Bathampton

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.3943
longitude= -2.3198
official_name= Bathampton
population=
lieutenancy_england= Somerset
unitary_england= Bath and North East Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Wansdyke
constituency_westminster1=(North East Somerset
from next general election).
post_town= BATH
postcode_district = BA
postcode_area= BA
dial_code= 01225
os_grid_reference= ST777662

Bathampton is a village and civil parish convert|2|mi|km|0|lk=on east of Bath, England on the south bank of the River Avon.

The Kennet and Avon Canal passes through the village and a toll bridge links Bathampton to Batheaston on the north bank of the canal. The village used to have a railway station, but it was closed following the Beeching Report.

Plasticine was manufactured in the village between 1900 and 1983, by a company founded by William Harbutt, who also lived in Bathampton.

Bathampton Rocks

Above Bathampton is a steep slope, heavily quarried for stone near the top in the area now called Bathampton Rocks, leading to Bathampton Down. Until the late 1950s the track used for bringing stone down into the valley could be seen; it crossed the main A36 road over a short rock bridge known as the Dry Arch. This was demolished in 1958 as it was too low for double-decker buses and other traffic.

Bathampton Rocks was the site of the Bathampton Patrol (Auxiliary Units) Operational Base during the Second World War [cite web|title=Bathampton Patrol|url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/b/bathampton_patrol_au_ob/index.shtml| accessdate=2007-11-21] at OS Grid Ref ST778651 (coord|51|23.0|N|2|19.1|W|region:GB).

Bathampton Meadow

When the A46 Bathampton by-pass was built, an area of 9 hectares was created to provide additional flood relief. The wet meadows and the ox-bow lake which were made have proved attractive to a number of migrant birds with waders such as dunlin, ringed and little ringed plover, and green and common sandpiper in spring and autumn. Sand martin and kingfisher have been seen regularly by the oxbow, and other migrants have included yellow wagtail, whinchat and hobby. [cite web|url=http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/level1/reserves/bathampton.htm|title=Bathampton Meadow|work=Reserves|publisher=Avon Wildlife Trust|accessdate=2008-06-01]

ham Castle

Above the village is a Sham Castle folly built in 1762. It was built by Richard James, master mason for Ralph Allen "to improve the prospect" from Allen's town house in Bath. It is a screen wall with a central pointed arch flanked by two 3-storey circular turrets, which extend sideways to a 2-storey square tower at each end of the wall. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=32038 |title=Sham Castle |accessdate=2008-03-15 |format= |work=Images of England ] It is illuminated at night.

Church

In the 13th century John Stafford who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury was the vicar of Bathampton. [cite book|last=Dunning|first=Robert|title=A Somerset Miscellany| pages =32-33|publisher=Somerset Books|location=Tiverton|date=2005|isbn=0861834275]

The Parish Church of St. Nicholas has 13th century origins with 15th century alterations and tower. In the mid 18th century Ralph Allen added Gothic components after he acquired Bathampton Manor by marriage in 1731. The building was further restored and the north aisle built in 1858 by Henry Goodridge and the chancel was restored in 1882 by C.E. Davis. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=32021 |title=Parish Church of St. Nicholas |accessdate=2008-03-15 |format= |work=Images of England ] The "Australia Chapel" in the south aisle contains memorials to the Allen family and to Admiral Arthur Phillip, the first governor of New South Wales.cite book |title=The hidden places of Somerset |last=Scott |first=Shane |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1995 |publisher=Travel Publishing Ltd |location=Aldermaston |isbn=1902007018 |pages=16-17 ] Phillip was buried in the church after his death in 1814 and although it was unnoticed for many years, the grave was discovered in 1897 [ [http://www.stnicholasandstmarys.org.uk/ St Nicholas Church, Bathampton] , Burial place of Arthur Phillip] and the Premier of New South Wales, Sir Henry Parkes, had it restored. The windows of the sanctuary carry the coat of arms of the Federal Government and the six Australian States. [cite web |url=http://www.bathampton-village.org.uk/nichshistory.htm |title=St Nicholas Church, BathamptonHistory |accessdate=2008-03-15 |format= |work=Bathampton ]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.bathampton-village.org.uk/ Bathampton village website]
* [http://www.stnicholasandstmarys.org.uk/ St Nicholas Church Bathampton]