Drayton, Somerset
| Drayton | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 The tower of St Catherine's, Drayton | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST404248 |
| Location: | 51°1’10"N, 2°51’4"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 379 (2011) |
| Post town: | Langport |
| Postcode: | TA10 |
| Dialling code: | 01458 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Somerset |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Somerton and Frome |
Drayton is a village in the south of Somerset, focussed less than a mile from Curry Rivel and five miles south-west of Somerton. It adjoins the River Isle, near its confluence with the Parrett, and the former Westport Canal. The parish includes the hamlet of Midelney.
The village had a population of 379 at the 2011 census.
The parish church is St Catherine's.
There is one pub, The Drayton Crown.
History
The name of the village, 'Drayton', is a commonplace name, from the Old English language: dragan means "to draw" (as in 'pull') and dræge is something drawn. Locally this may refer to "ledges or drays" being used for boats or for the drawn plough as in most other examples.[1]
The probable site of a Roman house has been identified west of the vicarage.[2]
About the village
Midelney Manor is a Grade I manor house in landscaped grounds. It is sited on a former island site: it was the property of Muchelney Abbey, passing to the Trevillian family after the dissolution of the monasteries. The present house was built in the late 16th century in two distinct halves by Richard and Thomas Trevillian.[3] Drayton Manor is more recent and was built in the late 18th or early 19th century.[4]
Church
The exterior of St Catherine's Church is of blue lias and golden hamstone. It dates from the 15th century: it was restored in 1855 by Maurice Davis of Langport and again in 1896. The church is a Grade I listed building.[5]
A 15th century cross stand in the churchyard, with a sculpture of St Michael with a sword and shield in the act of vanquishing a dragon.[6]
The rectory, known as Drayton Court, dates from the early 19th century, and is now a private house.[7] It is the seat of the Earls of Cromer.
Society
The Drayton Wassailers maintain an tradition lost to much of the country: Drayton is one of the few villages which still practices house-visiting wassailing, not just orchard-visiting wassailing. The annual event is held on 5 January and involves the Wassailers traveling to a handful of houses around the village before ending at the Drayton Crown. [8]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Drayton, Somerset) |
References
- ↑ Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 1-874336-27-X. https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush.
- ↑ "Roman villa, Drayton". Somerset County Council. http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/53902.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1056918: Midelney Manor, forecourt and garden walling with gate-piers (Grade I listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1236729: Drayton Manor (Grade II listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1236512: Church of St Catherine (Grade I listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1236539: Cross in churchyard of Church of St Catherine (Grade II* listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1056914: Drayton Court (Grade II listing)
- ↑ "Drayton Wassailers". 10 January 2018. https://www.midelneymanor.co.uk/drayton-wassailers/.
