Stanton Drew

infobox UK place

country = England
official_name= Stanton Drew
population= approx. 500
latitude= 51.3663

longitude= -2.5782

unitary_england= Bath and North East Somerset
lieutenancy_england=Somerset
region= South West England

constituency_westminster= Wansdyke to be North East Somerset from next general election.
post_town= Bristol
postcode_district = BS39
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 01275
os_grid_reference= ST597632: "This article is about the village. For information on the prehistoric stone circles see Stanton Drew stone circles"

Stanton Drew (gbmapping|ST597632) is a small village within the Chew Valley in Somerset, England, situated north of the Mendip Hills, eight miles south of Bristol in the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority.

The village is most famous for its prehistoric stone circles, the largest being the Great Circle, a henge monument consisting of the second largest stone circle in Britain (after Avebury). The stone circle is 113 m in diameter and probably consisted of 30 stones, of which 27 survive today.

The village also has a range of listed buildings, dating from the 13th to 15th Centuries, including the church of St Mary the Virgin, the Round House (Old Toll House) and various farmhouses.

Village

Stanton Drew was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Stantone", meaning 'The stone enclosure with an oak tree' from the Old English "stan" and "tun" and from the Celtic "deru". [cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=1874336032]

The village of Stanton Drew has a population of approximately 500. It includes a primary school, pub (the Druids Arms), church and village hall, which is the venue for a mother and toddler group and preschool as well as various village activities. The area around the village has several dairy and arable farms on neutral to acid red loamy soils with slowly permeable subsoils, [cite web | title=Area 2 - Chew Valley | work=BANES Environmental Services | url=http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/environment/planningservices/Landscape/rltarea2.htm | accessdate=2006-01-03] however it is also a dormitory village for people working in Bath and Bristol.

Coal mining

During the 19th and 20th centuries there were two coal mines within the parish. Bromley Pit was in operation from 1860 to 1957 and Rydon's (or Riding's) from 1808 to 1833. They formed part of the northern section of the Somerset coalfield.

Government and politics

Stanton Drew, has a Parish council which has some responsibility for local issues, and, along with Chelwood and Clutton, is part of the Clutton Ward which is represented by one councillor on the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority which has wider responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism etc. The village is a part of the Wansdyke constituency, which will become North East Somerset at the next general election and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.

Demographics

According to the 2001 Census The Clutton Ward (which includes Chelwood and Clutton), had 1,290 residents, living in 483 households, with an average age of 40.3 years. Of these 72% of residents describing their health as 'good', 22% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 2.2% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 24,527 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived. [cite web | title=Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 020A Clutton | work=Office of National Statistics 2001 Census | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadProfileSearch.do?profileSearchText=BS39+4DJ&searchProfiles= | accessdate=2006-04-25]

Buildings

Church

The church is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, which has been a place of Christian worship for at least eight hundred years. In the north aisle is the Norman bowl of the font and further east the small turret steps behind a glass door that in earlier times led up into a rood loft. Although parts date from the 13th. and 14th. centuries the interior, as it is seen today, shows the work that was carried out in the mid 19th. century. It is a Grade II* listed building. [cite web | title=Church of St. Mary | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33002 | accessdate=2006-05-09] The Hazle, [cite web | title=Hazle monument | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33005 | accessdate=2006-05-09] Wight Preston [cite web | title=Wight Preston Monument | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33006 | accessdate=2006-05-09] and several other unidentified monuments [cite web | title=Unidentified monument in the churchyard about 3 metres east of south chapel | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33004 | accessdate=2006-05-09] [cite web | title=Unidentified monument in the churchyard about 4 metres north east of chancel | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33003 | accessdate=2006-05-09] in the churchyard are also listed, along with the Piers, gates and overthrow at the north east entrance to churchyard. [cite web | title=Piers, gates and overthrow at north east entrance to churchyard | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33007 | accessdate=2006-05-09]

Rectory Farmhouse

The Rectory Farmhouse is a Grade II* listed building, dating from the 15th Century. [cite web | title=Rectory Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=32997 | accessdate=2006-05-09] A barn about 35 metres west of the farmhouse dates from the same period, [cite web | title=Barn about 35 metres west of Rectory Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=32998 | accessdate=2006-05-09] as does a dovecote in the grounds. [cite web | title=Dovecot about 50 metres west of Rectory Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=32999 | accessdate=2006-05-09]

The Round House

At the northern entrance to the village before the bridge over the River Chew is a white thatched, fifteenth century house which became a toll house in the eighteenth century when turnpikes were in use. [cite book | author = Mason, Edmund J. & Mason, Doreen | year 1982 | title = Avon Villages | publisher = Robert Hale Ltd | id=ISBN 0-7091-9585-0] It is a Grade II listed building. [cite web | title=The Round House | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33009 | accessdate=2006-05-09]

The Court

The Court in Bromley Road dates from 1753 and is a Grade II* listed building. [cite web | title=The court | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=32992 | accessdate=2006-05-09] It is now used as a nursing home. The walls and piers around this property are themselves grade II listed. [cite web | title=Wall, piers and gates about 16 metres west of The Court | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=32995 | accessdate=2006-05-09]

Watermill

There is some evidence of a watermill, used as a forge in the 1660s, a copper mill from 1713-1860 and then a paper mill.

Other Grade II listed buildings

There are several other listed buildings in the village. The oldest being the 15th century Church Farmhouse. [cite web | title=Church Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33008 | accessdate=2006-05-09]

Buildings from the 17th century include Byemills Farmhouse, [cite web | title=Byemills Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=32991 | accessdate=2006-05-09] Codrington Cottage [cite web | title=Codrington Cottage | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33011 | accessdate=2006-05-09] Stanton Wick Farmhouse, [cite web | title=Stanton Wick Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33015 | accessdate=2006-05-09] Parson's Farmhouse [cite web | title=Parson's Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33014 | accessdate=2006-05-09] and another cottage and attached wall near the church. [cite web | title=Cottage and attached wall | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33012 | accessdate=2006-05-09]

Later buildings include those from the 19th century such as; Mill Place, [cite web | title=Mill Place | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33000 | accessdate=2006-05-09] , and its accompanying wall and piers. [cite web | title=Wall and piers about 30 metres north west of Mill Place | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33001 | accessdate=2006-05-09] , Rosedale, [cite web | title=Rosedale | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=32996 | accessdate=2006-05-09] and Fern Cottage [cite web | title=Fern Cottage | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33013 | accessdate=2006-05-09]

Bridge

The narrow limestone bridge over the River Chew is possibly 13th or 14th Century in origin with more recent repairs. The bridge spans about 12 metres, about 5 metres across footway, parapet wall to each side, about one metre high. Each side has 2 pointed arches with chamfered mouldings and relieving arch, central cutwater with off-sets to each side and pyramidal stone top, inner ribs to vaults; on east side, oval plaque with illegible inscription and strengthening with exposed steel girder. Ancient Monument Avon no. 162. [cite web | title=Bridge over River Chew | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33010 | accessdate=2006-05-09]

Popular Culture

Stanton Drew was commemorated by Adge Cutler in his popular song "When the Common Market Comes to Stanton Drew".Written in response to opening up of trade with Europe, Adge suggests what might happen to Somerset culture when Europeans come over. In retrospect, it is more truthful than anyone could have imagined - "when George comes home from milking, ee'll get a big surprise, when 'ee sit's down expecting Irish Stew, an' his wife says George i'll get 'ee, a gert dollop of spaghetti, 'cos the Common Market's come to Stanton Drew".

References

External links

* [http://www.stantondrewprimaryschool.co.uk/ Stanton Drew Primary School]
* [http://www.stantondrewchurch.org/ Stanton Drew Church]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/os61htm/1211.htm Map of Stanton Drew circa 1884]
* [http://www.riverchew.co.uk/ River Chew web site]