Alford, Somerset
| Alford | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 All Saints Church, Alford | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 51°4’48"N, 2°34’12"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 63 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Castle Cary |
| Postcode: | BA7 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Somerset |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Somerton and Frome |
Alford is a village and parish on the River Alham, in Somerset, situated eight miles south of Shepton Mallet and two miles west of Castle Cary. The village has a population of 63.[1]
History
The parish forms part of the hundred of Catsash.[2]
William Rosewell purchased the manor from Sir James FitzJames c. 1563 and it was inherited by subsequent generations: William Rosewell of Forde Abbey (1563–1593); and Sir Henry Rosewell (1593–1656). In 1634 Henry and his wife Mary (Drake) conveyed the manor to Simon Court, who before 1639 sold it to Sir Robert Gorges of Redlynch.
Alford House was built in the late 18th century, but remodelled by F. C. Penrose in 1877.[3]
Transport
Alford Halt on the Great Western Railway's Langport and Castle Cary Railway was opened on 21 July 1905, three weeks after the line was opened as far as Charlton Mackrell, to serve the village of Alford. A siding was opened for military goods traffic on 15 September 1940. The halt closed on 10 September 1962.
The packhorse bridge over the River Alham, close to its junction with the River Brue, has a span of approximately 45 ft and is mediæval in origin.[4]
Church
The Church of All Saints dates from the 15th century, with minor 19th-century restoration. The tower contains a bell dating from 1753 and made by Thomas Bilbie.[5] It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade-I listed building.[6]
Notable people
- Edward Thring, (1821–87), celebrated British educator.
- Godfrey Thring (1823–1903), Anglican hymn-writer.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes – SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. http://www.somersetintelligence.org.uk/files/Somerset%20Census%20Key%20Statistics%20-%20Summary%20Profiles.xls. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ↑ "Alford House". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=261934. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
- ↑ Hinchliffe, Ernest (1994). Guide to the Packhorse Bridges of England. Cicerone. pp. 145-147. ISBN 978-1852841430.
- ↑ Moore, James; Rice, Roy; Hucker, Ernest (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0-9526702-0-8.
- ↑ "Church of All Saints". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=261935. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Alford, Somerset) |
- Alford in the Domesday Book