Queen Camel
| Queen Camel | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 St Barnabas Church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST595247 |
| Location: | 51°1’13"N, 2°34’41"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 908 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Yeovil |
| Postcode: | BA22 |
| Dialling code: | 01935 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Somerset |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Somerton and Frome |
Queen Camel is a village and parish on the River Cam and the A359 road in Somerset. It is about seven miles north of Yeovil. According to the 2011 census it had a population of 908.[1] The parish includes the hamlet of Wales. Nearby places are West Camel, Sparkford and Marston Magna. The parish forms part of the hundred of Catsash.[2]
History
The site of a Romano-British settlement has been identified south west of Camel Hill Farm, which was occupied in the 2nd to 4th centuries. Stone foundations of at least three buildings have been identified.[3] The name "Camel" derives not from the animal but from "cantmael", the name of the place in the 10th century. "Cantmael" possibly derives from the Celtic words canto "district" and mael "bare hill"[4] The "Queen" in the village's name is probably Queen Eleanor, the wife of Henry III, who owned land in the area in the 13th century.[5]
Some historians, including John Leland, believe the area surrounding the village to be the site of the final battle of King Arthur, the Battle of Camlann.
In the 10th century, land in Camel was granted away by the kings Edmund I, Eadwig and Edgar the Peaceful, but by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 it was held by Gytha of Wessex, after whom the village school, which opened in 1873 is named.[6] In 1202 the manor was granted to Hubert de Burgh, by King John, who gave it to the monks of Cleeve Abbey. It later returned to the crown and in 1275 was known as Camel Regis. In 1558 it was granted to Sir Walter Mildmay, whose family retained it until 1929.[7]
The Mildmay family lived at Hazlegrove House, a substantial 17th-century house which was largely rebuilt by Carew Mildmay in 1730. It later became Hazlegrove Preparatory School, the junior school of King's School, Bruton.[8]
A fire in 1634 destroyed 70 properties in the village.[7]
Landmarks
The Wales[9] and Camel Bridges[10] over the River Cam date from the 18th century, although one may be a rebuilding of an older packhorse bridge. It is 38 in wide and has a total span of 15 ft.[11]
The 17th-century Wales farmhouse[12] and a row of 15th-century cottages[13] are near the Wales bridge. There is one shop that provides all of the villages needs. Queen Camel is also home to Ridge Pottery, an all woodfired pottery studio which specializes in educational courses and workshops.
Religious sites
The Church of St Barnabas, reached from a cobbled lane, has a lofty tower, built in five stages. The church houses the second heaviest set of six bells in Europe. The Anglican parish church dates from the 14th century with the first recorded rector being in 1317. It contains memorials to many of the Mildmay family. It has been designated as a Grade-I listed building.[14]
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.
- ↑ "Roman settlement, Camel Hill, West Camel". Somerset County Council. http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/11607. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ↑ Mills, A.D. and Room, A. A Dictionary of British Place-Names
- ↑ Somerset Victoria County History, Somerton Hundred online
- ↑ "Countess Gwytha County Primary School". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=431109. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The Complete Guide. Dovecote Press. pp. 172. ISBN 1-874336-26-1.
- ↑ "Hazelgrove House". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=430632. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ↑ "Wales Bridge". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=430617. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ↑ "Camel Bridge". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=430634. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ↑ Hinchliffe, Ernest (1994). Guide to the Packhorse Bridges of England. Cicerone. p. 151. ISBN 978-1852841430.
- ↑ "Wales Farmhouse". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=430621. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ↑ "Wales Cottages". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=430623. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ↑ "Church of St Barnabas, Queen Camel". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=431093. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Camel Queen Camel) |