- Bleadon
infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Bleadon
latitude= 51.3082
longitude= -2.9448
population= 1068
unitary_england=North Somerset
lieutenancy_england=Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Weston-super-Mare
post_town=Weston-super-Mare
postcode_district = BS24 0xx
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 01934
os_grid_reference= ST341570Bleadon is a village and
civil parish in the historic county ofSomerset inEngland . It is about four miles south ofWeston-super-Mare and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 1,068.Bleadon was listed in the
Domesday Book of 1086 as "Bledone", meaning 'The coloured hill' from theOld English "bleo" 'coloured' and "dun". [cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=1874336032] [cite web |url=http://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/publications/up_081015_autumn07_lo.pdf |title=Autumn newsletter 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-25 |format=PDF |work=Mendip Hills AONB ]Just to the north of the village is
Bleadon Hill a 13.52hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest .There is evidence or agricultural use of the land in the medieval period and possibly from Roman times. [cite web | title=Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | work=Somerset County Council Archeological Projects | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/896B4/MendipAONB.pdf | accessdate=2006-10-28]
The village cross [cite web | title=Village Cross | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33612 | accessdate=2007-02-11] and well [cite web | title=Village Well | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33611 | accessdate=2007-02-11] are listed buildings.
It lies on the River Axe and had been a small port, sometimes known as Lympsham Wharf, for many years, with the arrival of the railway in 1841 making this the furthest navigable point. It was last used by the ketch Democrat in 1942.cite book |title=Somerset Harbours |last=Farr |first=Grahame |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1954 |publisher=Christopher Johnson |location=London |isbn= |pages=65 ] An act of 1915 authorised the drainage of the river and installation of a flood gate at Bleadon. [cite book |last=Toulson |first=Shirley |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Mendip Hills: A Threatened Landscape |year=1984 |publisher=Victor Gollancz |location=London |isbn=057503453X ]
Church
The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul dominates the village. [cite book |last=Atthill |first=Robin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Mendip: A new study |year=1976 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbott |isbn= 0715372971 ] It was built in the 14th century (dedicated in 1317), being restored and the chancel shortened in the mid 19th century. It is a grade I
listed building . [cite web | title=Church of St. Peter and St. Paul | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33613 | accessdate=2007-02-11] The tower contains five bells dating from 1711 and made by Edward Bilbie of theBilbie family . [cite book |last=Moore |first=James |authorlink= |coauthors=Roy Rice & Ernest Hucker |title=Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers |year=1995 |publisher=The authors |location= |isbn=0952670208 ]References
External links
* [http://www.somerset3d.co.uk/logos%20&%20pictures/town%20&%20village%20pages/bleadon.htm Photos of Bleadon in 3d (Anaglyphs)]
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