| Churchstanton | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Churchstanton Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 889 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | ST195145 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TAUNTON |
| Postcode district | TA3 |
| Dialling code | 01823 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Parish Council |
| 50°55′26″N3°08′42″W / 50.924°N 3.145°W /50.924; -3.145 | |
Churchstanton is a village andcivil parish inSomerset, England, lying within theBlackdown HillsArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on theRiver Otter 5 miles (8.0 km) south ofTaunton. The parish had a population of 889 at the 2021 census,[1] and includes the hamlets ofChurchinford,Burnworthy andWilland.
The village was known asCheristone, meaningstony settlement where cherries grow, in the 13th century.[2]
Burnworthy Lodge dates from the 16th century and is a Grade IIlisted building.[3]
Until 1896, the village was withinHemyock Hundred in the county ofDevon. It was then transferred into Somerset.[4]
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 to 1974, for local government purposes, Churchstanton was part ofTaunton Rural District.[5]
Churchstanton is 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, and 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.
State Education for the children of the village up to aged 11 is provided by Somerset County Council's Churchstanton Primary School, at Willand. State secondary education is provided atThe Castle School in Taunton or atUffculme School in Devon.
The people of the parish and adjoining area own and manage a Community Shop. In addition to selling local produce, it has a Post office counter service, alcohol licence and a coffee shop.[6] There is a public open space on the edge of the village which is managed by a group of volunteers. The area provides recreational facilities for residents to play field games, walk, picnic and have an allotment.[7]There is a Village Hall, again run by volunteers. The hall is used for community events and meetings as well as being available to rent for private events and entertainment. Periodically films are shown and there is a monthly produce market.[8]
Quants Reserve is anature reserve north west of the village which consists of agrassland clearing in aforestry plantation. It is well known for itsbutterflies — among the species which occur areDuke of Burgundy,marsh fritillary andwood white. In 1988 an area of 50.6 hectares (126.0 acres) was designated as aBiological Site of Special Scientific Interest.[9]
Ringdown is abiological Site of Special Scientific Interest where outcrops of bothCretaceousUpper Greensand and underlyingTriassicKeuper Marls occur. Amongst the vegetation present are two species which are very restricted in South West Britain, white beaksedge (Rhynchospora alba) and dioecious sedge (Carex dioica). This site is the only known location for the latter in Somerset. A colony of thesmall pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) is found here.[10]
To the east of Churchinford village lies a local nature reserve set around two lakes of the former landscaped gardens of Otterhead House, which was demolished in 1952. The estate was developed in Victorian times and by 1890 included over 1700 acres of land. The reserve was designated as a LNR in 2008. It is managed and leased fromWessex Water by the not-for-profit Otterhead Estate Trust Co Ltd. The company was set up in 2008 to conserve and part restore the built heritage features on site, as well as continuing the work of the Somerset Wildlife Trust who used to manage the reserve. The main feature of the LNR is the valley of the River Otter, in which the former Victorian estate had created a flight of five lakes and a complicated system of leats, weirs and pumps. Today only two of the lakes survive.[citation needed]
A range of semi-natural habitats make up the reserve including alder and willow carr, dry deciduous woodland, unimproved neutral grassland, and freshwater streams and ditches. Dormice, badgers and bat species occur in the woodland. The lakes support bird species including kingfisher, dipper and wagtail.
The parishChurch of St Peter and St Paul dates from the 14th century and has been designated as a Grade Ilisted building.[11]
Media related toChurchstanton at Wikimedia Commons
