West Somerset was a local government district in the English county of Somerset. It merged with Taunton Deane to form Somerset West and Taunton on 1 April 2019. The council covered a largely rural area, with a population of 35,075[1] in an area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi).[2]
According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics in 2009, the population of West Somerset had the oldest average age in the United Kingdom at 52.[3]
The largest centres of population were the coastal towns of Minehead (population 10,000) and Watchet (4,400).
A scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or monument which is given legal protection by being placed on a list (or "schedule") by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; English Heritage takes the leading role in identifying such sites. The legislation governing this is the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The term "monument" can apply to the whole range of archaeological sites, and they are not always visible above ground. Such sites have to have been deliberately constructed by human activity. They range from prehistoric standing stones and burial sites, through Roman remains and medieval structures such as castles and monasteries, to later structures such as industrial sites and buildings constructed for the World Wars or the Cold War.[4]
There are 201[note 1] scheduled monuments in West Somerset. Some of the oldest, particularly on Exmoor and the Quantock Hills are Neolithic, Bronze Age or Iron Age including hillforts, cairns, bowl barrows and other tumulis. More recent sites include several motte-and-bailey castles and church or village crosses which date from the Middle Ages. The geography with large numbers of streams is reflected by the number of packhorse and other bridges included in the list. The mining history of the area is also represented by several sections of the West Somerset Mineral Railway and associated ruins of mine buildings which are now scheduled. The most recent monuments are World War II pillboxes. The monuments are listed below using the titles given in the English Heritage data sheets.
Grabbist hillfort is an Iron Age oval hillfort. The fort is 270.0 metres (885.8 ft) long and 219.8 feet (67.0 m) wide, and is surrounded by a counterscarp, which measures 4.2 to 6.2 feet (1.3 to 1.9 m) in height. It is also surrounded by a ditch, which ranges up to 10.0 metres (32.8 ft) wide and 2.2 metres (7.2 ft) deep. The bank has a peak height of 3 metres (9.8 ft), and, on the northern and western sides, there is a second bank, which leads to the northeastern corner being the most strongly defended.
The Culbone Stone, an early mediaeval standing stone approximately one metre in height. It lies in woodland close to the parish boundary, and features an incised wheeled cross, the style of which suggests it dates from 7th to 9th century. The stone is legally protected as a scheduled monument. It has been suggested that the stone has been moved from its original site as part of the Culbone Hill Stone Row.
One of two Iron Agehillforts within 80 metres (260 ft) of each other. This one is around 37 metres (121 ft) in diameter and surrounded by a bank up to 0.4 metres (1 ft 4 in) high.
One of two Iron Agehillforts within 80 metres (260 ft) of each other. This one is around 35 metres (115 ft) in diameter and surrounded by a bank up to 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) high.
A ventilation chimney at the disused Bearland Wood Iron Mine. A fire at the base of the shaft was used to draw air and gasses from the mine. The chimney is 6.5 metres (21 ft) high and 1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in) in diameter at the base.
A stone bridge over the River Barle with five arches each with a span of 2.7 metres (9 ft). It was built in the late medieval period with the first documentary evidence being from 1610. Restoration work was undertaken in 1875, and again following damage during flooding in 1952.
An Enclosure which may have been a univallateIron Agehill fort. The enclosure is approximately 40 metres (130 ft) in diameter and covers around 0.15 hectares (0.37 acres). It is surrounded by a bank and ditch about 6.5 metres (21 ft) wide and 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in) high. The hill fort has been damaged in recent years due to forestry plantation.
Dunster Castle is a former motte and bailey castle and now a country house on the top of a steep hill called the Tor. It has been fortified since the late Anglo-Saxon period. After the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century, William de Mohun constructed a timber castle on the site as part of the pacification of Somerset. A stone shell keep was built on the motte by the start of the 12th century, and the castle survived a siege during the early years of the Anarchy. At the end of the 14th century the de Mohuns sold the castle to the Luttrell family, who continued to occupy the property until the late 20th century. In 1976 Colonel Walter Luttrell gave Dunster Castle and most of its contents to the National Trust, which operates it as a tourist attraction.
Earthworks of Mounsey Castle, an Iron Age irregular triangular earthwork. It is surrounded by the remains of coursed stone walling, with an entrance to the west. It overlooks the River Barle.
Robber's Bridge is an old masonry arch bridge in the royal forest of Exmoor, carrying the minor road from Porlock Hill to Oare. It crosses Weir Water and is located down a steep, wooded lane beneath overhanging trees.
Oldberry Castle (sometimes called Oldbury Castle) is an Iron Agehill fort. The site overlooks the town and the ancient crossing point of the River Barle. It is an irregular oval shape measuring 220 metres (720 ft) by 300 feet (91 m). It is defended by a bank measuring 3.0 metres (10 ft) wide and 6 feet (1.8 m) high, and a 5.5 metres (18 ft) wide ditch.
The ruins of a Chantry Chapel formed in 1329. The stonework is Blue Lias but is now ruined and covered in ivy. Little of the slate roof remains. The building was previously thatched.
Road Castle is an Iron Age bank and ditch enclosure. The ditch is almost square in plan with rounded corners and covers an area of approximately 0.28 hectares (0.7 acres).
A round barrow cemetery at Wambarrows on Winsford Hill. There are at least five barrows ranging in diameter from 17.6 metres (58 ft) to 28.8 metres (94 ft).
A cemetery cairn which was adapted in the 16th century for use as a fire beacon. The original earth and stone mound is topped with a 7 metres (23 ft) diameter stone heap.
Stogursey Castle was built in the late 11th or early 12th century. The castle was a motte-and-bailey design with a 60 metre wide, two metre tall motte and two bailey enclosures, surrounded by a water-filled moat. The castle was controlled by King John of England during the First Barons' War, and was ordered to be destroyed in 1215, but survived; John's lieutenant Falkes de Breauté took control of the castle, and after his death a second order to destroy the property was given in 1228, again apparently ignored. The castle was extended in stone in 1300 by the Fitzpayne family, but was destroyed in the 1450s by the Yorkist faction during the War of the Roses.
A stone circle which originally had 21 stones. 14 stones remain half of which are upright and the other half recumbent. The tallest of the standing stones is 0.8 metres (2 ft 7 in) high.
A stone circle which has 25 standing stones, some which were previously part of the circle are no longer present. The circle has a diameter of 36 metres (118 ft).
Earthworks of several buildings cut into the terraces on the side of the hill. It has been added to the Heritage at Risk Register because of the vulnerability to plant growth.
A defended settlement on the north-facing slope of Dunkery Hill. It has a single rampart and external ditch, enclosing 0.25 hectares (0.62 acres). The rampart is still visible and the ditch on the east side is used as a trackway.
The Tarr Steps are a clapper bridge across the River Barle in the Exmoor National Park. A typical clapper bridge construction, the bridge possibly dates to around 1000 BC. The stone slabs weigh up to 1-2 tons apiece. The bridge is 55 metres (180 ft) long and has 17 spans.
A rope-worked inclined plane 997 metres (3,272 ft) long to bring the ore down a 230 metres (770 ft) vertical interval on a 1 in 4 gradient on the West Somerset Mineral Railway.
The octagonalYarn Market has a central stone pier which supports a heavy timber framework for the structure. The slate roof has a central wooden lantern topped by a weather vane. The roof is interrupted by a series of dormer windows. Around the periphery is a low stone wall and vertical timber supports. One of the roof beams has a hole in it, a result of cannon fire in the Civil War, when Dunster Castle was a besieged Royalist stronghold. Following the damage, it was restored in 1647 to its present condition.
Three round barrows two of which are approximately 12 metres (39 ft) in diameter. The largest, most southerly is the largest at approximately 28 metres (92 ft) in diameter and has an Ordnance Surveytrig point on it.
Trendle Ring is a late prehistoric earthwork. The site, which covers 0.8 hectares (2.0 acres), is surrounded by a single rampart with a ditch and has a simple opening on the east, uphill side. The hillside is steep and there are two areas which may have been more level platforms. It is situated on the slope of a hill which rises 130 metres (430 ft) above the ring.
Two cairns approximately 300 metres (980 ft) apart. The mound on the summit of the hill is 21 metres (69 ft) in diameter and the other 28 metres (92 ft).
Two stones 4.7 metres (15 ft) apart. One is 25 centimetres (9.8 in) high and the other 10 centimetres (3.9 in) high. The 5 metres (16 ft) wide mound is 11.7 metres (38 ft) from the nearest stone.
The remains of a Hamstone village cross on the High Street is from the Middle Ages. Approximately 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) of the original shaft is still in the socket stone.
^Wood Barrow round barrow is included twice in the National Heritage List for England as it straddles the border between Somerset and Devon.
^The date given is the date used by Historic England as significant for the initial building or that of an important part in the structure's description.
^"Katherine's Well". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
^"Kit Barrows Cairns". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
^Gathercole, Clare. "Dulverton"(PDF). English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey. Somerset County Council. Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
^Historic England. "Rexy Barrow (35234)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 6 January 2015.
^"Ring cairn on West Hill". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
^Historic England. "Road Castle (35715)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 12 May 2011.
^"Road Castle". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
^Historic England. "Monument No. 35030". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 16 January 2015.
^Historic England. "Monument No. 189581". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 16 January 2015.
^"Selworthy Beacon cairn". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
^Historic England. "Setta Barrow (35008)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 19 January 2015.
^Historic England. "Monument No. 35033". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 19 January 2015.
^Historic England. "Monument No. 35052". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 19 January 2015.
^Historic England. "Stone setting (1066024)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 19 January 2015.
^"St Leonard's Well". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
^R.W. Dunning (editor), A.P. Baggs, R.J.E. Bush, M.C. Siraut (1985). "Parishes: Old Cleeve". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 5. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 July 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Remains of Village cross". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
^"Wiveliscombe Barrow". National heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
^Historic England. "Wood Barrow (35361)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 23 January 2015.
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