Taking it to the next level

Saturday 17January DH, RW, PCL, DL, JB, JS, Scrumpy & Albus

It had been another mainly wet week, but the forecast for Saturday started damp but was set to steadily improve throughout the morning, so I planned a new walk to the east of Somerton on which we would predominantly be on good surfaces. Ralph had had a busy week so left the men to it today and it was good to welcome JS back from his extended Christmas holiday ready to start his second year in the group. The RV was at 0830 in the long stay area of the main town car park and whilst we waited for the Bruton car to arrive, JB was being his usual inquisitive self trying to understand the cooling instrumentation on a Co-Op refrigerated artic doing a drop off at the local store. It was close to 0840 by the time we set off, through the car park and out onto West Street heading towards the market square. Like many Somerset towns this narrow street was once the main high street in years gone but has become more navigable with the introduction of a one way system and the through traffic being directed away from the old town centre. Read a brief account of the history of Somerton here.

This is the first time any of our walks have taken us through the former County Town, but I must say that the main square in Somerton has to be one of the nicest in this area.

On the far left stands the oldest building in Somerton, the 13th century Grade 1 Parish church of St Michael and All Angels   The huge square lower section gives way to an octagonal top stage via the usual architectural device known as “broaching”. The church is famous for its amazingly decorated wooden roof of 700 carved panels made by the monks of Muchelney Abbey in 1450.

Looking to the right is the War Memorial, carved in Portland stone and erected in 1921 to commemorate the many citizens of Somerton who died in both World Wars.

On the near side of the square is the octagonal shaped market cross. Known as the Buttercross it was built by the Stawell family in 1673 and given to the parish council in 1916. Behind that stands the market hall also called the old town hall. At the end of the 16th century, Sir Edward Hext, a local magnate, built a market house as a gift to the town. The building was a dry place where it was easier to sell goods such as flour, corn, vegetables and fruit.The need for such a market house was eventually reduced, as the market in Somerton became less and less popular, and the use of the building changed to that of an assembly room. It remained an assembly room for Somerton clubs and residents up until 1982, when a private developer internally reconstructed it for use as offices. This building, although known locally as the Old Town Hall was never actually used as a a town hall in the strictest sense. (All info from www.somerton.co.uk).

We passed across the front of the Globe and White Hart pubs, both which seem to be quite old, (due to the late 18th century facade), but in fact they are much older than they appear from the outside. We then headed out of town along Kirkham Street, passed the site of the former primary school which has now moved to the western edge of town, (we passed it in March ‘25) and into one of the residential area passing old coach house and Alms houses on both sides of the street. Unfortunately the age decreased and the quality slowly deteriorated as we headed further east. From the map it looked like our pathway into a field was through a main gate, but we had to go around the other side of a row of council flats to find the small kissing gate. Although there was plenty of standing water, the field wasn’t too muddy and we crossed a stile then headed down a slope towards Lower Somerton and the area known as the Millands. Ahead of us Somerton Court Country Hotel stood on the far hillside, Built in 1662 on the site of a Roman Villa, the property has substantial grounds and trees including an umbrella shaped yew near the house. Regular overnight visitors over the years have included Anne Boleyn and Dick Turpin.

Just before the end of the road we paused by the gates to the Dower House, with its own lovely courtyard and garden. A dower house is a home, usually on a large estate, set aside for the widow (dowager) of the owner, allowing her to live comfortably after her husband's death while the heir takes over the main residence. These houses are typically smaller but still substantial, providing a dignified residence for the dowager when the heir (often the son) brings his new wife to the principal mansion. Nowadays I suppose it would just be called a granny annex!

Treading carefully we crossed the B3151 and headed up Huish Road and alongside the main wall of another large estate, this time predominantly in agricultural use. More information and pictures of the house at Somerton Randle can be read in a Countrylife article here

As we walked along, looking at the fallen bits of wall and discussing our Christmas and New Year events, JB slowly revealed