth.[9]
During the late 19th and 20th centuries the importance of the wool trade in the village declined and it became largely a
, although it has continued to be the commercial centre of the valley throughout the decades, including the villages renowned Fairfield Nursery, managed by the Hiron’s.Second World War
During German bombing raids targeted on Bristol, many bombs fell in the parish: Ruen House on the road to Chew Hill was bombed. The nearly flat area just east of the Y-junction on Chew Hill was initially chosen as a
Chew Valley Lake Construction
The construction of Chew Valley Lake in the 1950s brought opportunities for leisure and tourism.[14]
1968 storm
On 10–11 July 1968 a storm brought heavy rainfall to the Chew valley and Dundry, with 175 millimetres (7 in) falling in 18 hours on Chew Stoke, which is double the area's average rainfall for the whole of July. This caused flooding to 88 properties in Chew Magna with many being inundated with 8 feet (2 m) of water.[20] The bridge on the road to Dundry was demolished.
Telephone exchange
The Chew Magna telephone exchange was manually operated until the 1950s. An important number Chew Magna 2 was that of Dr Terrell Hughes: the exchange operators could often locate him in an emergency even if he was away from his home and surgery.[21] The manual exchange served most of the Chew valley and even East Dundry.
Government and politics
Chew Magna has its own
Demographics
According to the
Buildings of interest
Church
St Andrew's Church, Chew Magna dates from the 12th century, with a large 15th-century pinnacled sandstone tower, a Norman font and a rood screen that is the full width of the church. In the church are several memorials to the Stracheys of Sutton Court, together with a wooden effigy of a Knight cross-legged and leaning on one elbow, in 15th-century armour, thought to be of Sir John de Hauteville or a descendant, and possibly transferred from a church at Norton Hautville before it was demolished.[25] Another effigy in the north chapel is of Sir John St Loe, who was over 7 feet (2 m) tall,[26] and his lady. The armoured figure is 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) long and his feet rest on a lion, while those of his lady rest on a dog. The tomb of Sir Edward Baber (1530-1578) son of Sir John Baber, is housed within the church alongside his wife Lady Catherine Leigh-Baber, daughter to Sir Thomas Leigh.[27][28]
The church was restored in 1860 and has a register commencing in 1562. The tower is about one hundred feet tall and was probably built about 1440.[29] There has been a clock on the tower since the early 1700s. There is a peal of eight
The churchyard contains several monuments which are Grade II listed buildings in their own right: the churchyard cross,[34] Edgell monument,[35] Fowler monument[36] and a group of three unidentified monuments.[37] In addition there is an early 19th-century limestone round-topped stone which bears the inscription to William Fowler "shot by an Highwayman on Dundry Hill 14 June 1814 aged 32 years"[38] and a Commonwealth war grave of a Royal Air Force officer of World War II.[39] Within the church are wooden plaques commemorating the nineteen people from the village who died in World War I[40] and seven from World War II,[41] and a bronze plaque to an individual soldier who died in 1917.
Other buildings
Next to the church is the Church House, which is also known as the Old School Room. The upstairs room was the local school from the mid or early 15th century, with the village poorhouse below. This has been a venue for social activity in the village and in 1971 underwent major renovation.[14] It is a Grade II* listed building.[42] Also close to the church is Chew Court, which was originally a bishop's palace. It was largely rebuilt in 1656, from which a little survives as the Chew Court of today including an Elizabethan doorway with Doric pilasters.[29] The room over the gatehouse is said to have been used as a court-room, with the turrets used for holding prisoners. Chew Court is a Grade II* listed building.[43]
The
The high street contains many old buildings. The Beeches was built in 1762, with walls, railings, gates and piers of the same date, although the side wings were added later.[47][48] Acacia House[49] and Igbetti House, which was formerly known as Myrtle House,[50] are from the same period, while Barle House,[51] Holly House,[52] The Sycamores[53] and Portugal House[54] are slightly more recent.
On Battle Lane is the 18th-century Rookstone House, which was formerly the end house in a row of seven,[55] and The Rookery[56] and its lodge,[57] which were built in the early 19th century. Harford Square is dominated by the construction, in 1817, of Harford House[58] and its accompanying stable block.[59]
Just south of the village is the
Surrounding the village are several historic farmhouses including Dumper's Farmhouse, which dates from the 15th century,[62] and Knole Hill Farmhouse, dated 1763.[63]
Schools
Chew Magna Primary School[64] won a
Chew Valley School is the main secondary school (11–18 years) for the valley.[66] It is situated between Chew Magna and
Go Zero project
Chew Magna is the home of the "Go Zero" project, which promotes education for sustainability at all levels in society, seeking to conserve and make improvements to the environment in the UK and overseas. The four groups within Go Zero are: Transport and Energy (which includes Dragonflyer Mobility, a plan to develop a range of integrated services that offer communities in the West of England cost-effective, flexible and environmentally sustainable transport); People and Consumption (farmers' markets, local food, skill swaps); Converging World (which supports campaigns and initiatives for social justice and development and is currently pursuing Fair Trade status for Chew Magna); and Waste and Recycling.[68] It is based at Tunbridge Mill, a post-medieval watermill.[38]
Sport and recreation
Chew Magna has a
In 2011, residents of Chew Magna and surrounding villages banded together to form a new charity, the Chew Valley Youth Trust,[70] to combat the declining provision in leisure and recreational activities for young people in the region. In response to the closure of local Youth Clubs and declining state support for local transport, the charity combats issues of rural isolation and provides young residents with recreational activities.
Famous residents
- John Strachey (1671–1743), geologist[71][72]
- John Sanger (1816–1889), a circus proprietor, lived in the village in the 19th century[73]
- Richard Brock (1938– ), a natural history film producer[74]
- Jekka McVicar (1951-), herbalist.[75]
- Dr Phil Hammond (1962–), a general practitioner and comedian[76]
- Lando Norris (1999-), Belgian-British racing driver, briefly lived in the parish before moving to Glastonbury. [77]
References
- ^ Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ Keynsham & Chew Valley Local Plan. Wansdyke District Council. 1986.
- ^ "Nothing venture". Guardian Unlimited : Society. London. 16 November 2005. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
- ^ William Page, ed. (1906). "Text of the Somerset Domesday: Part 1". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 1. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ a b http://www.domesdaymap.co.uk/place/ST5763/chew-magna/ Archived 2 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Domesday Map website
- ISBN 0-85033-461-6.
- ^ Chew Court — Grade II* - Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1320739)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
Well Head — Grade II - Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1129612)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 June 2013. - ISBN 1-874336-03-2.
- ^ a b c Samuel Lewis, ed. (1848). "Chetwynd — Chiddingly". A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ "History of St. Andrew's Church". Baber Family Tree. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ISBN 0-521-77221-4.
- ^ Great Britain Parliament (1849). Hansards Parliamentary Debates p779.
- ^ ISBN 1-872971-61-X.
- ISBN 1-85306-590-0. pages 165-177
- ^ Historic England. "Starfish bombing decoy SF1B (1469611)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
- ^ Historic England. "Civil bombing decoy C1C (1467910)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
- ^ Historic England. "Heavy anti aircraft battery Bristol B15 (1471700)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
- ^ Historic England. "Monument No. 1497428". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
- ^ Richley, Rob (June 2008). The Chew Valley floods of 1968. Exeter: Environment Agency.
- ^ Diary of Doris Ogilvie, East Dundry. Bristol Records Office accession 44394
- ^ "Chew Magna Parish Council". Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Somerset North East: New Boundaries Calculation". Electoral Calculus: General Election Prediction. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ "Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 021A Chew Valley North". Office for National Statistics 2001 Census. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2006.
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- ISBN 0-906456-98-3.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Andrew (1129613)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "Sir Edward Baber". Find a Grave. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ ISBN 0-300-09640-2.
- ISBN 0-9526702-0-8.
- ^ "The history of St Andrews Church Chew Magna". Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St. Andrew (1129613)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St. Andrew (1129613)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Churchyard cross (1135956)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Edgell monument (1129616)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Fowler monument (1135977)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Group of 3 unidentified monuments (1320740)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ a b c "Rising Main and Sewage Pumping Station, Chew Magna, North East Somerset. Phase 1: Trial pits and boreholes. An Archaeological Watching Brief" (PDF). ContextOne. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ "Pilot Officer Thomas Birkett, casualty record". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "Chew Magna WWI Ref: 7490". United Kingdom National Inventory of Ward Memorials. Retrieved 19 May 2006.
- ^ "Chew Magna WWII Ref: 7491". United Kingdom National Inventory of Ward Memorials. Retrieved 19 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Old School Room (1135935)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Chew Court (1320739)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "The Manor House (1129609)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Stable and attached wall about 30 metres north east (1129610)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Stable, attached wall and gate piers about 30 metres south east (1320738)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "The Beeches (1129620)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Walls, railings, gates and piers attached to front of The Beeches (1135999)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Acacia House and The Firs (1313003)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Igbetti House, formerly called Myrtle House (1312991)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Barle House (1129621)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Holly House (1129623)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "The Sycamores (1129622)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Portugal House (1136008)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Rookstone House (1320715)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ Historic England. "The Rookery and attached walls (1129608)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ Historic England. "Lodge about 80 metres south west of The Rookery (1320737)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ Historic England. "Harford House (1135985)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ Historic England. "Stable about 30 metres west of Harford House (1129619)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ Historic England. "Tun Bridge (1129627)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Raised pavement and steps (1136039)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
- ^ Historic England. "Dumper's Farmhouse (1129618)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ Historic England. "Knole Hill Farmhouse (1312972)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ "Chew Magna Primary School". Retrieved 12 May 2006.
- ^ Krotoski, Aleks (20 April 2006). "Educative powers lost amid the violence". Guardian Unlimited : Technology. London. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
- ^ "Chew Valley School". Retrieved 12 May 2006.
- ^ "Ofsted Report on Chew Valley School". 8 May 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Go Zero Project". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2006.
- ^ "Chew Magna Cricket Club". Retrieved 12 May 2006.
- ^ "Chew Valley Youth Trust". Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26622. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ "John Strachey, William Smith and the strata of England 1719–1801". Geoscientist 17.7 July 2007. The Geological Society. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ^ "Brock Initiative". Retrieved 17 September 2007.
- ^ "Jekka". Mostly Food Journal. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ^ "BBC Radio Bristol prescribes the perfect pill for Saturdays". BBC Radio Bristol. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-daily-press-saturday/20190309/281509342498019. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via PressReader.
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Bibliography
- Janes, Rowland, ed. (1987). The Natural History of the Chew Valley. ISBN 0-9545125-2-9.
- Durham, I. & M. (2005). A Walk Around Chew Magna. Fiducia Press. ISBN 0-946217-19-X.
- Chew Magna Women's Institute (1971). The story of the village of Chew Magna. Fiducia Press.
- "Chew Magna Conservation Area" (PDF). p. 26. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
External links