Wincanton
Wincanton | |
---|---|
Wincanton High Street | |
Population | 5,272 [1] |
OS grid reference | ST712286 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | WINCANTON |
Postcode district | BA9 |
Dialling code | 01963 |
Police | Avon and Somerset |
Fire | Devon and Somerset |
Ambulance | South Western |
UK Parliament | |
Wincanton is a small town in south Somerset, southwest England. The town lies on the A303 road, the main route between London and South West England, and has some light industry. The town has a population of 5,272. [1]
History
One of the First buildings was built around the 14th century, but the town has been about longer.
Windmill Hill was the site of a Bronze Age Beaker culture burial, and contemporary artefacts have been found on the Selwood Ridge.[2]
Prior to the Norman Conquest Wincanton and was frequently the scene of battles between the Britons, Danes and Saxons.[3] During the reign of Edmund Ironside, the English, under his command, defeated the Danes forcing them to leave England.[4]
In the Domesday Book the name of the town was spelled as Wincaleton thought to mean Pleasant town on the Cale.[5] Cockroad Wood Castle, which is now in the parish of Charlton Musgrove, was a motte and bailey castle, probably built after the Norman conquest of England in 1066.[6] The castle sits close to the contemporary Norman castles of Ballands and Castle Orchard, and may have been built a system of fortifications to control the surrounding area. By 1086 the surrounding land was held by Walter of Douai, although no documentary evidence of the castle remains.[7]
The parish of Wincanton was part of the Norton Ferris Hundred.[8]
Wincanton was probably the site of a market in the medieval period but did not gain a market and fair charter until 1556.[9]
The town was the scene of one of the few armed skirmishes in England during the Revolution of 1688. A troop of Horse Guards under Patrick Sarsfield, loyal to James II, defeated an advance party of troops fighting for William of Orange, on 20 November 1688.[10] A great part of the town was destroyed by fires in the years 1707,[5] and 1747.[11] In the early 19th century Wincanton was a depot for French officers, during the Napoleonic Wars.[12]
Governance
Wincanton is within the area of Somerset County Council and the Non-metropolitan district of South Somerset, with its own town council.[13] The town council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The town council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic; their role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council. The South Somerset district council is responsible for local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism. Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education, social services, the library, roads, public transport, trading standards and waste disposal.
It is part of the Somerton and Frome a constituency of the House of Commons. The current member of parliament is the Liberal Democrat politician David Heath CBE. He is the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
Residents of Wincanton also form part of the electorate for the South West England constituency for elections to the European Parliament which elects six MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.[14]
Services
Wincanton Community Hospital in Dancing Lane was formerly known as Verrington Hospital and has 34 beds on two wards plus intermediate care unit.[15] It opened as an Isolation Hospital in September 1910 for patients with Scarlet Fever.[16]
The Balsam Centre is a Healthy Living Centre and also a Children's Centre for Wincanton and South East Somerset.[17]
The (War) Memorial Hall was opened on 9th. January 1959 has a stage as well as facilities for dancing or to seat 250. It also has a separate committee room that can sit 50.
Fire, police and ambulance services are provided jointly with other authorities through the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the South Western Ambulance Service.
Geography
Wincanton is situated on the north east edge of Blackmore Vale, 15 miles (24 km) north east of Yeovil, and 12 miles (19 km) north west of Shaftesbury on the extreme southeast of Somerset close to the borders of Dorset and Wiltshire.
Climate
Along with the rest of South West England, Wincanton has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country. The annual mean temperature is approximately 10 °C (50.0 °F) and shows a seasonal and a diurnal variation, but due to the modifying effect of the sea the range is less than in most other parts of the UK. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 1 °C (33.8 °F) and 2 °C (35.6 °F). July and August are the warmest months in the region with mean daily maxima around 21 °C (69.8 °F).[18]
The south-west of England has a favoured location with respect to the Azores high pressure when it extends its influence north-eastwards towards the UK, particularly in summer. Convective cloud often forms inland however, especially near hills, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. The average annual sunshine totals around 1,600 hours.[18]
Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlantic depressions or with convection. The Atlantic depressions are more vigorous in autumn and winter and most of the rain which falls in those seasons in the south-west is from this source. Average rainfall is about 725 millimetres (28.5 in). November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, with June to August having the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west.[18]
Economy
Originally the home to a local creamery, the facility was bought by the West Surrey Central Dairy Company in the late 1890s, which after developing a dried milk baby powder changed its name in 1908 to Cow & Gate. The creamery and dairy products factory had its own sidings from the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway station, providing access for milk trains.
In order to cope with the transport problems across its quickly expanding creamery, milk bottling and doorstep delivery network, Cow & Gate formed a dedicated logistics arm in 1920. Spun out in 2002 from successor company Unigate, Wincanton PLC is the UK's second largest logistics company. The company still has a dairy products base in the town, although its head office function moved to Chippenham, Wiltshire in 2005.[19]
In 1999, Unigate sold its remaining dairies to Dairy Crest. The company still has a creamery and milk processing plant in the town, but has sold the cheese business to Adams Foods Ltd., producer of the Pilgrim's Choice brand of Cheddar cheese, the second best selling brand in the UK.[20]
In order to fulfil the large number of food processing jobs, there has been an influx of foreign nationals in the last two years, especially Portuguese and Polish citizens.[21]
Landmarks
The Dogs (also called The Old House) was built around 1650, and was reshaped internally by Nathaniel Ireson in 1740-50. It is a grade I listed building.[22]
Transport
The town had a railway station on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway but this closed on 7 March 1966.[23]
The town lies on the A303 road, one of the main routes between London and South West England.
Education
Primary education, up to the age of 11 is offered by Wincanton Primary School and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School.[24] The history of Wincanton Primary began in 1833 when an appeal was launched to provide a National school in Wincanton and after a number of difficulties the school was built in North Street in 1838, although this had very few pupils. A school board was formed in 1871 and opened a school in the former National school buildings with over 200 pupils. In 1875 there were 206 children attending. In 1894 the board raised money for a new school to accommodate 445 children, which opened in South Street in 1897.[25]
Wincanton has one secondary school, King Arthur's Community School, which is Somerset's first specialist Sports College.[26]
The Balsam Centre is a Healthy Living Centre and also a Children's Centre.[27] Since 2005 it has received grants for the re-fitting of the training kitchen and construction and refurbishment to create a dedicated teaching area, counselling and interview rooms and a studio space for physical and community activities.[28]
Religious sites
The Church of St Peter and St Paul was almost totally rebuilt 1887-91 by J. D. Sedding, however parts of the tower may be remnants form an earlier church, dating from 1313, on the same site.[29] In 1793 the tower was raised by 12 feet (4 m) making it 50 feet (15 m) high, five bells were cast and a sixth added. The additional carving and north porch were added in subsequent years.[30] The churchyard include a self designed monument to the local architect Nathaniel Ireson who died in 1796.[31] Because of the state of the roofs, which are under repair, the church is included on the Heritage at Risk register.[32]
The Roman Catholic Church and Presbytery of St Luke and St Teresa was built in 1881 by the priest/architect A.J.C Scoles.[33]
There are also places of worship for Methodists, Baptists and Quakers in the town.[34]
Culture
Wincanton Museum is a small local museum in the High Street. It is housed in a late 18th or early 19th century cottage, which is a Grade II listed building,[35] which is owned by the Quakers.[36] The Museum has a collection of artefacts, documents, posters and photographs related to the social history of Wincanton and the surrounding district. There is also a replica of a Victorian kitchen and a collection of 19th and 20th century farm implements.[37] A separate room is devoted to World War I and World War II when American soldiers were stationed in the town prior to the D Day landings.[38] The museum closed in 2009, due to increased rents and the need for renovations to the building, but reopened in 2010[36] only to close again in September 2010.[39]
The cartoonist Tony Weare was born in Wincanton.[40]
National theatre touring company The Fringe Files are currently based in the town.
Sports
The town is the home of Wincanton Racecourse even though it is technically in the neighbouring parish of Charlton Musgrove. The track stages several big races, including the Kingwell Hurdle in February, and the CGA Chase on the same day; these races can be significant trials for the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup respectively. Several of the races at the course are shown on Channel 4.[41]
Wincanton has a Non-League football club Wincanton Town F.C. who play at the Wincanton Sports Ground on Moor Lane.[42] The Sports Ground in Moor Lane also provides facilities for tennis and bowls.[5]
Wincanton Sports Centre was opened in 2001,[43] funded by National Lottery grant.[5]
The cricket club has 2 Saturday teams, 1 Sunday team and plays in the recreation ground.[44]
The rugby club plays at King Arthur's Community School in the town. In 2010 they won their Dorset & Wilts division of the English Rugby Union South West Division.[45]
Twinning
Wincanton is unusual in that it was twinned in 2002 with a town which can only be found in fiction. As well as Gennes / Les Rosiers in France and Lahnau in Germany, Wincanton is twinned with Ankh-Morpork,[5] a fictional city state near the Circle Sea on Terry Pratchett's Discworld.[46] On 5 April 2009, a number of roads were retitled with names taken from Ankh-Morpork, such as Peach Pie Street and Treacle Mine Road,[47] after a short-list was voted upon by fans.[48] There is a shop in High Street called The Cunning Artificer, which sells collectors items relating to the Discworld. Other shops have followed with Discworld-related goods.[49]
References
- ^ a b "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Wincanton". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 7:. British History Online. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ "Wincanton". Victoria County Histories. British History Online. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ^ "Wincanton". Somerset Guide. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "About Wincanton". Wincanton Town Council. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
- ^ Creighton, Oliver Hamilton. (2005) Castles and Landscapes: Power, Community and Fortification in Medieval England. London: Equinox. ISBN 978-1-904768-67-8. p.62.
- ^ Motte and Bailey Castle, Cockroad Wood, Charlton Musgrove, Somerset County Historic Environmental Record, accessed 18 July 2011.
- ^ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Richardson, Miranda. "Wincanton". Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
- ^ http://www.oxforddnb.com/patricksarsfield. Retrieved 11 December 1688
- ^ Havinden, Michael (1982). The Somerset Landscape. The making of the English landscape. London: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 139. ISBN 0-340-20116-9.
- ^ "Outline History of the Town". Wincanton Museum and History Society. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "Town Council's Role". Wincanton Town Council. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
- ^ "UK MEPs for the South West". European Parliament UK Office. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
- ^ "Wincanton Community Hospital". Somerset Community Health. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "Fete to celebrate hospital centenary". This is Somerset. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "Balsam Centre". Balsam Centre. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ a b c "About south-west England". Met Office. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
- ^ "History & Business". Wincanton Plc. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ "New look and new products for UK's Number two cheddar cheese brand". The Grocery Trader. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
- ^ "South Somerset District Council Highly Rated by the Audit Commission". Wincanton Window. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
- ^ "The Dogs". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
- ^ "Wincanton". Somerset & Dorset joint Railway. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ "Education". Local Authority Publishing. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
- ^ "Wincanton". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 7: Bruton, Horethorne and Norton Ferris Hundreds pp. 208-232. 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
- ^ "Prospectus" (PDF). King Arthur's Community School. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "The Balsam Centre". The Balsam Centre. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ "Balsam Project". Somerset Rural Renaissance. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ "Church of St Peter and St Paul". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
- ^ "Stroll around Wincanton". Local Authority Publishing. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
- ^ "The Nathaniel Ireson Monument". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
- ^ "St Peter and St Paul, Church Street, Wincanton — South Somerset". Heritage at Risk. English Heritage. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ^ "Roman Catholic Church and Presbytery of St Luke and St Teresa, Wincanton". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
- ^ "Churches". Wincanton Town Council. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
- ^ "Number 30 and 32 High Street". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Museum to reopen after rent rise talks". Western Gazette. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ^ "Displays". Wincanton Museum and History Society. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- ^ "Displays". Wincanton Museum. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ^ "Wincanton Museum and History Society". Wincanton Museum and History Society. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ "Obituaries: Tony Weare". London: The Independent. 20 December 1994. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ^ Snowden, Steve (4 October 2009). "Racing returns to Wincanton Racecourse this week". This is the Westcountry. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ "The Ground — Wincanton Town Football Club, Somerset". Wincantontownfc.com. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "About Us". Wincanton Sports Centre. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "Wincanton CC". Play Cricket. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "Wincanton Rugby". Wincanton Rugby. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "Pratchett city twins with real town". BBC News. 6 December 2002.
- ^ "Roads named after Discworld books". BBC Online. 5 April 2009.
- ^ I Name This Street... - alt.fan.pratchett.announce - Google Groups
- ^ "Terry Pratchett's Discworld comes alive in Wincanton! (From This is The West Country)". Thisisthewestcountry.co.uk. 8 April 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
External links