| Winscombe | |
|---|---|
 Winscombe Church tower | |
  Winscombe Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | est. 4,500 |
| OS grid reference | ST425575 |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WINSCOMBE |
| Postcode district | BS25 |
| Dialling code | 01934 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°18′49″N2°49′35″W / 51.3136°N 2.8263°W /51.3136; -2.8263 | |
Winscombe is a large village in theNorth Somerset unitary district ofSomerset, England, close to the settlements ofAxbridge andCheddar, on the western edge of theMendip Hills, 7 miles (11 km) southeast ofWeston-super-Mare and 14 miles (23 km) southwest ofBristol. The Parish ofWinscombe and Sandford, centred on the Parish Church ofChurch of St James the Great, includes the villages/hamlets of Barton, Hale, Oakridge, Nye, Sidcot and Woodborough.[1]
Winscombe has a few shops and businesses focused in the centre of the village, along Woodborough Road and Sandford Road. There is adoctor's surgery in the village, a vet and two dentists.
West of the village is theMax Bogbiological Site of Special Scientific Interest.
It has been suggested that the name means a valley belonging to a Saxon named Wine.[2]
The parish was part of theWinterstokeHundred.[3]
Winscombe was the subject of a historical and archaeological study led by ProfessorMick Aston, published in theProceedings of theSomerset Archaeological and Natural History Society.[4]
In April 1973, many residents died inInvicta International Airlines Flight 435, the worst aviation accident in Swiss history, with those from Axbridge and Cheddar.[5]
From 1894 to 1974 Winscombe was part of theAxbridge Rural District. When this was abolished under theLocal Government Act 1972 it became part of theWoodspring district in the newcounty of Avon. In 1996 this became theNorth Somersetunitary authority, which remains part of theceremonial county of Somerset.
The village is part of theWells and Mendip Hills parliamentary constituency.
Slader's Leigh is alocal nature reserve. It is a wildflower meadow with plants includingdevil's-bit scabious,cowslip,betony,common spotted orchid andtormentil which provide a habitat for a range ofbutterflies.[6]
Winscombe grew in the 19th century with the arrival of a branch of theGreat Western Railway, opened in 1869. This was theCheddar Valley line, also known as the Strawberry Line, which ran fromYatton toWells viaCheddar. The railway was closed in 1963, and today the route is a public footpath and cycle track; the site of the formerWinscombe railway station is now the Millennium Green. It is possible to walk, or cycle, from the railway station to the coast atClevedon viaSandford,Congresbury andYatton, and in the opposite direction through the railway tunnel at Shute Shelve Hill toAxbridge andCheddar.
The railway station was originally named Woodborough, that being the part of the parish of Winscombe where it was; Winscombe was originally the settlement up by the church. The railway station was soon renamed Winscombe to avoid confusion with another railway station in Wiltshire named Woodborough. The railway station was closed in 1963 as part of theBeeching cuts to rail services. Part of the original track can still be seen from a platform by the Millennium Green.
The village is on theA371 andA38 roads.
There are two schools in the village, as well as community and sports facilities. State secondary education is provided at nearbyChurchill Community School.Sidcot is a nearbyfee-paying independent school run by theSociety of Friends.
There is a well-established recreational ground a short distance from the centre of Winscombe, which accommodates a variety of different sports, includingcricket, tennis,hockey,bowls,football (Winscombe AFC), and arugby union team (Winscombe RFC).
The rugby club hosts three annual tournaments for mini and junior players: amini rugby tournament for local schools; a regional championship for under 8s; and the Mendip Sevensrugby sevens tournament for ages under 13s–under 16s.
TheChurch of St James has origins from the 12th century. The church is in the middle of the original hamlet of Winscombe. The church has 13th-century origins but the present building dates mainly from the 15th century, withrestoration and a new chancel in 1863. It is designated as a Grade Ilisted building.[7][8] The bells of St James have long called people to worship, the original bells being cast in 1773 by local founders theBilbie family.[9] Two newer bells were added in 1903 byTaylors Founders. The eight bells are in the key of E flat and the tenor weighs 18-1-8 – 18hundredweight, 1 quarter of a hundredweight and 8 lb (930 kg).[10] St James holds regular services on Sundays, withbell ringing being provided for both the morning service andevensong.
The former railway station site now hosts an annual May fair, on the Saturday closest to May Day, and has a variety of activities, entertainments and stalls selling various products and promoting many local charities and organisations.
In September, the village hosts the annualMichaelmas fair in the community centre, a chance for villagers to show their handiwork, handicraft and produce.
The local headquarters of theRoyal British Legion is near the centre of the village in Sandford Road, opposite the villagebowls club. It houses the Winscombe Club.[11]
The former British headquarters ofMoose International formingMoose International in Great Britain used to be found at Kildare house in the village.[12]
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