| Creech St Michael | |
|---|---|
 Main bridge overthe canal | |
 Canalside bungalow | |
  Creech St Michael Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 2,416 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST273253 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TAUNTON |
| Postcode district | TA2, TA3 |
| Dialling code | 01823 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°01′22″N3°02′16″W / 51.0229°N 3.0377°W /51.0229; -3.0377 | |
Creech St Michael is a village andcivil parish inSomerset, three miles east ofTaunton. The parish straddles theM5 motorway and includes several scattered settlements. The village of Creech St Michael and the hamlets of Charlton, Creech Heathfield, and Ham lie east of the motorway. The hamlets of Adsborough,Coombe,[2] Langaller, andWalford[2] lie west of the motorway. The parish has apopulation of 2,416.[1]
The name derives from theCelticcrug, "hill"(although local residents think it means "creek", because the area is relatively flat), and the parishchurch of St. Michael, which dates from the 13th century.[3][4]
Creech St Michael was part of thehundred ofAndersfield.[5]
Charlton House is a Grade II listed manor house, formerly in the ownership of theAcland and Coombe families.[5]
TheBridgwater & Taunton Canal provides a picturesque route through the village for pleasure boats, and thetowpath is open to pedestrians and cyclists. There are also dramatic remains of theChard Canal, including the (filled) junction with the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, a raised embankment leading south from the village, a ruinedaqueduct that would have carried the canal over the River Tone, and the abutments of a second aqueduct across a local road.
TheBristol and Exeter Railway line was opened through the village in 1842 and the junction of theChard Branch Line was located here in 1860, butCreech St Michael railway station was not opened until 13 August 1928. The station was actually north of the junction so was only used by trains toYeovil andBristol. It closed on 5 October 1964 but the line is still open, forming a part of theLondon to Penzance main line. The branch is closed but remains of it are visible. including the skeleton of a five-arched bridge across the River Tone, and an embankment curving south, parallel to the abandoned canal.
A large paper mill was built on the river to the west of the village in 1875, finally closing in 1993.
In theSecond World War, a line of fortifications was built on the boundary of the village, as part of theTaunton Stop Line. The line was meant to contain any German invasion of the south west peninsula. Severalpillboxes remain along the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, one at the old junction with the Chard canal, and one on the embankment of the Chard railway.
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 ofSomerset West and Taunton (formed on 1 April 2019) and, before this, the district ofTaunton Deane (established under theLocal Government Act 1972). From 1894-1974, for local government purposes, Creech St Michael was part ofTaunton Rural District.[6]
It is also part of theTaunton and Wellingtoncounty 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. Prior toBrexit in 2020 it was part of theSouth West England constituency of theEuropean Parliament.
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| National | |
