" Stone Cross Wedmore July 20 1854, / Heath House June 20 54 Wedmore/ Sand Wedmore June 29 54"
Wedmore's Market Cross, a fine example of 14th-century Gothic architecture, originally stood in the center of The Borough, marking the site for markets and fairs licensed in 1255. Moved in the early 1800s to widen the road, this octagonal shaft cross features canopied niches with weathered figures and remains a central landmark, though its detailed carvings are now hard to discern.The cross was erected in the late 1300s, after Wedmore received its market charter in 1255, allowing weekly markets and annual fairs.It served as the official focal point for traders, with stalls set up around it.The cross once stood in the center of "The Borough," near the Lerburne stream, a historic market area. In the early 19th century (around the 1830s), it was moved a short distance along The Borough to accommodate widening of the high street. It features an octagonal shaft with delicate tracery, a canopied head, and niches that once held figures, though they are now weathered.The villagers are rightly proud of their small but elegant market cross, which probably dates back to the 1300s. It has a lovely slender stem leading to a beautiful lantern head. This would have shown Christ on the cross, the nativity, a soldier and a priest, but the environment has taken its toll and little is visible now to the naked eye. There is a story that Judge Jeffreys came to Wedmore and hung some of the rebels on the village cross, but local historian Hazel Hudson says it is a complete fallacy: "We know exactly where Judge Jeffreys went and he never came to Wedmore. It may be possible that some of the rebels were hung and they brought little bits back and draped them over the cross but there's absolutely no proof, and you quite literally couldn't hang anybody on it."
Sand
Sand is a small hamlet located within the parish of Wedmore in Somerset, England. It is situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels, approximately one mile north of Wedmore village.
Ashton windmill is a tower mill in Chapel Allerton, Somerset, England. The mill has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building.
The mill is a typical Somerset tower mill, built of coursed colour-washed rubble, with a revolving cap, tailfan and four sails. The tower is 7.5 metres (25 ft) high, with walls 60 centimetres (24 in) thick and sails 13 metres (43 ft) across. The last millstones were 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) in diameter. The mill could grind 400 kilograms (880 lb) of corn in an hour and was also used for grinding beans for cattle feed.
It is the only windmill in Somerset with a complete set of working machinery. The mill is opened two afternoons a week in summer by a group of local volunteers and is free to visit, although donations are welcome.
The history of the mill is well documented, with the earliest known record of a mill on the site in 1317. This would probably have been a postmill. The millers from 1737 to 1927 are recorded, and one of the last workers, Tom Petheram, has recorded reminiscences of life at the mill.
The present structure was built in the 1760s by the Paine family, apparently reusing timbers from the previous structure.
For a short period around the 1890s it was powered by steam. In 1900 the mill was extensively renovated by its then owner, John Stevens. The machinery was replaced with that from Moorlinch Mill, the original thatch was reframed and clad with corrugated iron, two of the broad sails were replaced with spring sails and iron hoops around the building were added.Ashton Windmill ceased to operate in 1927 because of lower corn prices and competition from large steam-powered mills. During World War Two the mill was used as a Home Guard post. The mill was renovated in 1958, when the stonework was restored and a new boat-shaped roof, new doors and new sails were fitted. The structure and interior were extensively restored in 1979, and new steel stocks were fitted in 2009.
The mill passed to Bristol City Museum in 1966 and Sedgemoor District Council, acquired the mill in 1981; it is now owned by Somerset Council.
Wedmore is a large village and civil parish in the county of Somerset, England. It is situated on raised ground, in the Somerset Levels between the River Axe and River Brue, often called the Isle of Wedmore. The parish consists of three main villages: Wedmore, Blackford and Theale, with the 17 hamlets of Bagley, Blakeway, Clewer, Crickham, Cocklake, Heath House, Latcham, Little Ireland, Middle Stoughton, Mudgley, Panborough, Sand, Stoughton Cross, Washbrook, West End, West Ham and West Stoughton. The parish of Wedmore has a population of 3,318 according to the 2011 census.
Its facilities include a medical and dental practice, pharmacy, butcher's, a village store with off licence, three pubs, restaurant, café and several other local shops. It is 4 miles (6 km) south of Cheddar, 7 miles (11 km) west of the city of Wells and 7 miles (11 km) north west of Glastonbury.
Iron Age remains have been found in the Wedmore area, and there are a number of Roman sites in the district.
The name Wedmore in Old English is thought to mean "hunting lodge" or "hunting moor" and there was a Saxon royal estate in the area. Centwine gained control of the area in 682 and named it 'Vadomaer' after one of the Saxon leaders, Vado the famous.After winning the Battle of Ethandun, Alfred the Great caused the Viking leader Guthrum and his followers to be baptised at Aller and then celebrated at Wedmore. After this the Vikings withdrew to East Anglia.
The Treaty of Wedmore is a term used by some historians inferred for the events in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, outlining how in 878 the Viking leader Guthrum was baptised and accepted Alfred the Great as his godfather. No such treaty still exists but there is a document that is not specifically linked to Wedmore that is a Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum. Alfred then left Wedmore in his will to his son Edward the Elder.
Wedmore was part of the hundred of Bempstone. Earthworks from a complex of buildings, including a hall and chapel, surrounded by a moat, have been identified. The site is believed to have been a bishop's palace demolished by John Harewel in the 1380s.
In 1853 a hoard of 200 silver coins dating from the Saxon period was found in the churchyard. In 1988 a Saxon ring, made of copper alloy with a unique knot design and dating from the 6th or 7th century, was found in the village by Tim Purnell. It has been authenticated by the British Museum and a modern copy made by local jeweller Erica Sharpe.
According to the 1086 Domesday Book, Wedmore/Wetmore was one of the holdings of the Bishop of Wells with 18 cottagers, woodlands, pasture and two fisheries.In the medieval period, Wedmore was the centre for the surrounding agricultural area, with weekly markets as well as a larger annual one. The market cross dates from the 14th century.In the 17th century Dr John Westover built a mental hospital to which patients came from all over the West Country. This is believed to have been England's first private lunatic asylum. The doctor is thought to have treated his patients compassionately, ensuring that they had luxuries such as playing cards and tobacco. He kept a record of the ailments of Wedmore people over a period of 15 years.
The original post office in Church Street opposite the church itself, dates from Georgian times, while the Old Vicarage was built at the end of the 15th century.The George Hotel was a 16th-century coaching inn. John Tonkin built a fashionable house, in the Italianate style, which is now the pharmacy.
In 1799 Hannah More established a Sunday school for children in Wedmore in the face of opposition from the vicar and local gentry.Wedmore's market cross was moved roughly 100 yards along The Borough in the 1830s to allow widening of the high street.Between 1881 and 1898 the Reverend Hervey produced the Wedmore Chronicle which gives a picture of the people and area at the time.
In late 2018, Strongvox Homes commissioned the development of 35 new houses to the east of Wedmore First School Academy on Blackford Road, with a completion date of early 2020. The scheme comes in the wake of a previous application to build 60 homes opposite the school and 18 opposite Westholme Farm, also on Blackford Road. The development plans were called "ludicrous" and "unnecessary" by residents concerned about the strain placed on infrastructure in the Wedmore region. Wedmore Parish Council supported the development, saying "The neighbourhood plan will provide an element of affordable housing, which is much-needed in the village.
Richard Suter (1797–1883).
Richard Suter was born in Greenwich, Kent on 30th March 1798, to William Suter and his wife Sarah Knights. On 7th January 1825 he married Anne Ruth Burn.
English architect. As Surveyor to The Fishmongers' Company he designed the severe Presbyterian churches for Ballykelly (1825–7) and Banagher (1825) on the Company's Estate in County Londonderry, drawings of which were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1827. He was also responsible for the Model Farm (1823–4), the Lancasterian Schools (1828–30), the Company Agent's House (1830–2—now a hotel, much altered), a range of houses on the south side of the main road (1823–4), the lodge in the Presbyterian churchyard (1828), and the Dispensary (1829), all at Ballykelly, and all Classical. As Surveyor to Trinity House Corporation, he designed houses that were erected by Thomas Cubitt in 1821–3 on a site adjoining Trinity House. For The Fishmongers' Company he designed St Peter's Almshouses, Wandsworth, London (1849–51), and The Old School-House, Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk(1859), in an Elizabethan style.
On the 1841 Census Richard, an architect and lawyer, can be found living in London with his wife Ann (listed as Ruth) and their two children, Richard George and Andrew Burn. Living with them is Edward D Suter. 1851 finds the family living in Tottenham Court in London, by this time Andrew had left the home, but I am unable to trace him on the 1851 Census. In 1860 Andrew marries Amelia Damaris Harrison. Both Richard George and Andrew were to become ordained ministers, with Andrew later becoming a Bishop and emigrating to New Zealand. Sadly in 1854 Anne Ruth was to pass away. In 1861, widowed Richard, Justice of the Peace for Maidenhead, is living at Castle Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire. In 1862 he married Elizabeth Anne Pocock. In 1871 and 1881 Richard and Elizabeth are still living in Castle Hill. Richard was to pass away on 1st March1883.
Richard Suter & Annesley Voysey, architects, had their office at number 35 Fenchurch Street, but they did not have it all to themselves as they shared the premises with W.C. Franks, a tea broker, who will get a separate post some other time. The earliest mention I found of Richard Suter in Fenchurch Street is in 1832 when he is listed at that address in a list of contributing members of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. It says that he had been a member since 1829, but that does not mean he was already at 35 Fenchurch Street in that year.(1) In fact, that seems unlikely as the Sun Fire Office records give Messrs. Short and Co., merchants, as paying the insurance premium on the premises in May 1830. The Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 give the year 1827, but I do not know on what evidence. When Suter and Voysey became partners is also uncertain, but they had known each other since at least 1825 as Suter is named as one of the executors of Voysey’s will which was dated 22 July, 1825. The address given for Suter in the will is Suffolk Street, Southwark. Voysey then lives at Conway Street, Fitzroy Square.