Mendip | |
---|---|
![]() Shown within Somerset | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Constituent country | England |
Region | South West England |
Ceremonial county | Somerset |
Admin HQ | Shepton Mallet |
|
|
Government | |
• Type | Non-metropolitan district |
• Leader | Ros Wyke[1] |
• Council | Liberal Democrats |
• MPs: | James Heappey (Con), Sarah Dyke (LD) |
Area | |
• Total | 285.50 sq mi (739.44 km2) |
Population (2022)[2] | |
• Total | 116,285 |
• Density | 410/sq mi (160/km2) |
Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
Post Code | |
Area code | 01749 |
Mendip was a local government district of Somerset in England. The district covered a largely rural area of 285 square miles (738 km2)[3] with a population of approximately 112,500,[3] ranging from the Wiltshire border in the east to part of the Somerset Levels in the west. The district took its name from the Mendip Hills. The administrative centre of the district was Shepton Mallet but the largest town was Frome.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 by a merger of the municipal boroughs of Glastonbury and Wells, along with Frome, Shepton Mallet, and Street urban districts, and Frome Rural District, Shepton Mallet Rural District, Wells Rural District, part of Axbridge Rural District and part of Clutton Rural District.
On 1 April 2023, the district was abolished and became part of Somerset Council, a unitary authority.[4]
Toponymy
[edit]Several explanations for the name Mendip have been suggested. Its earliest known form is Mendepe in 1185. One suggestion is that it is derived from the medieval term Myne-deepes.[5][6] However, A D Mills derives its meaning from Celtic monith, meaning mountain or hill, with an uncertain second element, perhaps Old English yppe in the sense of upland, or plateau.[7]
An alternative explanation is that the name is cognate with Mened (Welsh mynydd), a Brythonic term for upland moorland. The suffix may be a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon hop, meaning a valley. Possible further meanings have been identified. The first is 'the stone pit' from the Celtic meyn and dyppa in reference to the collapsed cave systems of Cheddar. The second is 'Mighty and Awesome' from the Old English moen and deop.[8]
Governance
[edit]Until 2023, Mendip district fell under the jurisdiction of Mendip District Council. At the 2019 local elections, no party gained overall control.
Party | Seats | Net Gain/Loss |
---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | 22 | +11 |
Conservative | 10 | -22 |
Green | 10 | +7 |
Independent | 5 | +4 |
As of March 2022, the council had 23 Liberal Democrats, 12 Conservatives, 10 Greens, and 2 Independents.[9]
Abolition
[edit]On 1 April 2023, the council was abolished and replaced by Somerset Council, a unitary authority for the area previously served by Somerset County Council.[4] Elections for the new council took place in May 2022, and it ran alongside Mendip and the other councils until their abolition in April 2023.[10]
Settlements
[edit]The five main settlements of the former Mendip council were Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street and Wells. Frome, Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet were the only towns in the district, with Wells having city status and Street maintaining its status as a village despite a population in excess of 11,000.[11]
Other villages and hamlets included:
- Ashwick
- Baltonsborough – Batcombe – Beckington – Binegar – Bleadney – Bowlish – Buckland Dinham – Burcott – Butleigh – Butleigh Wootton
- Chantry – Charterhouse – Chelynch – Chesterblake – Chewton Mendip – Chilcompton – Coleford – Coxley – Cranmore – Croscombe
- Dean – Dinder – Ditcheat – Doulting – Draycott – Dulcote
- East Lydford – East Pennard – Easton – Emborough – Evercreech
- Farleigh Hungerford – Faulkland
- Godney – Great Elm – Green Ore
- Henton – Highbury – Holcombe – Hornblotton – Horrington – Huxham Green
- Kilmersdon
- Lamyatt – Leigh-on-Mendip – Leighton – Litton – Lydford-on-Fosse
- Maesbury – Meare – Mells
- Nettlebridge – North Wootton – Norton St Philip – Nunney
- Oakhill – Oldford
- Pilton – Polsham – Prestleigh – Priddy – Pylle
- Rode – Rodney Stoke
- Southway – Standerwick – Ston Easton – Stratton-on-the-Fosse – Stoke St Michael – Stoney Stratton
- Thrupe – Trudoxhill
- Upton Noble
- Vobster
- Walton – Wanstrow – Waterlip – West Compton – West Lydford – West Pennard – West Woodlands – Westbury-sub-Mendip – Westcombe – Westhay – Whatley – Wookey – Wookey Hole – Worminster – Witham Friary
- Yarley
Parishes
[edit]Transport
[edit]Major roads
[edit]- A37 from Bristol to Yeovil
- A361 from the M5 to Frome
- A371 from Weston-super-Mare to Wincanton
- A39 from Bath to Bridgwater
Railway stations
[edit]- Frome, served by Great Western Railway on the Heart of Wessex Line and Reading to Taunton Line
- Served by the East Somerset Railway:
See also
[edit]- Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- Grade II* listed buildings in Mendip
- List of scheduled monuments in Mendip
- 2019–2023 structural changes to local government in England
References
[edit]- ^ Mumby, Daniel (21 May 2019). "What the first Lib Dem leader in Mendip for 16 years says she will do". SomersetLive. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Somerset Intelligence Network" (PDF). Mendip District Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Frequently asked questions". Somerset County Council. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Mendip Hills Natural Area profile" (PDF). English Nature. January 1998. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2006.
- ^ "Autumn newsletter 2007" (PDF). Mendip Hills AONB. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
- ^ Dictionary of English Place Names
- ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1-874336-03-2.
- ^ "Councillors – Mendip District Council". Mendip.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "Elections for new Somerset Council to be held in May 2022". BBC News. 2 December 2021. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Street Parish Council". Street Parish Council. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ "Mendip Parish Population Statistics" (PDF). ONS Census 2001. Somerset County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
- ^ "Ashwick Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Shepton Mallet RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Baltonsborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Wells RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Batcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Beckington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Frome RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Berkley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Binegar Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Buckland Dinham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Butleigh Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Chewton Mendip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Chilcompton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b c "Clutton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Coleford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Cranmore Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Croscombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Ditcheat Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Doulting Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "East Pennard Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Emborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Evercreech Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Frome Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Glastonbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Glastonbury MB". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Godney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Great Elm Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Hemington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Holcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Kilmersdon Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Lamyat Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Leigh-on-Mendip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Litton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Lullington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Lydford-on-Fosse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Meare Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Mells Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "North Wootton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Norton St Philip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Nunney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Pilton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Priddy Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Pylle Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Rode Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Rodney Stoke Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Selwood Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Sharpham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Shepton Mallet Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Shepton Mallet UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "St Cuthbert Out Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Stoke St Michael Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Ston Easton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Stratton on the Fosse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Street Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Street UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Tellisford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Trudoxhill Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Upton Noble Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Walton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Wanstrow Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Wells Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "West Bradley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "West Pennard Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Westbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Whatley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Witham Friary Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Wookey Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
External links
[edit]- Official website, archived in March 2023
- Mendip at Curlie
Media related to Mendip District at Wikimedia Commons