| Barton St David | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Junction of High Lane, Church St, and Mill Lane in the centre of Barton St David. With the oldPost Office Limited branch andred telephone box visible in the background. | |
  Barton St David Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 609 (2021)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST541318 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOMERTON |
| Postcode district | TA11 |
| Dialling code | 01458 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°05′02″N2°39′25″W / 51.084°N 2.657°W /51.084; -2.657 | |
Barton St David, commonly referred to asBarton, is a village andcivil parish on theRiver Brue adjacent toKeinton Mandeville at the foot of Combe Hill inSomerset, England. It is situated 5 miles (8 km) south-east ofGlastonbury and 5 miles (8 km) north-east ofSomerton. The village has a population of 609.[1]
The parish was part of thehundred ofCatsash.[2]
Theparish council has 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. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, andneighbourhood 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.
Forlocal government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under theunitary authority ofSomerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of thenon-metropolitan district ofSouth Somerset, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972, having previously been part ofLangport Rural District.[3]
It is also part of theGlastonbury and Somerton constituency represented in theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom. It elects oneMember of Parliament (MP) by thefirst past the post system of election.
TheChurch of St David has 12th-century origins. The tower, which is octagonal, is in three stages and probably dates from the 15th century. It has been designated byEnglish Heritage as a Grade II*listed building.[4]
Barton St David was the birthplace ofHenry Adams (1583–1646), who, after their marriage in nearbyCharlton Mackrell, emigrated with his wife Edith and nine children to the new colonies inMassachusetts. He was the great-great-grandfather ofJohn Adams, the firstVice President and secondPresident of the United States. He was also the great-great-great-grandfather ofJohn Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States. There is a plaque in the parish church which commemorates this link between the village and the United States.
