South Somerset shown within Somerset and England
South Somerset is a local government district in the English county of Somerset . The South Somerset district occupies an area of 370 square miles (958 km2 ),[ 1] stretching from its borders with Devon and Dorset to the edge of the Somerset Levels . The district has a population of about 158,000,[ 2] and has Yeovil as its administrative centre.
In the United Kingdom, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance; Grade I structures are those considered to be "buildings of exceptional interest".[ 3] Listing was begun by a provision in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 . Once listed, severe restrictions are imposed on the modifications allowed to a building's structure or its fittings. In England, the authority for listing under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 [ 4] rests with Historic England , a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ; local authorities have a responsibility to regulate and enforce the planning regulations.
There are 94 Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset. Most are Norman - or medieval -era churches, many of which are included in the Somerset towers —a collection of distinctive, mostly spireless Gothic church towers—but there are other religious buildings as well. Muchelney Abbey consists of the remains and foundations of a medieval Benedictine Abbey and an early Tudor house dating from the 16th century, formerly the lodgings of the resident abbot .[ 5] Stavordale Priory was built as a priory church in the 13th century and was converted into a private residence in 1533.[ 6] The Hamstone Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is a 14th-century former priest's house of the chantry chapel of St Nicholas,[ 7] which after 1518 become a farm known as Parsonage Farmhouse. It remained a farm until about 1960, and has been owned by the National Trust since 1946.[ 8]
Since the Reformation the 13th century Hanging Chapel in Langport has been a town hall ,[ 9] courthouse ,[ 10] grammar school,[ 11] museum,[ 10] and armoury [ 12] before becoming a masonic hall in 1891.[ 13] The house known as The Abbey in Charlton Mackrell takes its name from the site on which it was built, the Chantry Chapel of the Holy Spirit, founded in 1237.[ 14] Naish Priory , built around 1400 in East Coker , was never a priory ,[ 15] and similarly the Abbey Farm House and Abbey Barn in Yeovil which date from around 1420,[ 16] have always been in lay-ownership; "abbey" was added to their names in the 19th century.[ 17] The 140-foot (43 m) Burton Pynsent Monument was designed in 1757,[ 18] by Lancelot "Capability" Brown for William Pitt , as a monument to Sir William Pynsent .[ 19] King Alfred's Tower , a 161 feet (49 m) high triangular edifice, stands near Egbert's stone , where it is believed Alfred the Great , King of Wessex , rallied the Saxons in May 878 before the Battle of Edington .[ 20] The tower's funder, Henry Hoare , planned for it to commemorate the end of the Seven Years' War against France and the accession of King George III .[ 21] The other Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset are manor houses , built over long periods by local Lords of the Manor . In 1907, the Tudor Barrington Court became the first country house acquired by the National Trust , on the recommendation of the antiquarian Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley .[ 22] Newton Surmaville was built between 1608 and 1612 for Robert Harbin, a Yeovil merchant, on the site of an earlier building, but was extensively altered and enhanced in the 1870s.[ 23] Lytes Cary and its associated chapel and gardens have parts dating to as early as the 14th century.[ 24] The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner praised it, saying "Yet all parts blend to perfection with one another and with the gentle sunny landscape that surrounds them."[ 25] The 17th century house [ 26] at Tintinhull is surrounded by a small 20th century Arts and Crafts garden.[ 27] Ven House , which stands on an artificially raised terrace, has a rectangular plan of seven bays by five bays, and is built of red brick in Flemish bond , with local Hamstone dressings; its north and south fronts are divided by two giant Corinthian pilasters .[ 28] The small William and Mary style [ 29] house was completed sometime between 1698 and 1700. It was enlarged between 1725 and 1730 by Decimus Burton , who provided a new drawing room for Sir W. Medleycott and also an orangery attached to the house.[ 30] Brympton d'Evercy , built in stages between about 1220 and the 18th century,[ 31] has been described, by Auberon Waugh , as "the most beautiful house in England".[ 32]
Buildings
See also
Notes
References
^ "An introduction to South Somerset" (PDF) . South Somerset District Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2017 .
^ "Population of South Somerset" . South Somerset District Council. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2009 .
^ "Listed Buildings" . Historic England. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017 .
^ "Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c. 9)" . Ministry of Justice. Archived from the original on 18 April 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2007 .
^ Historic England . "The Abbot's House, Muchelney Abbey (1236790)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 25 September 2007 .
^ a b Historic England . "Stavordale Priory (1176699)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ "The Priory, or Parsonage Farmhouse (formerly listed as The Priory or Parsonage Farmhouse (Ruined portion)), North Street (West side), Stoke sub Hamdon" . Somerset Historic Environment Record . Somerset County Council. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2009 .
^ "Stoke sub Hamdon Priory" . National Trust. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2007 .
^ "The Hanging Chapel and a medieval gateway at The Hill" . Somerset Historic Environment Record . Somerset County Council. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2009 .
^ a b "Langport" . Victoria County History: A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 3 . British History Online. 1974. pp. 16–38. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2009 .
^ "Gate, Bridge and Causeway Chapels: Chapter 3" . English Heritage. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2009 .
^
"Langport and River Parret education pack" (PDF) . Langport and River Parret visitor centre. p. 9. Retrieved 8 November 2010 .[permanent dead link ]
^ a b Historic England . "The Hanging Chapel (1056615)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ a b Historic England . "The Abbey (1056727)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ a b Historic England . "Naish Priory, including attached priory cottage and north boundary railings (1057189)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ a b Historic England . "Abbey Barn (1173463)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ a b Historic England . "Abbey Farm House (1056512)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ a b Historic England . "Burton Pynsent Monument (1039561)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ "Curry Rivel Column (Burton Pynsent)" . Folly Towers. Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008 .
^ "King Alfred's Tower" . King Alfred's Tower. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2012 .
^ Holt, Jonathan (2007). Somerset Follies . Bath: Akeman Press. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-0-9546138-7-7 .
^ "Barrington Court Park, Barrington" . Somerset Historic Environment Record . Somerset County Council. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2009 .
^ a b Historic England . "Newton Surmaville (1345788)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ a b Historic England . "Lytes Cary (1056764)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1958). The Buildings of England, South and West Somerset . Penguin Books; Reprinted by Yale University Press, 2003. pp. 228–229.
^ a b Historic England . "Tintinhull House (1265231)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ "Tintinhull Garden" . National Trust. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009 .
^ "Milborne Port" . A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 7: Bruton, Horethorne and Norton Ferris Hundreds . British History Online. 1999. pp. 138–156. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2009 .
^ Churchill, Penny (16 June 2006). "For sale: Ven House, Dorset" . Country Life. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2009 .
^ Historic England . "The Orangery, attached to the South West corner of Ven House (1295483)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 8 July 2009 .
^ a b Historic England . "Brympton d'Evercy Brympton House (1057261)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 6 July 2015 .
^ Waugh, Auberon (31 August 1992). "But life goes on". Way of the World . Daily Telegraph . p. 17.
^ Historic England . "Abbey Farmhouse and farm gate and stile to north west corner (1057256)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Alfred's Tower (1175610)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 6 July 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Barrington Court (1345920)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Bow Bridge (1176195)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of All Saints (1056264)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of All Saints (1057236)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of All Saints (1056616)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of All Saints (1065888)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of All Saints (1056769)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha (1248192)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Andrew (1057269)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Andrew (1249281)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Andrew (1227591)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Andrew (1263098)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Barnabas (1249203)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Bartholomew (1208122)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Catherine (1236512)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Catherine (1249584)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St George (1056124)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St James (1248982)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St James (1039557)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St John the Baptist (1055713)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St John the Evangelist (1295666)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Margaret (1235407)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Martin (1249564)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Martin (1056885)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Martin (1056879)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary (1056408)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary (1208692)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary (1056844)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary (1296098)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary (1056790)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary (1295576)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary Magdalene (1057061)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary the Virgin (1056904)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary the Virgin (1297140)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary the Virgin (1249594)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary the Virgin (1253811)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Mary the Virgin (1260420)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Michael (1178133)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Michael (1237246)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Michael and All Angels (1056695)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Nicholas (1248506)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Peter (1295400)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Peter and St Paul (1056762)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Peter and St Paul (1247849)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Peter and St Paul (1056959)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of St Vincent (1345984)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1056633)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of the Holy Trinity (1366339)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of the Holy Trinity (1236060)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church of the Holy Trinity (1259115)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Church without dedication (1346080)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Coker Court (1057176)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Corridor linking Ven House and the Orangery (1056288)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Hymerford House (1057157)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Main entrance gateway, 35 metres North-West of Ven House (1175037)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Manor House (1345845)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Midelney Manor (1056918)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Montacute House (1252021)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "North Cadbury Court (1178213)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "North-east and south-east pavilions to east forecourt, Montacute House (1262475)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "North-East Pavilion and balustraded brick wall, Ven House (1366378)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "North-West Pavilion and balustraded link wall, Ven House (1056287)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Parsonage Farmhouse The Priory (1260178)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Sexey's Hospital west wing, with chapel (1176086)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 6 July 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Shanks House (1222369)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Swell Court Farmhouse (1222369)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Stabling and other outbuildings, attached to East side of Ven House (1366379)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Terrace along South Garden front, Ven House (1056289)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "The Abbot's House, Muchelney Abbey (1236790)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 6 July 2015 .
^ Historic England . "The Chantry House The Dower House (1263253)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "The Dogs (1273913)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "The Orangery, attached to the South West corner of Ven House (1295483)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "The Treasurers House (1225764)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Tintinhull Court (1235516)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Ven House (1056286)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Walls, turrets and gateway to east forecourt of Montacute House (1252025)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Waterloo House and Manor Court House (1197449)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Wayford Manor House (1177681)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Whitestaunton Manor (1250783)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Wigborough Manor House (1056928)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 3 April 2015 .
^ Historic England . "Earnshill House (1249217)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 March 2023 .
External links
Counties Districts Towns and cities By type