Uphill your Village Welcome to Village, our Village, your Village

This village is set to survive. Where Ashcombe, Milton and Worle have forever lost their tranquil rural feel, Uphill remains a village, and this despite its very obvious links with Weston. The protection of the golf course, Nature Reserves, Castle grounds and the delightful Donkey Field from inappropriate development will ensure that Uphill is safe! Early 19th century quarrying exposed evidence of very early occupation, with flint tools and animal bones found in a small cave indicating habitation 40,000 years ago and those who walk the track over Walborough should spare a thought for our Bronze Age forebears who were laid to rest on this windswept hillock. Uphill's position on the coast gives a clue to its growth. Imagine the sea lapping around the hill side. Though hard evidence is scant, it seems the Romans may well have used Uphill as a port for moving lead from their mines at Charterhouse. It was the Mediaeval monks of Glastonbury who changed the local landscape forever with the construction of flood defence dykes and drainage ditches, turning the River Axe into an important inland waterway. Do not imagine for one minute that the Holy Brothers spent all their time at prayer. More of the salt marsh was reclaimed during the 17th century, establishing new fields known as warths. Most of their trade was across the . Sheep came from Wales and, during the Industrial Revolution, lime went back for the steel industry and the remains of an old lime kiln can still be seen by the boatyard. In 1592 a French merchant ship was reported to have here "mett by an Englishe shippe appointed warlyke belonging to Syr Walter Rawleigh" and forced in to Uphill where its cargo of fish and oil was seized by Bnstol merchants. Even the Duke of Monmouth was urged to use Uphill as a staging post in his rebellion of 1685. From walking your dog on the beach to meeting the cows on the hill the nature of Uphill will provide hours of enjoyment and interest.

The oldest building to survive the Gothic design features. The current friend of the social reformer ravages of time stands defiantly on owners have restored the grand William Wilberforce, stayed some the hilltop. The old Church of St Puginesque interior making the time in the village and the poet Nicholas, built just after the house into a fine family house with William Lisle Bowles was the son Norman Conquest of 1066, may be B & B. of a former rector. The school was on the site of an earlier Saxon Further up the hillside is built in 1872 and has been church. The roof was partially Uphill Grange, once the residence extended to cope with an ever- removed in 1864 and with the of the Whitting family and a increasing population of children. building of the new St Nicholas former Muller orphanage. This is The Ship has been a pub for over Church in a more accessible part of now a nursing home set in 250 years and though the Dolphin the village, 'Old Nick' fell into spacious grounds with two burned down in 1860 it was soon disuse and is now looked after by charming gate lodges, the lower replaced. Both pubs were haunts of the Churches Conservation Trust. one of which is currently being smugglers who were often known Despite no longer being a place of expertly extended. The oldest to leave their ale on the hill and, by regular worship, its floodlit domestic building is Uphill Farm, careful use of lanterns, guide ships countenance gazes down upon the probably late into Uphill heathen lands of modern time. 16th with their Many people assume that Century. It is contraband Uphill's name is somehow related the former cargoes. On one to the hill, but this is not so. The Manor occasion a village's name, as recorded in the House and French lugger Domesday Book, of Opopill is has been failed to up- more realistic, indicating a place. recently anchor in time Uphill's story is inextricably bound acquired by and the tide ran to water as those villagers of 1981 Weston out, leaving the will testify. Hopefully, the new Hospice. captain high flood defences put up two years Sandcroft Cottages, Rose Cottage, and dry, later will provide the local Park Cottage and the superbly surrounded by kegs of brandy! residents with total protection restored Old Schoolhouse Proper pubs, not those converted from the raging elements, even complete with thatched roof are all into restaurants which just happen allowing for global warming. The surviving examples of Uphill's to serve beer, are an integral part grandest house in Uphill is the rural past and the Coastguard of village life, as are the church, 'castle', though it is by no means Cottages remind us of the illicit chapel, primary school, Westhaven the oldest nor is it genuinely trade in spirits and tobacco which school, the local shop and cricket defendable. Built in 1805 as a went on hereabouts. pitch. school, it was acquired in 1825 by Uphill is not without literary For more history of uphill visit our Thomas Knyfton who added the links. The writer Hannah More, a website at www.uphillvillage.org.uk houses a heronry. The parent birds Things to see can be seen in spring flying back For the more energetic: and forth to feed the young. and do Go sailing. The Uphill Boatyard, Study the plant life.The plant life Yacht Club and public on the hill and surrounds is very Uphill is a small village with wharf provide interest for those interesting and some rare and around 875 dwellings, and has the with a nautical bent. scarce plants are to be found, following facilities: Look at the flowers. The “Donkey including orchids. Have a drink. Uphill has two Field”, located opposite Uphill Feed the ducks. In the village, public houses, “The Dolphin” and Manor, is filled with flowers in ducks and moorhens are present “The Ship”, both of which serve spring, with snowdrops in throughout the year on the Great bar snacks and meals. February followed by crocuses, Rhine. Feeding the ducks is a daffodils and bluebells in Have a meal! Both public houses popular pastime with young succession. The Donkey Field is in and a local restaurant and cafe children. the care of the Woodland Trust. serve quality food and always give Go for a walk: a warm welcome. as will our local Climb the Hill. The Hill provides restaurant and wharf side cafe. panoramic views of the local The Uphill Village Society has Weston-super-Mare area, the published a book of 10 local walks Stop overnight. The Old Hall levels and the hills from that can be obtained locally or provides comfortable Bed and Mendips to Exmoor and from the Weston-super-Mare Breakfast accommodation Lynmouth, the Bristol Channel, Tourist information Office on the throughout the year. Uphill Manor and Wales beyond. sea front or by request via on the northern entrance to the [email protected]. The village has been converted into a Watch birds. The Tidal Trail walks can also be downloaded high-class Bed & Breakfast provides a scenic route to a bird individually from the village web establishment. reserve with lakeside hides and leads on to other paths on which to site. Pop in a shop. Uphill News, a walk. The Quarry area is rich in Further information on all aspects well-stocked shop/newsagent and wild life and the quarry is home to of Uphill life can be found on the a good General Store is located on kestrels and many other small village web site - Old Church Road in the centre of birds. The Copse at the eastern end the village. www.uphillvillage.org.uk. of the hill behind The Grange

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