| Norton Radstock | |
  Norton Radstock shown within Somerset |
|
| Population | 21,325 (2001 Census[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Norton-Radstock |
| Unitary authority | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RADSTOCK |
| Postcode district | BA3 |
| Dialling code | 01761 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| UK Parliament | Wansdyke |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| List of places: UK • England | |
Norton Radstock is a small conurbation and large civil parish in Bath and North East Somerset, England, 8 miles (13 km) south west of Bath, and the same distance north west of Frome. It has a population of 21,325 according to the 2001 census. The term Norton Radstock is not recognised by local residents, neither does it appear on any road map. It consists of the twin towns of Midsomer Norton and Radstock. Midsomer Norton lies on the River Somer, while the Wellow Brook and the Fosseway Roman road run through Radstock. The town is north of the Mendip Hills. The parish includes the smaller settlements of Clandown and Haydon. The parish was created in 1974 as a successor to the Norton-Radstock urban district that had been created in 1933 by the merger of Midsomer Norton and Radstock urban districts, along with part of Frome Rural District. [1]. Under the Local Government Act 1972 it became a successor parish to the urban district.
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Midsomer Norton
Midsomer Norton was originally called Midsummer Norton due to its inaccessibility caused by frequent flooding during the other seasons. Sometime in the early 20th Century the name was changed to Midsomer Norton to reflect its location on the River Somer. It was previously served by a station on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway but this closed in 1966, and by a second station on the Bristol and North Somerset Railway at Welton in the valley. When the railways were separate, the stations were both called "Midsomer Norton and Welton" (the B&NSR station was originally called just "Welton"); under British Railways, the S&D station was renamed as Midsomer Norton South after a short period as Midsomer Norton Upper. The oldest building in Midsomer Norton is the Catholic Church of the Holy Ghost, which is a 15th century tithe barn converted by the famous architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. It is a grade II* listed building.[2] The Anglican church of St John the Baptist has a 17th century west tower, but the rest was rebuilt in Gothic style by John Pinch the younger in 1830-1831 and was extended in the 20th century with new chancel and lady chapel. It is also a grade II* listed building.[3] The churchyard includes a memorial to the 12 miners killed in 1839 when their rope was severed. Norton Hill School was described by Ofsted in 2007 as outstanding in every respect.[4]
Notable people from Midsomer Norton
- Anita Harris, actress, singer and entertainer..
Radstock
William Waldegrave was made Baron Radstock in 1800. The title became extinct on the death of the fifth Baron in 1953. Radstock is home to the Radstock Museum, housed in its former market hall. It is also home to an important ecological site Radstock Railway Sidings and an important geological site Writhlington SSSI. Radstock is home to Writhlington School, famous for its Orchid collection and its links with Brazil, Costa Rica and Guatemala. The school houses the biggest collection of Orchids outside Kew Gardens. The school also attained the best Media Arts results in the country in the 2006 A-level examinations. In addition to this, it was named the most enterprising school in England and received the award on the 16 November 2006.[2] Radstock Methodist church opened in 1902. It was damaged by a fire in 2004 but reopened in 2005. The Parish Church of St Nicholas dates from the 15th century and is grade II listed.[5] Radstock Baptist Church, situated on Wells Hill, was founded in 1844.
Coal mining and railway
In 1763 coal was discovered in Radstock and mining began in the area as part of the Somerset coalfield.[6] The Waldegrave family had been Lords of the Manor of Radstock since the English Civil War. In 1896 the pits were owned by the Trustee of Frances, late Countess of Waldegrave.[7] Radstock was the terminus for the southern branch of the Somerset Coal Canal, which was turned into a tramway. It then became a central point for railway development with large coal depots, warehouses, workshops and a gas works. As part of the development of the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway an 8 miles (13 km) line from Radstock to Frome was built to carry the coal. In the 1870s the broad-gauge line was converted to standard gauge and connected to the Bristol and North Somerset Line connecting it to the Great Western Railway at Bristol; the GWR also took over the Wilts Somerset and Weymouth Railway in 1876. The Bristol and North Somerset line closed to passenger traffic in 1959. The Radstock Railway Land comprises an area of approximately 8.8 hectares (21.7 acres) of land which has been subject to planning and development applications.[8] The line is now the route of National Cycle Route 24, otherwise known as the Colliers Way. Since the mines closed in the early 1970s, the towns have become commuter towns with residents working in Bristol or Bath. Some manufacturing industry still exists in the area, namely printing, binding and packaging. Radstock had a second station on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway extension to Bath, which closed to passengers in 1966. The two stations were adjacent to each other in the centre of the town, and both had level crossings across the busy A367 road that caused long tailbacks at busy periods. The S&D line also carried substantial coal traffic and a spur from the Great Western line on to the S&D and on up to Writhlington colliery remained open for a few years after the railway's closure to passenger traffic, until the mine shut in 1973.
Culture
Midsomer Norton's main live music venue is The Wunderbar. It is a small bar located in the cellar of an estate agents on The High Street. It hosts regular concerts by local bands and regional touring acts as well as 'open mic' events and plays host to is own internet radio station that specialises in playing local underground rock and punk music. [3]
References
- ^ http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=791546&c=Radstock&d=16&e=15&g=398089&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779
- ^ Church of the Holy Ghost. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Church of St John the Baptist. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Norton Hill School. Norton Hill School. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ Church of St Nicholas. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Clew, Kenneth R. (1970). The Somersetshire Coal Canal and Railways. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. ISBN 0715347926.
- ^ Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd. Retrieved on 2006-11-12.
- ^ Radstock Railway Land Redevelopment. Bath and North East Somerset Council. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
