| Haselbury Plucknett | |
|---|---|
 Haselbury House | |
 Haselbury Plucknett first school | |
  Haselbury Plucknett Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 744 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST475105 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Crewkerne |
| Postcode district | TA18 |
| Dialling code | 01460 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 50°53′29″N2°44′52″W / 50.8915°N 2.7478°W /50.8915; -2.7478 | |
Haselbury Plucknett is a village andcivil parish on theRiver Parrett inSomerset, England, situated 6 miles (9.7 km) south west ofYeovil in theSouth Somerset district. The village has apopulation of 744.[1]
It is the final resting place of 'Blessed'Wulfric, who was never formally canonised, and who died 20 February 1154.
The village has a small Church of England primary school (years foundation - 6). It did have a small village shop and post office, however this closed in September 2009. The onlypub/restaurant in the village isThe White Horse at Haselbury.
The first part of the village name means a hazel grove, and the second part comes from the name of its medieval owners.[2]
It was one of the few manors which retained its Saxon owner, Brismar, after theNorman Conquest. A later Lord of the manor, Richard of Haselbury, rebelled againstKing John and was hanged atSherborne.[2]
Saint Wulfric arrived in the village in 1125 and was visited byHenry I and other nobility. He died in 1154 and was buried in the east end of the north aisle of the church, which became known as St Wufric's aisle, but there is no trace in the current church.[2]
The parish was part of thehundred ofHoundsborough.[3]
Haselbury Bridge (sometimes called Haslebury Old Bridge) is a stone-built bridge dating from the 14th century. It is ascheduled monument and Grade II*listed building.[4][5] The twoarch bridge was built of localHamstone and carries a small road over theRiver Parrett.[6] Each of the arches has a 3 metres (9.8 ft) span. The bridge is 4.1 metres (13 ft) wide including theparapet on each side.[4] In the 17th century it carried the main route betweenSalisbury andExeter and later marked the boundary between the Chard and YeovilTurnpike trusts.[5][7][8] The bridge was bypassed in 1831.[9]
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.
The village falls within thenon-metropolitan district ofSouth Somerset, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972, having previously been part ofYeovil Rural District.[10] The district council ts responsible forlocal planning andbuilding control, local roads,council housing,environmental health,markets and fairs,refuse collection andrecycling,cemeteries andcrematoria, leisure services, parks, andtourism.
Somerset Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such aseducation,social services,libraries, main roads,public transport,policing andfire services,trading standards,waste disposal and strategic planning.
It is also part of theYeovilcounty constituency represented in theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom, electing oneMember of Parliament (MP) by thefirst past the post system of election.
TheAnglican parishChurch of St Michael and All Angels dates from the 14th century.[13]
The village has a smallProtestant church. The church still gets a decent congregation when it has services. The nearby local primary school goes there to practise and perform their plays.
Media related toHaselbury Plucknett at Wikimedia Commons
