Charterhouse, Somerset
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Charterhouse | |
  Charterhouse shown within Somerset |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| District | Mendip |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Wells |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Charterhouse, also known as Charterhouse-on-Mendip, at grid reference ST500557, is a small hamlet in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the English county of Somerset.
Contents |
[edit] Name
The name is believed to come from the Carthusian order of Chartreuse in France, which was established in Witham (near Frome) in 1181 and formed a cell at Charterhouse in 1283 with a grant to mine lead ore.[1][2][3]
[edit] History
- See also: Charterhouse Roman Town
There is evidence, in the form of burials in local caves, of human occupation since the late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age.[4]
The lead and silver mines at Charterhouse, were first operated on a large scale by the Romans, from at least AD 49. At first the lead/silver industries were tightly controlled by the Roman military, but within a short time the extraction of these metals was contracted out to civilian companies, probably because the silver content of the local ore was not particularly high.[5] There was also some kind of 'fortlet' there in the 1st century, and an amphitheatre.[6] The roman landscape has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[7]
After the dissolution of the monasteries, it was granted to Robert May who constructed a substantial house here and one of his descendants John May became High Sheriff of Somerset in 1602.[2]
There is further evidence of mine workings in the medieval and Victorian periods.[8][9]Some of which survives within the Blackmoor Nature Reserve owned by Somerset County Council. There is also evidence of a rectangular medieval enclosure.[10]
[edit] AONB Centre
The outdoor activity centre and headquarters of the Mendip Hills AONB is based at Charterhouse, with accommodation, classrooms and offices.
[edit] Caves
There are several Caves of the Mendip Hills in the limestone around the village including Manor Farm Swallet and Upper Flood Swallet.
[edit] Church
The Church of England parish church of St Hugh was built in 1908 by W.D. Caroe, on the initiative of the Rev. Menzies Lambrick[11], from the former welfare hall for the lead miners. It is a grade II* listed building.[12] A cross in the churchyard[13] and the churchyard wall[14] are also listed buildings.
The roof-truss, screen, rood, and altar are all made of carved whitened oak.[15]
[edit] References
- ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1874336032.
- ^ a b Reid, Robert Douglas (1979). Some buildings of Mendip. The Mendip Society. ISBN 0905459164.
- ^ Autumn newsletter 2007 (PDF). Mendip Hills AONB. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- ^ Major Romano-British Settlement Charterhouse on Mendip, Avon. Roman Britain.org. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- ^ Charterhouse. Big Roman Dig. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- ^ Firth, Hannah (2007). Mendip from the air. Taunton: Somerset County Council. ISBN 9780861833900.
- ^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- ^ Gough, J.W. (1967). The mines of Mendip. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. http://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B0000CNKWB.
- ^ Adkins, Lesley and Roy (1992). A field Guide to Somerset Archeology. Stanbridge: Dovecote press. ISBN 0946159947.
- ^ Staveacre, Tony (December 2006). "Christmas at Charterhouse". Mendip Times 2 (7): 8.
- ^ Church of St Hugh. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ Churchyard Cross in churchyard, Church of St Hugh. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ Churchyard Wall to Church of St Hugh. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ Staveacre, Tony (December 2006). "Christmas at Charterhouse". Mendip Times 2 (7): 8.
