Churchstanton
| Churchstanton | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 Church of St Peter and St Paul, Churchstanton | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST195145 |
| Location: | 50°55’27"N, 3°8’48"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 752 (2011) |
| Post town: | Taunton |
| Postcode: | TA3 |
| Dialling code: | 01823 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Somerset West and Taunton |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Taunton Deane |
Churchstanton is a village in eastern Devon, sitting on the south side of the Blackdown Hills with the source of the River Otter just to the east and the River Culm flowing from the hills to the west. It is close to the Somerset border (to the north and east), five miles south of Taunton in the latter county, and nine miles north of Honiton in Devon. Churchstanton is within Devonshire's Hemyock Hundred: Hemyock village itself is four miles to the west.
The parish had a recorded population of 752 in 2011. The parish includes the hamlets of Churchinford and Burnworthy.
Burnworthy Lodge dates from the 16th century and has been designated as a grade II listed building.[1]
Parish church
The parish Church of St Peter and St Paul stands in the heart of the village.
It dates from the 14th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[2]
History
The village was known as Cheristone meaning 'cherry village' in the 13th century.[3]
Big Society
The people of the parish and adjoining area own and manage a successful community shop. In addition to selling local produce, it has a post office counter service, alcohol licence and a coffee shop.[4]
There is a public open space on the edge of the village which is managed by a committed group of volunteers. The area provides recreational facilities for residents to play field games, walk, picnic and have an allotment.[5]
The village Hall is again run by volunteers. The hall is used for community events and meetings as well as being available to rent for private events and entertainment. Periodically films are shown and there is a monthly produce market.[6]
About the village
Quants Reserve is a nature reserve north-west of the village, on the Blackdown escarpment just over the Somerset border. The reserve consists of a grassland clearing in a forestry plantation. It is well known for its butterflies — among the species which occur are Duke of Burgundy, marsh fritillary and wood white. In 1988 an area of 126 acres was designated as a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest.[7]
Ringdown is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest where outcrops of both Cretaceous Upper Greensand and underlying Triassic Keuper Marls occur. Amongst the vegetation present are two species which are very restricted in South West Britain, white beaksedge (Rhynchospora alba) and dioecious sedge (Carex dioica). This site is the only known location for the latter in Somerset. A colony of the small pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) is found here.[8]
To the east of Churchinford village lies a local nature reserve set around two lakes of the former landscaped gardens of Otterhead House which was demolished in 1952. The lakes lying along the course of the River Otter, which is here just a small stream marking the county border. The estate was developed in Victorian times and by 1890 included over 1,700 acres of land. The Reserve was designated as a local nature reserve in 2008.It is managed and leased from Wessex Water by the not for profit Otterhead Estate Trust Co Ltd. The company was set up in 2008 to conserve and part restore the built heritage features on site as well as continuing the work of the local wildlife trust, who used to manage the reserve.
The main feature of the local nature reserve is the valley of the River Otter, in which the former Victorian estate had created a flight of five lakes and a complicated system of leats, weirs and pumps. Today only two of the lakes survive.
A range of semi-natural habitats make up the reserve including alder and willow carr, dry deciduous woodland, unimproved neutral grassland, and freshwater streams and ditches. Dormice, badgers and bat species occur in the woodland. The lakes supports bird species including kingfisher, dipper and wagtail. Visitors should keep to clearly visible paths as dangerous deep silt is found in former lakebeds and leats. Naturally occurring spring line mires can be equally dangerous to everyone though small children and dogs would be particularly at risk if leaving the visible paths. Please remember that the lakes provide drinking water for Taunton and that nesting birds will be present in the woodland during summer months and dogs should be kept on a lead.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Churchstanton) |
References
- ↑ Images of England — details from listed building database (271184) Burnworthy Lodge
- ↑ Images of England — details from listed building database (271193) Church of St Peter and St Paul
- ↑ Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. pp. 67–68. ISBN 1-874336-26-1.
- ↑ "Welcome to Churchinford & District Community Shop". Churchinford & District Community Shop. https://www.churchinfordshop.co.uk/. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ↑ "Churchstanton School Allotments Charity". Churchstanton Parish Council. http://churchstantonparishcouncil.org.uk/churchstanton-school-allotments/. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ↑ "Charities". Churchstanton Parish Council. http://churchstantonparishcouncil.org.uk/charities/. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ↑ SSSI listing and designation for Quants
- ↑ SSSI listing and designation for Ringdown