Wembdon is a semi-rural village near Bridgwater, in

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

, England. Wembdon is now home to an Anglican church, a small shop (combined with the post office), a pub and a small garage.

History

Wembdon was listed in the

Domesday Book Domesday Book () – the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book" – is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manus ...

of 1086 as having "5 villagers and 6 smallholders with four ploughs". The name Wembdon is believed to mean "Huntsman's Hill", referring to Wembdon Hill itself where Saxon* burials have been discovered. These are believed to be British burials which date to the Saxon period. Wembdon Hill is also the site of St. Johns Well, which was renowned for its healing powers from the 15th century onwards. In 2002 a northern distributor road for Bridgwater was built to the south of the village to ease traffic congestion in Bridgwater town centre. The road had been part of local town planning since the 1980s, and building proceeded despite some local resistance.

Governance

The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council’s operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and

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groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council. The village falls within the

Non-metropolitan district Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially "shire districts", are a type of Districts of England, local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties (colloquially ''shi ...

of Sedgemoor, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of

Bridgwater Rural District Bridgwater was a rural district in Somerset, England, from 1894 to 1974. It was created in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894. In 1974 it was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 becoming part of Sedgemoor. It contained the civi ...

, which is responsible for local planning and

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, local roads, council housing,

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s and fairs, refuse collection and

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, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and

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. Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as

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, social services,

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, main roads,

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, policing and

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and strategic planning. It is also part of the Bridgwater and West Somerset

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represented in the

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of the

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. It elects one

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by the

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system of election, and was part of the South West England constituency of the

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prior to

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in January 2020, which elected seven MEPs using the

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Religious sites

St George's Church was granted by William Testard, lord of Wembdon Manor, to St John's Hospital, Bridgwater in 1284. The church was badly damaged by fire in March 1868, and as the certificate for fire insurance had expired, had to be rebuilt with significant local aid.

Education

A Church of England VC

Primary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary e ...

(Wembdon St. Georges) can be found in the village.

Culture

Wembdon Village Day occurs towards the end of August every year, centred on competitions involving arts and crafts, fruit and vegetables, baking, jam making and wine making and many other events. It takes place on the playing field and nearby Parish centre building. A large car boot sale is also in place on the day and local radio station Quay West 107.4 conduct a live show from a stage during the event. On the Saturday closest to 5 November, Guy Fawkes Night, a bonfire is set up on the playing field, and a fireworks display is shown during the evening. St George's Parish Centre opposite the church is the venue for many village activities. These include Scouts and Guides, a nursery school and the meetings of the Wembdon Community Association.http://www.sgw.org.uk/parishcentre St George's Parish Centre

References