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Wedmore in Somerset County England History and GeographyWEDMORE, a parish in the hundred of BEMPSTONE, county of SOMERSET, 4¾ miles (S. by E.) from Axbridge, containing, with the hamlet of Panborough, which is in the hundred of Glaston-Twelve-Hides, 3079 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Dean of Wells, rated in the king's books at £20. 8. 6½. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a handsome cruciform edifice, in the early style of English architecture, with a stately tower at the intersection, crowned with balustrades: on each side of the chancel there is a chapel, and annexed to the south aisle is another of smaller dimensions. Over the porch is a library, the gift of the Rev.'Andrews, a former vicar. There are places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists. Wedmore was originally written Wet-moor, which appellation it retained till a late period. It was the residence of the West Saxon monarchs, and, with their hunting seat at Cheddar, and the brugge of Axe, was given by Alfred to one of his sons; the king having previously converted to Christianity the Danish prisoners taken at the battle of Eddington, whom he caused to be baptized at Aller, and afterwards kept the festival of Christmas here. Few places have undergone such rapid and extensive improvement as Wedmore; since, within memory, the immediate neighbourhood was usually under water nine months in the year. At present the situation of the village is extremely pleasant, being considerably elevated above the subjacent level, which, from the extensive drainage effected during the last half-century, has been rendered valuable land. This ancient borough, by which distinction a part of it is still known, is under the superintendence of a portreeve, chosen annually at the manorial court, with water-bailiffs, constables, and other officers. The custom of appointing water-bailiffs, and the discovery of a large vessel, in draining the adjacent moor, have induced an opinion that the sea, at some remote period, came up to the town. A National school, recently established, is supported by voluntary contributions. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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