Nunney

Coordinates: 51°12′29″N 2°22′43″W / 51.2080°N 2.3786°W / 51.2080; -2.3786
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Nunney
Avon and Somerset
FireDevon and Somerset
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UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Somerset
51°12′29″N 2°22′43″W / 51.2080°N 2.3786°W / 51.2080; -2.3786

Nunney is a village and

civil parish in the English county of Somerset. It is located 3 miles (5 km) south-west of Frome and the parish includes the hamlet of Holwell.[2]

The name of the village comes from Old English and means Nunna's island.[3]

Today, the tourist attractions are the ruins of Nunney Castle, a historic church, and the seasonal events of the village, including the duck race on Easter Sunday's and the annual Nunney Fayre Day (late July), organised by the Nunney Community Association, which attracts thousands of visitors each year to the village to enjoy the musical performances at Nunney Castle and the many artisan stalls from local producers throughout the village.

On 30 September 2007, Nunney was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 report, asking whether "the prettiest village in England" is a place where we can learn "how to mend our broken society".[4]

History

Evidence of Roman settlement has been provided by the discovery of a hoard of Roman coins in 1869 at Westdown Farm and a villa with a mosaic floor.[3]

Nunney is mentioned as a manor belonging to William de Moyon in the Domesday Book in 1086, but the book does not mention a castle.[5]

The parish was part of the

Frome.[6]

For many years, from the medieval period until the 19th century, Nunney was the site of water-powered mills owned initially by the Hoddinotts and then by James Fussell.[7]

Governance

The

neighbourhood watch
groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish 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.

For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Mendip, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Frome Rural District.[8]

Nunney is part of the

first past the post
electoral system.

The village falls within the Cranmore, Doulting and Nunney

2011 census was 2,374.[9]

Geography

geological Site of Special Scientific Interest and Geological Conservation Review site important for the exposures of sediments of Triassic and Jurassic age which occur in major fissures within the Carboniferous Limestone laid down beneath the sea some 350 million years ago.[10]

The

Lower Jurassic and Middle Jurassic fissure fillings are well displayed. The Rhaetic fissure fillings have yielded the richest assemblage of vertebrate faunas known from the British Triassic.[11]

Along with the rest of

seasonal and diurnal variations, but due to the modifying effect of the sea, the range is less than in most other parts of the United Kingdom. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 1 °C (34 °F) and 2 °C (36 °F). July and August are the warmest months in the region with mean daily maxima around 21 °C (70 °F). In general, December is the dullest month and June the sunniest. The south west of England enjoys a favoured location, particularly in summer, when the Azores High extends its influence north-eastwards towards the UK.[12]

snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, with June to August having the lightest. The predominant wind direction is from the south west.[12]

Landmarks

The market cross across the road from the church is Grade II* listed. It was originally built around 1100, when stood in the churchyard of All Saints' Church.[13] It was removed in 1869, as the noise from children playing on the steps annoyed the rector. The stone was discovered in a builders yard and rebuilt in his garden by the squire of Whatley and the Celtic cross added. After his death and a fire which destroyed his house, the cross was again dismantled and rebuilt on its present site in 1959.[14]

There are over 30 other listed buildings in the village, including Rockfield House which was built in 1805 by

John Pinch.[15]

Religious sites

The Church of All Saints is a Grade I listed building dating from the 12th century.[16]

Nunney Castle

Main article: Nunney Castle

Fairfax
, the commander of Cromwell's forces in the battle that took place at Nunney. The castle was besieged for two days, but capitulated when Cromwell's men used cannon to blast a great hole in the north west wall of the castle.

The George at Nunney Inn

The George at Nunney Inn is close to the church and opposite Nunney Castle. It dates from the mid-18th century. Since that time it has been much extended and is now a 10 bedroom hotel with holiday cottages. The interior still features many of the original features with stone walls, exposed beams, and large open fireplaces. It is a Grade II listed building.[19]

The George at Nunney taken in 2014

Nunney Players

The Nunney Players are a Drama group, who meet up every year to put on a performance at the village hall. The Nunney Players have won many awards and have put on shows such as Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Pinocchio.

References

  1. ^ "Nunney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. ISBN 9780340254875
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 1-874336-26-1
    .
  4. ^ report, excerpted from BBC Radio 4 podcast
  5. ISBN 0-14-143994-7
    p. 265
  6. ^ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  7. ISBN 978-0-9565869-1-9
    .
  8. ^ "Frome RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Cranmore, Doulting and Nunney ward 2011". Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  10. ^ English Nature citation sheet for the site . Retrieved 7 August 2006.
  11. ^ English Nature citation sheet for the site . Retrieved 10 August 2006.
  12. ^ a b "South West England: climate". Met Office. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  13. ^ Historic England. "Market Cross (1058301)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  14. ISBN 0946159483
    .
  15. ^ Historic England. "Rockfield House (1058309)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  16. ^ Historic England. "Church of All Saints (1058297)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  17. ISBN 0-85033-461-6
    .
  18. ISBN 0-86183-427-5
    .
  19. ^ Historic England. "George Inn (1174587)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 February 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nunney.

Gallery of images

  • The church
    The church
  • Road bridge at Nunney
    Road bridge at Nunney
  • View across the footbridge to the church
    View across the footbridge to the church
  • The castle
    The castle
  • Main street
    Main street
  • Market Cross
    Market Cross
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