| Huntspill | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Huntspill Location withinSomerset | |
| Area | 0.395 km2 (0.153 sq mi) |
| Population | 1,102 (2019 estimate)[1] |
| • Density | 2,790/km2 (7,200/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | ST315455 |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HIGHBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | TA9 |
| Dialling code | 01278 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°12′18″N2°58′55″W / 51.205°N 2.982°W /51.205; -2.982 | |
Huntspill is a village and formercivil parish on theHuntspill Level inSomerset, England. It lies on theA38 road, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south ofHighbridge. The village is the principal settlement in the civil parish ofWest Huntspill. In 2019 it had an estimated population of 1102.[1]
The first mention of Huntspill is around 796 AD, when the area was granted toGlastonbury Abbey by Aethelmund, a noblemanunderKing Offa ofMercia.
Huntspill was listed in theDomesday Book of 1086 asHonspil, meaning 'Huna's Pill' (possibly from theOld English personal nameHuna). TheWelsh wordPîl, is a common element along the Somerset coast denoting a tidal inlet suitable as a harbour.[2]
The parish of Huntspill was part of theHuntspill and PuritonHundred,[3]
The mouth of theRiver Brue had an extensive harbour in Roman andSaxon times, before silting up in the medieval period. A new wharf, known as Clyce Wharf, was built on the Huntspill side of the river mouth by 1904, and was used for the import of coal and the export of bricks and tiles and agricultural products. The wharf closed in 1949.[4]
The village was flooded in theBristol Channel floods of 1607.
In 1936 the village was the centre of an outbreak ofTyphoid fever in which seven people died.[5]
The ancient parish of Huntspill also included the villages ofEast Huntspill, Hackness and Bason Bridge, east of the village of Huntspill. The western boundary of the parish was the tidalRiver Parrett, but changes in the course of the river left some parts of the parish on the west side of the river until 1933, when they were transferred to the civil parish ofOtterhampton. In 1885 the uninhabitedStert Island inBridgwater Bay was transferred from the parish ofStogursey to Huntspill, but the island was also transferred to Otterhampton in 1933.[4]
On 1 April 1949 the civil parish of Huntspill was abolished and divided into the civil parishes of West Huntspill and Huntspill All Saints (renamedEast Huntspill in 1972) along the line of theBristol and Exeter Railway.[6] In 1931 the parish had a population of 1448.[7]
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 ofSedgemoor, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972, having previously been part ofBridgwater Rural District.[8]
The village falls within the 'Huntspill and Pawlett'electoral ward. As is indicated by the namePawlett is also included within the ward. The total population at the2011 census was 2,171.[9]
It is also part of theBridgwatercounty 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 Peter was established by 1208, rebuilt around 1400, and extended in the early to mid 15th century. It was gutted by fire in 1878 andrestored over the next two years. It has been designated as a Grade Ilisted building.[10]
The People of the Parish (2001).The Book of West Huntspill: A Millennium Celebration. Tiverton, Devon: Halsgrove Publishing.ISBN 1-84114-108-9
