It is trite in Anglo-Saxon language the name of the village means literally "drawing-town", the word dray being largely obsolete save for dray horse being one that drags or draws a load, at a time when the inceptive form of town ton had not turned into its larger sense today. Locally this may refer to "ledges or drays" being used for boats or for the drawn plough as in most other examples.[2]
The probable site of a Roman house has been identified west of the vicarage.[3]
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.
Midelney Manor is a Grade I manor house in landscaped grounds. It is sited on a former island site, and was the property of Muchelney Abbey, passing to the Trevillian family after the dissolution of the monasteries. The present house was built in the late 16th century in two distinct halves by Richard and Thomas Trevillian.[7] Drayton Manor is more recent and was built in the late 18th or early 19th century.[8]
Religious sites
St Catherine's exterior is Blue Lias and golden hamstone. It dates from the 15th century, being restored in 1855 by Maurice Davis of Langport and again in 1896. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[9] The 15th century cross in the churchyard has a sculpture of St Michael with a sword and shield in the act of vanquishing a dragon.[10] The rectory, known as Drayton Court, which dates from the early 19th century, is now a private house [11] and the seat of the Earls of Cromer.[citation needed]
Drayton Wassailers
Drayton is one of the few villages in the UK that still practice house-visiting wassailing, not to be confused with orchard-visiting wassailing, which has now been almost entirely displaced by carolling. The annual event is held on 5 January and involves the Wassailers traveling to a handful of houses around the village before ending at the Drayton Crown. [12] In 2021, the event was held though online video due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK.
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