Spaxton

History

The name of Spaxton may originate from Spakr, a Dane who settled in the area in about the 9th century. An alternative derivation is that it means "councillor's enclosure", from the Old English spæcas and tun. It is recorded as Spachestone in the 1086 Domesday Book, when the land was held by Alfred of Spain.

Spaxton was part of the hundred of Cannington.

The National Gazetteer (1868) says:

The modern parish includes the ancient parishes of Aisholt and Charlynch. Aisholt is one of the [Thankful Villages – those villages that suffered no fatalities during the Great War of 1914–1918.

During the 19th century, Henry James Prince, former curate of Charlynch founded the notorious religious cult of the Agapemone at Four Forks.

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 neighbourhood watch 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.

For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Sedgemoor, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Bridgwater Rural District.

It is also part of the Bridgwater county constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Geography

Near the village is Hawkridge Reservoir which supplies water for Bridgwater, constructed between 1960 and 1962, and the Ashford Reservoir which was constructed in 1932.

Landmarks and notable buildings

Gothelney Hall at Gothelney Green was built in the 15th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.

Barford Park is in the south of the parish.

Parts of Court Farm near St Margaret's Church date from c.1500.

Religious sites

• The Church of St Margaret has some parts from the 12th and 13th centuries but is predominantly from the 15th century, and was restored in 1895. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.
• The Church of All Saints, Aisholt dates from the 14th and 15th centuries.
• In Charlynch (or Charlinch) the Church of St Mary has been deconsecrated.
• The former Methodist Chapel is on the main road through the village.

Gallery

File:Spaxton school - geograph.org.uk - 94662.jpg|Spaxton school File:The Lamb Inn Spaxton - geograph.org.uk - 160227.jpg|The Lamb Inn

References

References

1. "Election Maps: Great Britain". Ordnance Survey.
2. "Spaxton (parish): population statistics, 2021 Census".
3. "Spaxton". Quantock Online.
4. {{OpenDomesday. ST2237. spaxton. Spaxton
5. Robinson, Stephen. (1992). "Somerset Place Names". Dovecote Press.
6. "Cannington Hundred". British History Online.
7. "SPAXTON", in ''The National Gazetteer: A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands'', Vol. 3 (London: Virtue and Co., 1868), [https://books.google.com/books?id=VnX6qDO5mPsC&pg=PA507 p. 507]
8. {{NHLE
9. "Spaxton". Quantock Online.
10. "Bridgwater RD". University of Portsmouth.
11. Waite, Vincent. (1964). "Portrait of the Quantocks". Robert Hale.
12. {{NHLE
13. Pevsner, Nikolaus. "The Buildings of England".
14. {{NHLE
15. (1992). "A History of the County of Somerset, Volume 6". University of London.
16. {{NHLE