Weare, Somerset
| Weare | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 Church of St Gregory, Weare | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST412527 |
| Location: | 51°16’15"N, 2°50’37"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 658 (2011) |
| Post town: | Axbridge |
| Postcode: | BS26 |
| Dialling code: | 01934 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Sedgemoor |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Wells |
Weare is a village in Somerset, within the Somerset Levels to the south of the Mendip Hills. The main village is at the edge of a small rise above the levels, and Lower Weare as sizable a vilage as Weare itself, is to the north and barely above sea level. The River Axe, flows by Weare and through Lower Weare. Also within in the parish are such hamlets as Alston Sutton, Brinscombe and Sparrow Hill.
History
The name of the village may come from a weir on the River Axe.[1]
After the Norman conquest the manor was granted to Walter of Douai and then passed to the Gaunt, Gourney and Brythemore families. The Gourneys established a borough original called Nether Weare and later Lower Weare, and were granted the right to hold fairs and even sent members to the Parliament of England. This new borough declined after 1316; however a borough court was still being held in Lower Weare in 1603.[1]
Alston Sutton was a separate manor at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086. The name means Aethelnoth's settlement and was held in 1286 by Walter de Sutton. The village declined by 1548 and was largely demolished soon afterwards.[1]
Church
St Gregory's Church dates from the 11th century and is a Grade I listed building.[2] In the churchyard are a 15th-century cross,[3] and a 19th-century church room.[4] In 1257 the church was granted to St Augustine's Abbey in Bristol and after the dissolution of the monasteries given to the dean and chapter of Bristol Cathedral.[1]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Weare, Somerset) |
- Weare Village
- St Gregory's Church, Weare - YouTube
- Weare, Somerset in the Domesday Book
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The Complete Guide. Dovecote Press. pp. 214. ISBN 1-874336-26-1. https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush/page/214.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1295977: Church of St Gregory (Grade I listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1059090: Churchyard Cross in churchyard south of nave, Church of St Gregory (Grade II* listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1059091: Church Room, north of tower, Church of St Gregory (Grade II listing)