Coordinates: 50°52′49″N 2°47′38″W / 50.8803, -2.7939
Crewkerne is a town in Somerset, England, situated 9 miles (14 km) south west of Yeovil and 7 miles (11 km) east of Chard in the South Somerset district. The town lies on the River Parrett, A30 road and West of England Main Line railway.
History
The town grew up in the late mediaeval period around the textile industry, its wealth preserved in its fifteenth century parish church. It later prospered as a coaching stop in the Georgian period. Notable Georgian buildings include Crewkerne Town Hall. During the 18th and 19th centuries the main industry was cloth making, including webbing,[2] and sails for the Royal Navy.[3]
Church
St Bartholomew's Parish Church stands on higher ground west of the town centre, it is the focal point of the rural prospect of the western side of the town. The first church on this site was founded in Saxon times, before the end of the 9th century, as a "minster", the mother church of a Saxon royal estate that included the later parishes of Seaborough, Wayford and Misterton. Nothing remains of this church, which was replaced after the Norman Conquest with a substantial stone building, cruciform in shape and with a central tower in the same pattern as the present one. This, in turn, was almost completely rebuilt on a grander scale, in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The result was, essentially, the church we have today, a superb example of the Perpendicular style with many unusual and individual features. These include the monumental west front, the high and spacious, though short, nave, the vast six-light aisle windows and the impressive collection of Tudor-style chapels and windows in the north east corner. The building material throughout is the golden-coloured Ham Hill stone, quarried a few miles north of Crewkerne.
No major structural alterations have taken place since the Reformation in the 1530s and 1540s, but there have been drastic changes to its furnishings and fittings to suit the various phases of Protestant worship that followed, including an oven used for baking communion bread in the south east corner of the north chapel.[3] Considerable damage, including the destruction of virtually all of the medieval stained glass, was done during the Civil War. William III of England worshipped in the church on his way to claim the English throne in 1689.[3] By the early 19th century, all the medieval furnishings, except the font (a survival from the Norman church) had disappeared and the church was re-pewed and galleries added in 1808-11. The principal restoration that left the church interior as we see it now, took place in the late 19th Century; it was more sympathetic to the church's architectural character than many Victorian restorations. At this time, the central section of the west gallery was removed to reveal the great west window and the organ that stood there was relocated to the south transept. The pews date from around 1900 and have attractive carved bench-ends. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[4]
Like many Anglican churches, St Bartholomew's has to reconcile the conservation of a Grade 1 historic building with 21st century expectations in terms of comfort and facilities. The Parish Plan, however, adopts a positive tone and states that "the outstanding historic quality of our church building is an asset which plays a major role in welcoming people".
Schools
The two primary schools within Crewkerne are St. Bartholomew's first school which is located on Kithill and Ashlands which is located in North Street. The middle school is called Maiden Beech Middle School which is located on the B3165 Lyme Road. The school has students from ages 9 to 13 and this is where they do their Key Stage 2 SATS.
Wadham Community School has students from 13 to 18 years old and includes those travelling from surrounding villages. Wadham went into Special measures from December 2005 until June 2007.
Twin Towns
Transport
Transport in Crewkerne is excellent with Crewkerne railway station on the West of England Main Line between London Waterloo and Exeter. There are also lots of bus services.
Notable residents
References
External links
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Ceremonial county of Somerset |
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| Somerset Portal |
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| Boroughs or districts |
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| Cities and towns |
Alcombe, Axbridge, Bath, Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Clevedon, Crewkerne, Frome, Glastonbury, Highbridge, Ilminster, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Minehead, Nailsea, North Petherton, Portishead, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, South Petherton, Street, Taunton, Watchet, Wellington, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Wincanton, Wiveliscombe, Yeovil
See also: List of civil parishes in Somerset
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Aller, Avon, Axe, Barle, Brue, Cam Brook, Cary, Chew, Congresbury Yeo, East Lyn, Exe, Frome, Haddeo, Hoar Oak Water, Holford, Horner, Huntspill, Isle, Midford Brook, Parret, Severn Estuary, Sheppey, Somer, Tone, Washford, Wellow Brook, West Lyn
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Culture of Somerset, Economy of Somerset, Geology of Somerset, History of Somerset
Geographic areas: Blackdown Hills, Brendon Hills, Chew Valley, Exmoor, Mendip Hills, Polden Hills, Quantock Hills, Somerset Levels
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