| Isle Abbotts | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Isle Abbotts Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 205 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST351208 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Taunton |
| Postcode district | TA3 |
| Dialling code | 01460 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 50°59′02″N2°55′30″W / 50.984°N 2.925°W /50.984; -2.925 | |
Isle Abbots (also spelledIsle Abbotts) is a village andcivil parish inSomerset, England, around 7 miles (11.3 km) south-east ofTaunton in theSouth Somerset district. The village had a population of 205 at the 2011 census.[1]
The name of the village comes from theRiver Isle, with the second part coming from its ownership byMuchelney Abbey from Saxon times until theDissolution of the monasteries in 1538. The manor then passed to theEarl of Hertford.[2]
Bromes House has medieval origins and was restored in 1627. It has been designated as a Grade II*listed building.[3]
In 1645, during theCivil War, Isle Abbots was the scene of a skirmish between parliamentary troops underEdward Massie and Royalist forces underLord Goring who fought for control of the bridges prior to theBattle of Langport.[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.
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 ofLangport Rural District.[5] The district council is responsible forlocal planning andbuilding control, local roads,council housing,environmental health,markets and fairs,refuse collection andrecycling,cemeteries andcrematoria, leisure services, parks, andtourism.
Somerset County 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 theGlastonbury and Somertoncounty 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.
Isle Abbotts lies between theRiver Isle and theFivehead River.
Along with the rest ofSouth West England, Isle Abbots has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country.[6] The annual mean temperature is approximately 10 °C (50.0 °F).Seasonal temperature variation is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the warmest with mean daily maxima of approximately 21 °C (69.8 °F). In winter mean minimum temperatures of 1 °C (33.8 °F) or 2 °C (35.6 °F) are common.[6] In the summer theAzores high pressure affects the south-west of England, howeverconvective cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours.[6] In December 1998 there were 20 days without sun recorded at Yeovilton. Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused byAtlantic depressions or byconvection. Most of the rainfall in autumn and winter is caused by the Atlantic depressions, which is when they are most active. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around 700 mm (28 in). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west.[6]
TheChurch of St. Mary the Virgin dates from the 13th century with several restorations since. It has a tower of four stages. The embattledparapet is pierced byquatrefoils, themerlons pierced withlancet openings. The very large corner pinnacles have attached secondary pinnacles, and intermediate pinnacles to each side. Thecrocketted niches to each face of tower have surviving medieval figures, to west the risen Christ stepping from His sarcophagus, the Blessed Virgin with Bambino, St Peter and St Paul; to south St George, St Catherine, St Margaret; to east St John Baptist, St Clement; to north St Michael.[7] The wealth of architectural detail and sculpture has required specific approaches to the methodology of repair and protection using lime-based materials.[8] The church tower has eighthunky punks depicting a person playing the bagpipes, an oriental lion dog, a goat, a dragon, a Chinese dragon, a primitive dragon, a winged lion and a lion.[9] The church also houses abarrel organ made byHenry Bryceson in about 1835.[9]
There was also aBaptist chapel in the village, which was built in 1815 and restored in 1874. The building is no longer in use and has been sold.[10]
