Bickenhall

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 50.96051
longitude= -3.02657
official_name= Bickenhall
population = 122
shire_district= Taunton Deane
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= ST280184
hide_services =true

Bickenhall is a hamlet and parish in Somerset, England, situated five miles south east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 122 ref|population.

Bickenhall is a hamlet of scattered homes and farms and is home to Neroche Parish Hall which holds many high profile events including Take Art Plays, a yearly Boule Competition and a bi-annual fish and chip quiz night which is a roaring success with the locals. The nearest pubs are the Greyhound Inn at Staple Fitzpaine and The Farmers Inn at West Hatch. The village was once larger than the neighbouring Staple Fitzpaine due to a roaring trade in Teasels that were used in the wool trade but in the 19th century this declined dramatically and as a result many homes became derelict and are now only seen as stones in many of the fields. The Portland Estate that dominated the area also accommodated a manor house within the parish that sadly went the same way as the village homes. The land is generally now owned by The Crown and cultivated by a number of farms including arable and more recently a growth in Equestrian activities taking full use of the Bridlways and droves.

References

# Somerset County Council, [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics/contents/population/estimates/2002mye/ 2002 population estimates] .