Cranmore, Somerset
| Cranmore | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 Church of St Bartholomew, Cranmore]] | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST665435 |
| Location: | 51°11’23"N, 2°28’43"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 667 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Shepton Mallet |
| Postcode: | BA4 |
| Dialling code: | 01749 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Mendip |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Wells |
Cranmore is a village and civil parish in Somerset comprising the ancient parishes of East Cranmore and West Cranmore. It is situated to the east of Shepton Mallet and includes the hamlets of Waterlip and Dean where Dean farmhouse dates from the 17th century,[2] as does The Old Smithy, just off the A361 which was originally two residential dwellings.[3] West Cranmore forms part of Wells Forum hundred,[4] while East Cranmore forms part of Frome Hundred.[5]
History
The name comes from Crane Mere, the Lake of the Cranes.[6]
It is the base of the East Somerset Railway which plays host to a variety of preserved diesel and steam locomotives. It operates the line between Cranmore railway station, Cranmore West, Merryfield Lane Halt and Mendip Vale. The section between Cranmore and the mainline is used for heavy quarry traffic to the nearby Merehead Quarry. The quarry, which is also known as Torr Works, covers an area of some 500 acres, including 150 acres which have been landscaped to blend with the surrounding countryside. It is operated by the Foster Yeoman Company employing over 200 people and produces six million tons of limestone annually which is carried directly from the quarry by Mendip Rail.
Cranmore Hall is a large 17th-century country house with landscaped gardens which now forms the main portion of All Hallows Preparatory School.[7] Southill House is a smaller country house dating from the early 18th century which was refaçaded by John Wood, the Younger.[8]
On a hill north of the village is the 150-ft-tall Victorian folly, Cranmore Tower, built in 1862–64 by Thomas Henry Wyatt for John Moore Paget. The site is 920 ft above sea level, and is the highest point on the Mendip Way.
Landmarks
Southill House is an early 18th-century manor house south of the main village. It was given a new facade by John Wood, the Younger, of Bath, in the late 18th century.[9]
Close to Cranmore is a small lake called Torr Works Reservoir which attracts large numbers of roosting gulls.
Religious sites
The Church of St Bartholomew dates from the 15th century and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade-I listed building.[10] The former church of St James in East Cranmore has been deconsecrated and is now used as a private dwelling.[11]
References
- ↑ "Cranmore Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11122414&c=Cranmore&d=16&e=61&g=6461152&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1388574810826&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2491. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ↑ "Dean Farmhouse". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=268263. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
- ↑ "The Old Smithy". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=268265. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
- ↑ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ↑ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ↑ "Cranmore". Cranmore village website. http://www.cranmore.org/. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
- ↑ "Cranmore Hall, walling and gazebo, now part of All Hallows School". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=268267. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
- ↑ "Southill House and outbuildings". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=268253. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
- ↑ "Southill House and outbuildings". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=268253. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ↑ "Church of St Bartholomew". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=268259. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
- ↑ "Church of St James". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=268271. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Cranmore, Somerset) |