| Cheddon Fitzpaine | |
|---|---|
 A view of Cheddon Fitzpaine | |
  Cheddon Fitzpaine Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 1,929 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST242276 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TAUNTON |
| Postcode district | TA2 |
| Dialling code | 01823 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°02′35″N3°04′53″W / 51.0431°N 3.0814°W /51.0431; -3.0814 | |
Cheddon Fitzpaine is a village andcivil parish inSomerset, England, situated on theQuantock Hills 2 miles (3.2 km) north ofTaunton. The village is situated near theBristol and Exeter Railway, theBridgwater and Taunton Canal, and theRiver Tone and has apopulation of 1,929.[1]
Flint and pottery uncovered during archaeological excavations demonstrate lateNeolithic to earlyBronze-Age andRomano-British settlement sites near Maidenbrook and Nerrols. The name of the village was "Cedenon" probably meaning "wood valley" in 897. After theNorman Conquest it was granted to Roger Arundel and was then passed down through his family. The parish of Cheddon Fitzpaine was part of theTaunton DeaneHundred.[2] In the 16th century the manor was bought by Thomas More ofTaunton Priory.[3]
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, Cheddon Fitzpaine was part ofTaunton Rural District.[4]
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. It was part of theSouth West England constituency of theEuropean Parliament prior toBritain leaving the European Union in January 2020, which elected sevenMEPs using thed'Hondt method ofparty-list proportional representation.
Gadds Valley is an area of open grassland and woodland, which has been designated as alocal nature reserve.[5]
Pyrland Hall was built as a country house around 1760 for Sir William Yea and later became a boys preparatory school.[6]
The nearbyHestercombe House and Gardens includes gardens designed by SirEdwin Lutyens.[7] Its restoration toGertrude Jekyll's original plans (1904–07) have made it "one of the best Jekyll-Lutyens gardens open to the public on a regular basis",[8] visited by approximately 70,000 people per year. The estate is Grade Ilisted on theEnglish HeritageRegister of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.[9] The site also includes a 0.08hectarebiological Site of Special Scientific Interest as it is used as a roost site byLesser Horseshoe Bats and has been designated as aSpecial Area of Conservation (SAC).[10] The house was used as the headquarters of the British8th Corps in theSecond World War, and has been owned bySomerset County Council since 1951. It is used as an administrative centre and is the current base for theSomerset Fire and Rescue Service control room.
TheAnglican parishChurch of St Mary has a 13th-century tower and 15th century nave.[11] The Old Rectory near the church was built around 1861, possibly byEdward Jeboult and later turned into 3 dwellings.[12]
Media related toCheddon Fitzpaine at Wikimedia Commons
