Timberscombe

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Timberscombe
St. Petrock's church, Timberscombe - geograph.org.uk - 679109.jpg
St. Petrock's church
Bickham - geograph.org.uk - 269829.jpg
Bickham
Somerset UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Timberscombe
Location within Somerset
Population402 (2011) [1]
OS grid reference SS924387
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MINEHEAD
Postcode district TA24
Dialling code 01643
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Somerset
51°08′18″N3°32′20″W / 51.1382°N 3.5389°W / 51.1382; -3.5389

Timberscombe is a village and civil parish on the River Avill 2.5 miles (4 km) south-west of Dunster, and 5.5 miles (9 km) south of Minehead within the Exmoor National Park in Somerset, England. The parish includes the hamlet of Bickham.

Contents

History

The parish was part of the hundred of Carhampton. [2]

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 parish comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton (formed on 1 April 2019) and, before this, the district of West Somerset (established under the Local Government Act 1972). It was part of Williton Rural District before 1974. [3]

It is also part of the Tiverton and Minehead 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

The 13 hectares (32 acres) Bickham Wood, which is run as a nature reserve by the Somerset Wildlife Trust, comprises very wet, ancient, semi-natural woodland on the edge of the Brendon Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. [4]

Landmarks

Timberscombe has many attractions including an Iron Age Fort, the lost village of Clicket and Cowbridge Sawmill, which has been restored as a working vintage sawmill. The village is a popular tourist area and provides ample bed and breakfast accommodation and holiday lets. The beautiful countryside makes it particularly popular with walkers, horse riders and cyclists.

Religious sites

The church is dedicated to Saint Petroc, who probably visited the parish in the 6th century. The church has a 15th-century tower, the rest of the building dating from 1708. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. [5]

Notable residents

References

  1. "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. "Carhampton Hundred". Domesday Map. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  3. "Williton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  4. "Bickham Wood". Somerset Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
  5. Historic England. "Church of St Petrock (1057303)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 8 February 2008.