NETTLECOMBE PARISH . WEST SOMERSET nettlecombe ParishYour Plan For YPlanour Parish ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP SECOND EDITION 1904 FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF BEN LINTOTT VIEW OVER NETTLECOMBE PARK LOOKING TOWARDS THE QUANTOCK HILLS Published by NETTLECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL © Nettlecombe Parish Council 2013 . Printed in Somerset, England NETTLECOMBE PARISH . WEST SOMERSET NETTLECOMBE PARISH . WEST SOMERSET 1 Contents Introduction Introduction Page 1 The parishioners of Nettlecombe were consulted via a well-publicised public meeting to see if there A portrait of our Parish was interest in formulating a future plan for the parish. Geography, land use and environment. Page 2 The built environment. Page 4 There was enthusiastic support for this and a committee was formed from members of the The people of Nettlecombe. Page 6 parish, which determined that a plan was needed: Nettlecombe visitors and what attracts them to the area. Page 7 1. To take advantage of the opportunity offered by central government for communities to determine The future of our Parish their own development within the Local Development Framework, the Localism Bill and The original purpose of Parish Plans. Page 8 ongoing changes in local planning legislation. Proposed projects and action. Page 11 2. To give the Parish Council a mandate to work towards improving the life of Nettlecombe residents now and into the future. 3. To give residents the opportunity to become involved in improving life in the parish. HARVEST TIME IN NETTLECOMBE 2012 NETTLECOMBE IN TIME HARVEST 4. To provide a structure for achieving these improvements, including accessing funding where available to ensure these provisions are ongoing. ALL ROADS LEAD TO NETTLECOMBE! OAK TREE AND OIL SEED RAPE FIELD, NETTLECOMBE 2013 . 2 NETTLECOMBE PARISH WEST SOMERSET 3 Geography, land use and environment . Geographically much of Nettlecombe lies above Recently much of this loss has been reversed. the 152m contour and reaches 358m on the Grant aid has enabled the estate to re-instate Brendon ridge. The landscape is undulating, in Parsonage Pond (originally the site of the village places steeply, and lies mostly on slate and red and parsonage), the lakes below the pleasure West Somerset sandstone. ground and the old leat. Old hedges and fences were grubbed up and There are occasional rocky outcrops evidenced by new metal fencing to the pattern of the original The area on the map bordered in yellow indicates the boundary of the the many disused small quarries in the parish, has been installed to re-create the style and Civil Parish of Nettlecombe in West once a convenient local source of building stone atmosphere of the original park. Somerset. for the community. West Somerset covers a largely rural The park has been wood pasture or parkland for area, with a population of 34,675 The landscape consists of good grazing and at least 400 years. The oldest standard oak trees (2011 census), in an area of 740 square kilometres (290 square mixed arable land, with the steeper slopes covered are over 200 years of age and some oak pollards miles). by woodland. It descends to the north east and may be even older. The continuity of open drains into the Washford River or the Doniford According to figures released by the woodland and parkland, with large mature and Office for National Statistics in 2009, Stream. over-mature timber, has enabled characteristic the population of West Somerset species of lichens and wood boring beetles to has the oldest average age in the United Kingdom at 52. In size the parish is almost 4 miles from north to become established. south and 3 miles from east to west, but has an irregular shape, giving an area of about 12 square Many of these species are now nationally scarce miles on the map, but this is increased by its because this type of habitat is scarce over large undulating nature. areas of Great Britain. It is because of the presence of these species that, in 1990, 90 Approximately 80 per cent of the land area is hectares of Nettlecombe Park were designated as given over to mixed farming, primarily sheep and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). cattle on the steeper slopes, with mixed arable crops on the flatter land. The remaining 20 per Within the SSSI, 150 species of lichens have been cent lies on the steeper slopes and consists of identified. This reflects the wide range of habitats managed woodland, some of which is used for present, created by variations in the age of trees, raising pheasants, shooting being a popular sport their exposure and aspect. Thirteen of these in and around Nettlecombe parish. species are regarded as being indicators of ancient woodland or parkland sites. Nettlecombe Court is occupied by the Field Studies Council, an environmental education Beetles recorded from this site include five charity committed to helping people nationally scarce species. Eleven other species are understand, and be inspired by, the natural world. associated with the dead and decaying parts of old trees, and are restricted to this habitat. Nettlecombe Park was created around the Court at the end of the 18th century and was Timber forms part of the local economy and subsequently extended to include pleasure recently it has become necessary to fell large grounds with artificial lakes along a stream and quantities of larch to control disease, particularly much new iron fencing to keep the deer at bay. in Pooke Wood and Kings Wood. This disease During the 20th century harder times led to is hosted by rhododendron so this has also been much of this falling into decay and some was cut back. very nearly lost forever. Map from Ordnance Survey: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk 4 NETTLECOMBE PARISH . WEST SOMERSET NETTLECOMBE PARISH . WEST SOMERSET 5 The built environment The parish of Nettlecombe lies within the bounds residential aspect of what were originally accommodate the workforce of the estate. of the Exmoor National Park and is fragmented agricultural settlements. Two exceptions in style Both the church and the Court are built of local into the three hamlets of Woodford, Yarde and are Combe House, a typical Regency style red Sandstone, and still form the centre of the Torre, and several outlying farms as far as symmetrical house with a stucco finish and a community as the Court is now a Field Study Holcombe Water Farm on the Brendon Hills, shallow pitch roof, and the Old Rectory, built as Centre with hundreds of visiting children and and Woodadvent and Clitsome Farms adjacent a private house in 1900. Both were built for adults each year. to Roadwater. members of the Trevelyan family estate. At least two houses in Yarde date back to the 14thC and Torre lies to the north-west of the parish it This is a very rural parish; there is no village, no most were built in the 17th and 18thC. There was emerged as a hamlet in the 14thC and grew school, no library building or public house; yet an important mill, an inn, a large farm and a during the 18th and 19thC. The construction of despite its low population density it is a mixed blade mill. In 1891 a school was established with the West Somerset Mineral Railway started here and active community. 120 children in its heyday. All these buildings are at Roughmore on 29th May 1856. Torre House now private residences. formerly Torre Farm dates back to 1681 and was TORRE Like many rural areas the built environment is a sizeable farm, the outbuildings of which now historical and in the vernacular. The majority of The Manor of Nettlecombe is mentioned in the form the Torre Cider farm. buildings were constructed in the 18th and 19th Domesday book and the first mention of a house centuries to serve agricultural needs, and are built on the site is in 1525. It has been extensively Other settlements of importance are Beggearn from locally sourced red sandstone, slate and enlarged over the centuries. There was probably a Huish, the estate being mentioned in 1086: timber. church by the late 12thC and it became the Woodadvent Farm dating from 1284; Huish Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary by 1440 Barton built in the 16thC and Colton Farm, Some properties were thatched and some of these and is still the proud possessor of the oldest where iron ore mining was concentrated from retain their thatch, though others have had their hallmarked church plate in the country. These 1860. There are not many modern houses slate or thatch roofs replaced with modern two buildings were the centre of the once village possibly the most recent being Torre Surgery. concrete tiles. Similarly some buildings have their of Nettlecombe. In the late 1700s the Park was Outside the parish, but very much a part of it, is external stonework covered by coloured limewash landscaped and the village was removed to the Elworthy, Monksilver and Nettlecombe or plaster. Some farm barns and stables have been specially built houses in Woodford. At this time Community Hall, a dynamically styled focus for converted to residential use, increasing the the hamlets of Yarde and Torre were enlarged to social activity. THE EMN COMMUNITY HALL NETTLECOMBE COURT AND THE CHURCH WOODFORD YARDE WITH THE BLADE MILL IN THE RIGHT FOREGROUND 6 NETTLECOMBE PARISH . WEST SOMERSET NETTLECOMBE PARISH . WEST SOMERSET 7 The people of Nettlecombe Visitors to Nettlecombe There are approximately 90 households in the within the parish including tourism, engineering, The rural nature of our parish makes it a popular parish. Wood Advent Farm offers comfortable parish, plus a number of holiday cottages, and financial services, communications, design and destination for visitors with an interest in nature accommodation as well as activities in a charming population of approximately 250, evenly arts and crafts.