| Norton Saint Philip | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Norton Saint Philip Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 858 (2011 census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST775555 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BATH |
| Postcode district | BA2 |
| Dialling code | 01373 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Norton St Philip Parish Council |
| 51°17′53″N2°19′19″W / 51.298°N 2.322°W /51.298; -2.322 | |
Norton St Philip is a village andcivil parish inSomerset, England. The village lies about5+1⁄2 miles (9 km) south of the city ofBath and 5 miles (8 km) north of the town ofFrome on the eastern slopes of theMendip Hills. It is situated on the A366 betweenTrowbridge andRadstock, and on the B3110 between Bath and Frome.
The village has experienced a significant reduction in local services, with the police station, post office and shops closing throughout the early 2000s. This was partly reversed by the opening of a new supermarket, incorporating a post office, in 2016.
The village is built around avillage common, known as Churchmead or The Mead, which is held in trust and is home to the village cricket team.
The earliest signs of habitation can be found a mile to the east of the current village, where theRoman road from Bath toPoole passed. The village is later recorded in theDomesday Book as supporting 20 people, three ploughs, a mill and 20 acres (81,000 m2) of meadow. Apriory was founded near the village in 1232 and had links with the village until itsdissolution under the orders ofHenry VIII on 31 March 1540. Norton developed a thriving wool trade and became the site of a regional market, signs of which can be seen in local surnames such as Weaver. The parish of Norton St Philip was part of theWellowHundred.[2]
Norton St Philip was the site of theBattle of Norton St Philip during theMonmouth Rebellion in 1685, and the east–west street on the village's northern edge, officially recorded as Chevers Lane, is referred to locally as Bloody Lane, reportedly as the battle caused so much bloodshed it flowed down this hill. In the aftermath of the failed rebellionJudge Jefferies conducted 12 executions on The Mead, as part of theBloody Assizes. The route he took to The Mead is known as Jefferies Gate.
The George Inn, one of a number of establishments that claim to be Britain's oldest tavern, is located in the centre of the village. It was built in the 14th or 15th century,[3] as a wool store for the priory atHinton Charterhouse[4] and to accommodate travellers and merchants coming to the annual wool fairs that were held in the village from the late 13th century until 1902. In the 15th century the timber-framed upper floors were added.[5] The inn became part of thestage coach route between London and the South West; on 12 June 1668 the noted diaristSamuel Pepys, with his wife and servants, passed through Norton St Philip on their way to Bath fromSalisbury.[4] The inn was later used as the headquarters of Monmouth's army after his retreat from Bath, and was further used as a court by Judge Jefferies.
Faccenda operated a poultry processing plant in the village until the late 1990s, when the property burned down. The site was subsequently redeveloped for housing between 2012 and 2014, adding approximately 57 dwellings and a small supermarket to the south side of the village.[6] The development uses materials and a style sympathetic to the local vernacular, with architectural elements inspired by local historic buildings. The development also included a building intended for use as a public space, which has since been repurposed into a residential dwelling.
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 parish comes under theunitary authority ofSomerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of thenon-metropolitan district ofMendip (established under theLocal Government Act 1972). It was part ofFrome Rural District before 1974.[7]
It is also part of theFrome and East Somersetcounty 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.
The village has a strong sense of local community, supported in part by the village pubs, The George Inn and the Fleur-de-Lys, the local primary school, and the cricket team. The village is well known in the area for hosting a large fundraisingBonfire Night celebration.
Situated around the crossroads of the A366 and the B3110, the village is largely adormitory settlement for the surrounding towns.[8] The High Street is a congested commuting route into Bath and measures have been taken to slow down therat run traffic through the village by the installation of bollards to inhibit traffic mounting the pedestrian footpath.[9] After a series of traffic incidents involving damage to residents' cars, a weight limit of 7.5 t was introduced for vehicles driving through the village.[10]
The D2/D2x bus, operated byFirst West of England, runs an hourly service with a stops located near the cross roads in the centre of the village.[11]
Thechurch of St Philip and St James dates from the 14th century withrestoration in 1847 by SirGeorge Gilbert Scott. It has been designated byEnglish Heritage as a Grade II*listed building.[12]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
