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| The
History of Chew Magna |
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Chew Magna Cottages
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Wool and the Church have played their
part in shaping Chew Magna's history in one of the most
beautiful parts of Somerset and the Mendip area.
Chew Magna is named after the River Chew flowing for 17
miles through the rural countryside of North Somerset.
From its origin as a spring at Chewton Mendip it runs
north and joins the River Avon at Keynsham. Chew Magna
is about half way along the river's course and it is a
village offering shopping, commercial, professional, educational,
leisure and medical services to the residents of the Chew
Valley.
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Cottages by the Queens Arms
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Set
between the Chew Valley Lake and the Dundry Hills, it
is the largest village in the district, and can trace
its importance back to Saxon times.
It was a thriving woolen centre in the Middle Ages and
the Bishops of Bath and Wells as Lord of the Manor built
a palace near the church of St. Andrews. Chew Court is
a surviving part of the palace.
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St. Andrews from Silver Street
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The church itself boasts a large
and beautiful 15th century pinnacled tower, a Norman font
and a rood screen that is the full width of the church.In
the church are several memorials to the Stracheys of Sutton
Court together with a rare wooden effigy of a Knight in
15th century armour, thought to be of Sir John de Hauteville
or a descendant.
There are many fine buildings
in the village including an early 15th century Church
House now known as the Old Schoolroom and a manor House
largely rebuilt in 1656, as well as a medieval Tun Bridge
over the river, approached along one of the high pavements
that are a feature of the village centre.
The nearness of both Bristol and
Bath as large commercial and social centres has meant
that the village has long been something of a dormitory
village. Rich merchants and professionals from the cities
have built, over the last 200 years, larger than average
houses and have made their own valuable contributions
to village life. Luckily there has been very controlled
expansion of the village and consequently much of the
historic heritage remains. The present village still has
medieval buildings and narrow streets and is surrounded
by fertile countryside with fine old farmhouses. |
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St. Andrews Church
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In recent years Chew Magna has grown as a local commercial
centre, with shops, banks and businesses including three
popular inns.
The area is served by three schools:
Chew Magna Primary School; a Convent Junior school and
the Chew Valley School, with its sports facilities and
playing fields.
There have been several books
written about the history of Chew Magna. The latest
is "Chew Magna and the Chew Valley in old photographs"
by Ian and Mary Durham.Some of the material
in this site has been provided from this book and lectures
by the authors.
Photographs have been
provided by Charles Hallsworth.
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