Paulton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paulton is a large village, population around 7000, located to the North of the Mendip Hills, in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset, England. A former coal mining village and home to the now closed Polestar Purnells printing factory and Ashman's Boot Factory where 'Tuf' boots were manufactured, Paulton is now largely populated by commuters to Bristol and Bath.
The area has been designated as an ‘area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ under section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.[1]
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[edit] Village facilities
Paulton has a small hospital, a library, fire station, two pre-schools (Noahs Ark Preschool and Acorn Preschool), an infant school and junior school. The village is served by a Somerfield and Tesco supermarket.
The five churches include the Central Methodist Church, dated 1894,[2] Baptist Church (1724)[3] and Church of the Holy Trinity, dated 1757 and 1839, the latter by John Pinch,[4] which includes a Cholera monument, from the early to mid 19th century[5] and several other monuments in the churchyard. The Church of the Trinity is located in the parish of Paulton and diocese of Bath & Wells. It is a grade 2 * listed building.[6] Paulton is currently serving as part of the 10 lamps ministry group and is part of the benefice with St Johns Farrington Gurney and Holy Trinity High Littleton.[7]
There are four pubs in the village - The Red Lion, The Winterfield, The Lamb and The Somerset (on the road to Bath past village cemetery). Until the mid-80s, there was also The Queen Victoria, but this has since been demolished to make way for flats.
The centre of the village is the location for the war memorial, also the small library. There is another war memorial just outside of the village. This memorial commemorates the location where 23 men were killed on September 17, 1944 when the glider they were flying in crashed en route from R.A.F. Keevil to Arnhem, as part of Operation Market Garden.
[edit] Coal mining
Much evidence of coal mining on the Somerset coalfield still exists in and around the village with a slag heap known as "The Batch" in the shape of a volcano.
Paulton was the terminus of the northern branch of the Somerset Coal Canal and was a central point for at least 15 collieries around Paulton, Timsbury and High Littleton, which were connected to the canal by tramroads.
On the northern side of Paulton basin was the terminus for the tramroad which served Old Grove, Prior's, Tyning and Hayeswood pits, with a branch line to Amesbury and Mearns pits. Parts of this line were still in use in 1873, probably all carrying horse drawn wagons of coal. The southern side of the basin served Brittens, Littleborrok, Paulton Ham, Paulton Hill, Simons Hill terminating at Salisbury Colliery. In addition the Paulton Foundry used this line. The entire line was disused by 1871 as were the collieries it served.[8]
[edit] Modern industry
Paulton was the location of the first Great Mills DIY store, and the company's head office was located adjacent to the store. It used to be called Old Mills DIY, by virtue of the fact that the store was sited on the former Old Mills colliery baths site. The Great Mills business was acquired by Focus DIY Ltd in 2000, and all of the stores were rebranded. Tesco is also a major employer now in the village. Although Tesco describes itself as being in Midsomer Norton it lies within Paulton Parish boundaries. Much controvesy surrounds the store because of this and it's donation to Norton Radstock Town Council in return to building a store extension whilst in Paulton's boundaries.
[edit] Sports
Paulton Rovers F.C. play in the Southern Football League Division One South & West League and the club is an entertainment centre for the area. Purnells Cricket Club provides further sports facilities to the village, with tennis courts, bowls, a football field and a cricket pitch.
[edit] References
- ^ Paulton conservation area character appraisal. Bath and North East Somerset Planning. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Central Methodist Church. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Baptist Church. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Church of the Holy Trinity. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Cholera monument. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Listed Building. A Church Near You.
- ^ Holy Trinity Paulton. Holy Trinity Paulton website.
- ^ Down, C.G.; A. J. Warrington (2005). The history of the Somerset coalfield. Radstock: Radstock Museum. ISBN 0955168406.
