Spaxton


Spaxton is a small village and civil parish on the Quantocks in Somerset, South West England. The village is about west of Bridgwater. Other settlements in the parish include Charlynch, Courtway, Four Forks, Gothelney Green, Merridge, and Splatt. The population of the parish at the 2021 census was 1,051.

History

The name of Spaxton may originate from Spakr, a Dane who settled in the area in about the 9th century. An alternative derivation is that it means "councillor's enclosure", from the Old English spæcas and tun. It is recorded as Spachestone in the 1086 Domesday Book, when the land was held by Alfred of Spain.
Spaxton was part of the hundred of Cannington.
The National Gazetteer says:
The modern parish includes the ancient parishes of Aisholt and Charlynch. Aisholt is one of the Thankful Villages – those villages that suffered no fatalities during the Great War of 1914–1918.
During the 19th century, Henry James Prince, former curate of Charlynch founded the notorious religious cult of the Agapemone at Four Forks.

Governance

The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.
For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Sedgemoor, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Bridgwater Rural District.
It is also part of the Bridgwater county constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Geography

Near the village is Hawkridge Reservoir which supplies water for Bridgwater, constructed between 1960 and 1962, and the Ashford Reservoir which was constructed in 1932.

Landmarks and notable buildings

Gothelney Hall at Gothelney Green was built in the 15th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.
Barford Park is in the south of the parish.
Parts of Court Farm near St Margaret's Church date from c.1500.

Religious sites