Long Sutton, Somerset

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.025841
longitude= -2.760555
official_name= Long Sutton
population = 862Somerset County Council, 2002. [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics/contents/population/estimates/2002mye/ Population estimates] .]
shire_district= South Somerset
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
Ambulance= South Western
constituency_westminster= Somerton and Frome
post_town= LANGPORT
postcode_district = TA10
postcode_area= TA
dial_code= 01458
os_grid_reference= ST467254

Long Sutton is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated four miles south of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 862.

The village of Long Sutton has a village green with a lime tree at each corner and a chestnut tree in the centre. The Devonshire Arms Hotel [cite web | title=The Devonshire Arms Hotel | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263218 | accessdate=2007-09-22] is at one end of the green and at the other are the school and Holy Trinity church, dating from 1490. [cite book |last=Pevsner |first=Nikolaus |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The buildings of England, South and West Somerset |year=1958 |publisher=Penguin Books |location= |isbn= ] The village is made up of two hamlets, Knole at one end and Upton at the other.

The Reading to Plymouth Line railway runs under the bridge at Upton and at one time certain trains stopped at Long Sutton and Pitney Halt, as it was called until its closure in the early 1960s. The bridge over the River Yeo is medieval in origin, but probably reshaped in the 18th century. [cite web | title=Load Bridge | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263264 | accessdate=2007-09-22]

History

There is evidence of Roman occupation throughout the parish. It was recorded in the Domesday Book as Sutone.cite web |url=http://www.longsutton.org.uk/ |title=History of Long Sutton |accessdate=2007-09-22 |format= |work=Long Sutton Village Website ] The manor was given by King Alfred to his Athelney Abbey and was held by the abbey until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. In 1600 it was bought by Sir John Spencer, who was previously the Lord Mayor of London. It was later part of the estates of the Duke of Devonshire, who dispersed it in 1919.cite book |last=Bush |first=Robin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset: The complete guide |year=1994 |publisher=Dovecote press |location=Wimbourne |isbn=187433627X ]

Until the 20th century agriculture remained the main industry. The population has remained between 800 and 1000 from about 1800.

Local customs

Punkie Night originated many years ago and was started by farm labourers to light their way home after work. It is now the "children's night" and held on the nearest night to Halloween. The children carry their "punkies" made from either mangolds, turnips, or marrows, which are hollowed out and faces or animals carved on them. They are lit with a candle inside similar to the modern Halloween custom.

Holy Trinity church

Holy Trinity church dates from 1493. An earlier church would have stood on this site from the 9th century or earlier. The current church was built of local lias stone cut and squared, with Ham stone dressings. It has stone slate roofs between stepped coped gabled with finials to the chancel and north porch. Internally, the chancel has a ceiled wagon-roof, with moulded ribs and plaster panels. The tower exhibits the tracery typical of Somerset churches. The under-tower space has a lierne vault, and a 15th century octagonal font with quatrefoil panels. The building has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.cite web | title=Church of the Holy Trinity | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263214 | accessdate=2007-09-22] The tower has a ring of six bells, the tenor weighing convert|136|st|kg|0|lk=on. [cite web |url=http://www.longsutton.org.uk/ |title=Long Sutton |accessdate=2008-03-06 |format= |work=Long Sutton ] The coloured timber pulpit, with a fly approach stair, dates from 1455-58 and is older than the church itself. It has 20th century wood figures in the statue niches. It bears the initials identified as those of Abbot John Petherton of Althelney and vicar William Singleton.

The wood screen is also ornately carved and dates from the late 15th century. [cite web |url=http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=11003 |title=Holy Trinity, Long Sutton |accessdate=2007-09-22 |format= |work=Diocese of Bath & Wells ] Memorials in the church include a tablet to Elizabeth Banbury, died l716, with Corinthian columns and entablature, side and bottom swags, as well as a number of 16th- and 17th-century Keinton stone slabs in the floor.

Quaker Meeting House

The parish was a centre of Quaker worship from 1662, and there was a licensed meeting-house by 1669. The present Quaker Meeting House was built in Queen Anne style and finished in 1717. It is still used for worship by the Quakers. It was closed briefly in 1793 and 1798, but prospered after the closure of the Somerton meeting house in 1828. [cite web | title=The Friend's Meeting House | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263241 | accessdate=2007-09-22] There is a mounting block outside the building, which worshippers used to mount and dismount their horses. Worshippers came from as far away as Street, nearly seven miles away.

Other buildings

Opposite the Quaker Meeting House, known as Quakers' Corner, are two cottages, once thatched. In one of these cottages it is said that Mrs Palmer of Huntley & Palmers fame made her first biscuits and cakes to help provide for her family. Some of the grave stones mark the resting place of the Palmer family in the grounds of the Friends' Meeting House.

The Manor House, of the green probably dates from the late 15th century. [cite web | title=The Manor House | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263220 | accessdate=2007-09-22] Court House on Langport road is from a similar period. [cite web | title=Court House | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263243 | accessdate=2007-09-22] Knole contains a waterwheel, dating from 1879 having been moved from a site higher upstream where it was first recorded in 1479-80. [cite web | title=The Old Mill, waterwheel and aqueduct | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263231 | accessdate=2007-09-22] The wheel is convert|15|ft|m|1 in diameter and convert|5|ft|m|0 in width and was cast by ‘The Somerset Wheel & Wagon Co, Engineers & Millwrights, Martock’. [cite web | title=Long Sutton: Knole Mill | work=Geograph | url=http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/91331 | accessdate=2007-09-22]

Famous residents

* George Palmer, founder of Huntley and Palmers biscuits was born in the village.

References

External links

* [http://www.longsutton.org.uk/ Long Sutton Parish Web Site]
* [http://www.somerset3d.co.uk/gallery.htm#l Photos of Long Sutton in 3d (Anaglyphs)]