Wiveliscombe
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  Map sources for Wiveliscombe at grid reference ST080279
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Wiveliscombe (Wivey) is a town and parish in Somerset, England, situated eleven miles north west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The town has a population of 2,670.
Wiveliscombe is a former borough, market and cloth making town to the west of Taunton and 5 miles from the Devon /Somerset border. It is situated at the foot of the Brendon Hills and acts as a gateway to Exmoor. While the population of this rural centre is only about 2,500 persons, its shops and services meet the needs of a much larger population, spread through the western fifth of Taunton Deane, in scattered farms and villages.
A traveller stopping off in the centre of the town gets no idea that this is the hub of a thriving business community. A survey in 1997 revealed that there were at least 300 businesses within a 5 mile radius of the town; 14 of these were trading internationally and a further 20 nationally. It has the headquarters of a firm building motorway service stations and factories in the U.K. and Europe. A band saw manufacturer, a manufacturer of kitchens, a pig processing factory, builders and specialist I.T. companies, etc. Wiveliscombe is also the brewing centre of Somerset with two breweries.
There is a good variety of shops, a post office ,one bank, two estate agents, solicitors, accountants, hairdressers, garages, Inns and restaurants. There is also a doctors' surgery, a dentist and veterinary practice.
The Primary School serves most of the surrounding villages and Kingsmead Community School, for pupils aged 11-16, was rated by the DfEE as one of the top 50 state schools in England in 1998. The school houses a Theatre and Sports Hall and a youth club & playgroup complementing the town's Recreation Ground where the Tennis, Rugby, Cricket & Football Clubs have their bases.
Wiveliscombe is an active town, set amidst beautiful countryside with easy access to Exmoor, the Quantocks and the north and south coast resorts. It is a good place to live in and an excellent place to visit in order to explore the West Country.
[edit] References
- ↑ Somerset County Council, 2002. Population estimates.
[edit] External links
- Wiveliscombe Community Website
- The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey: Wiveliscombe, by Clare Gathercole
- Photos of Wiveliscombe in 3d (Anaglyphs)
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