Peasedown St John
| Peasedown St John | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 The main street | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST705574 |
| Location: | 51°18’54"N, 2°25’26"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 6,446 (2011) |
| Post town: | Bath |
| Postcode: | BA2 |
| Dialling code: | 01761 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Bath & NE Somerset |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North East Somerset |
Peasedown St John (commonly referred to as Peasedown) is a village in Somerset, on a hilltop roughly five miles south-southwest of the city of Bath
Peasedown used to be a coal mining village, and when the last of the mines was shut in the 1970s it became a commuter village for Bath and, to a lesser extent, Bristol. Its size has been increased by substantial housing developments in the 1960s, 1970s and late 1990s, making it one of the largest villages in Somerset.
History
Archaeological and documentary evidence shows that the site has been occupied from at least the early Iron Age.[1] There is good evidence of Roman and Saxon villages in the area, the Saxon settlements resulting in several entries in the Domesday Book of 1086.[2] The mediæval settlement of Eckweek was excavated in 1989,[3] and now lies under the Peasedown Bypass and Underknoll Road.
The present village of Peasedown St John is relatively modern. 'A place known by the name of The Red Post' was how the scattering of buildings was referred to in 1768,[4] taking its name from the local Public House. The hamlet of Carlingcott on the north-west edge of Peasedown is known to have existed before 1800 but the main modern development in the area began in the 19th century when the Somerset Coalfield was greatly expanded as the Industrial Revolution increased demand for coal across the land. By 1841 there was still no discernible village,[5] except a few cottages around the Red Post and a small number of buildings along what would become the Bath Road. The sinking of the Braysdown colliery in 1845 meant that accommodation had to be built for the enlarged workforce to work the new pit and expansion of the village was now inevitable.
By the second half of the 20th century there were at least six collieries within a mile and a half of Peasedown, including Braysdown, Camerton, Dunkerton, Writhlington and Shoscombe.
The rapid growth of non-conformist congregations across the North-Somerset Coalfield in the later 1800s and early 1900s was evident in Peasedown St John. There was a Primitive Methodist Chapel on the Bath Road (now Peasedown Methodist Church), Wesleyan Chapels in Braysdown Lane, New Buildings and Carlingcott, a United Methodist Chapel in Carlingcott (now Carlingcott Methodist Chapel), a Baptist Chapel on Eckweek Road (now Zebedees Nursery School) and a Christadelphian Hall which still stands on Huddox Hill.[6]
With the closure of the coal mines in the period up to the 1970s, and the growing popularity of out-of-town living, Peasedown rapidly became a commuter village for the cities of Bath and Bristol. This increased with two further phases of construction, the first in the 1950s and 1960s and the second in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Both involved the construction of what were intended as affordable family housing, the first phase being mainly in the southeast of the village and consisting mostly of terraced or semi-detached properties.
Geography
Peasedown stands on one of the many hills outside Bath, roughly four and a half miles south-southwest of Bath and twelve miles southeast of the county's greatest city, Bristol. Much the village lies on the relatively flat section on the top of the hill, but the north-western side of the village is on the slope of the hill.
The hamlets of Wellow and Shoscombe are sometimes regarded as part of Peasedown, but this is not correct, although Braysdown, New Buildings and Carlingcott are both still in the Parish of Peasedown St John.
Churches
Peasedown St John currently has four Christian churches:
- Church of England: St John The Baptist
- Methodist
- Roman Catholic
- Christadelphian hall
- There is also a Methodist church in Carlingcott.
The ecclesiastical parish for the growing village was created on 6 August 1874[7] by Order in Council. Instrumental in its foundation were the Misses Jarrett of Camerton Court, owners of the Camerton Collieries which employed many Peasedown men. As well as providing the land and much of the capital for the construction of the new parish church, St John the Baptist, and the adjacent vicarage, they were also responsible for building the first School buildings which stood on Jarrett land in what became Church Road.
The current church building (on Church Road) dates from 1893, and was designed by George Frederick Bodley and Thomas Garner, replacing an earlier iron structure.[8]
Peasedown St John Methodist Church was also founded in 1874.[9]
Facilities and amenities
Peasedown St John has a wide range of public facilities and amenities. These include a doctors' surgery, a dental practice, a veterinary practice, three public houses (The Prince of Wales, The Waggon & Horses and The Red Post which was built in 1851[10]), a youth centre, cricket and football clubs, two convenience stores, pharmacy, baker, post office with newsagent,[11], petrol station/car parts shop, two hairdressers, three takeaways, hardware shop, and a charity shop. Circle Bath Hospital, just off the bypass and to the south, is designed by Foster and Partners. There are also many other business establishments and car showrooms on this business park. There is a direct hospital bus service to/from Bath.[12]
There are three children's play areas at Beacon Field, Eckweek Lane and on 'the Rec' (Peasedown Recreation Field), with the play area on 'the Rec' including a skate park.[13] There is a further public open space at Ecewiche Green. Beacon Hall is the home of the Peasedown St John Community Association.[14]
Organisations and clubs
There are various sports clubs in Peasedown St John. Peasedown Athletic Football Club began life in the late 1800s as Peasedown Miners Welfare. The club continues to field a senior team in the Somerset County League and a Reserve side in the Midsomerset Football League.[15] Peasedown Albion Football Club runs junior sides for 150 children and teenagers.[16] Peasedown St John Cricket Club was founded over 100 years ago. Today it runs several adult teams and three youth teams.[17] Adjacent to the ground is the Club House which is also used to hold a variety of social functions. Camerton and Peasedown Crouquet Club launched in 2011 constructing four level lawns and formerly opening in spring 2012.[18]
Peasedown St John Scout Group runs Beavers, Cubs and Scouts for young people aged 6–14[19] while Explorer Scouts exists for older teenagers.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Peasedown St John) |
References
- ↑ "Parish Design Statement". Peasedown St John Parish Council. http://www.peasedownstjohnparishcouncil.gov.uk/Core/Peasedown-St-John-PC/Pages/Parish_Design_Statement_2.aspx. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ↑ "History of Peasedown St John". Peasedown St John Parish Council. http://www.peasedownstjohnparishcouncil.gov.uk/Core/Peasedown-St-John-PC/Pages/History_of_Peasedown_St_John_1.aspx. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ↑ "Eckweek deserted Mediæval Settlement Avon Geophysical Survey, 1989". English Heritage. http://sdb2.eng-h.gov.uk/visitdetails.asp?visit=48. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ↑ The Somerset Roads Act 1768
- ↑ The Wellow Tithe Map, 1841
- ↑ 'Peasedown St John One Hundred Years Ago' by Dick Graham, The Journal of the Radstock, Midsomer Norton and District Museum Society Issue No. 72 Winter 2011
- ↑ see London Gazette published 11 August 1974
- ↑ "History". St John's Parish. http://www.psjparish.com/Pages/index.php/389/415. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ↑ "From 110th Anniversary sheet (1984)". Peasedown Methodist Church. http://www.peasedownmethodist.co.uk/node/74. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1365679: Red Post Inn
- ↑ "Peasedown Post Office". Peasedown Post Office. http://www.peasedownpostoffice.co.uk/. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ↑ "Circle Bath". NHS Choices. http://www.nhs.uk/Services/Hospitals/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=143. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ↑ "Peasedown Recreation Ground". Bath and North East Somerset. http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/communityandliving/childcare/PlayOutHangOut/PlaySpaces/Pages/Peasedown%20Recreation%20Ground.aspx. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ↑ "History of the Hall". Peasedown St John Community Association. http://www.beaconhall.org.uk/. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ↑ "Peasedown Athletic FC". http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/peasedownathletic. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ↑ "Peasedown Albion FC". http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/1218. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ↑ "Peasedown St John Cricket Club". http://peasedownst.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ↑ "Camerton and Peasedown Croquet Club". http://www.camertonpeasedowncroquet.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ↑ "Peasedown St John Scout Group". http://www.peasedownstjohnscouts.org.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2012.