Alhampton

Administration

Historically, Alhampton was classed as a tything of Ditcheat. Between 1894 and 1974 the village was administered within Shepton Mallet Rural District, and from then until 2023 it fell within Mendip District. It now comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council.

River Alham

The River Alham flows through Alhampton. It was known as the Alauna in Roman times, and supported several mills between the Domesday Book and the 18th century. One of them, at Alhampton, had an Archimedes' screw turbine installed in 2010 to generate hydro-electric power.

Alhampton Chapel

Alhampton Chapel, also known as Alhampton Mission Church, forms part of the Fosse Trinity Benefice within the Church of England. The building is a tin tabernacle erected in 1892 as a chapel of ease to the parish church of St Mary Magdalene at Ditcheat. In 1887, the rector of Ditcheat, Rev. C. E. Leir, determined to supply a chapel for Alhampton, in particular to serve those who struggled or were unable to get to the parish church, such as the elderly and sick. The chapel cost £250, opened in 1892, and was almost free from debt by the beginning of 1893. It now holds regular monthly and other occasional services.

Alhampton Inn

The Alhampton Inn, also known as the Knave of Clubs, is claimed to have been an alehouse from at least the seventeenth century, and a public house from the nineteenth century. After it closed in late 2022, a community initiative supported by the Plunkett Foundation was set up to reopen the pub, and this was successfully achieved in August 2023. In 2024, the pub won a Prince of Wales Award of Honour, and was listed by the Daily Mail as one of the hundred best pubs in Britain.

Buildings

Alhampton has ten listed buildings, all of grade II status, including Alhampton Court, built in about 1650 of Cary stone, a local form of limestone.

Haddon Wood

A new woodland, Haddon Wood, was established at Alhampton on 28 acres of land donated by the owner in 2013 to the Woodland Trust for the benefit of the local community. The land has been planted with native and orchard trees, and has a pond.

Gardens

Alhampton runs an Open Gardens Scheme weekend each year. The village is home to horticulturalist Charles Dowding.

Transport

Alhampton is located close to the A37 road, linking Bristol and Bath to the north with Yeovil and Dorchester to the south; and to the A371 between Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary. The village is 1.5 mi from Castle Cary railway station on the Reading to Taunton line.

References

References

1. [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp34-37#h3-s4 Alhampton, ''A Topographical Dictionary of England'', ed. Samuel Lewis, London, 1848], retrieved 28 October 2024
2. "River Alham". Somerset Rivers.
3. "Alhampton Mill". Somerset Rivers.
4. "About Alhampton Chapel". Alhampton Chapel.
5. "Mission Church Alhampton Chapel". A Church Near You.
6. (27 January 1893). "Church bell ringers dinner.". The Shepton Mallet Journal.
7. [https://webmaster19437.wixsite.com/website/our-story "Alhampton Inn: Our Story"]. Retrieved 28 October 2024
8. [https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/23607817.alhampton-inn-reopen-community-run-pub/ "The Alhampton Inn to reopen as a community-run pub", ''Somerset County Gazette'', 23 June 2023]. Retrieved 28 October 2024
9. [https://www.porterdodson.co.uk/blog/community-spirit-restores-alhampton-inn-a-triumph-of-local-collaboration "Community Spirit Restores Alhampton Inn: A Triumph of Local Collaboration", ''Porter Dobson'']. Retrieved 28 October 2024
10. [https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/somerset-pubs-named-among-uks-9610852 Daniel Clark, "Somerset pubs named among UK's best in Daily Mail top 100", ''Somerset Live'', 12 October 2024]. Retrieved 28 October 2024
11. [https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101058538-alhampton-court-ditcheat "Alhampton Court", ''British Listed Buildings'']. Retrieved 28 October 2024
12. [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/03/country-diary-woodland-dream-true John Vallins, "A woodland dream come true", ''The Guardian'', 3 November 2014]. Retrieved 28 October 2024
13. [https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/haddon-wood/ Haddon Wood, ''The Woodland Trust'']. Retrieved 28 October 2024
14. [https://opengardens.co.uk/open_gardens.php?id=1638 "Alhampton Open Gardens", ''Open Gardens'']. Retrieved 28 October 2024
15. [https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/product/alhampton-open-gardens-afternoon "Alhampton Open Gardens Afternoon", ''CharlesDowding.co.uk'']. Retrieved 23 October 2024