English Heritage sites near Catcott Parish
MEARE FISH HOUSE
4 miles from Catcott Parish
The only surviving monastic fishery building in England, this housed the Abbot of Glastonbury's water bailiff and provided facilities for fish-salting and drying.
GLASTONBURY TRIBUNAL
6 miles from Catcott Parish
Fine, late 15th century stone townhouse, early Tudor façade and panelled interiors. Home to Glastonbury Lake Village Museum: discover life 2000 years ago when much of Somerset consisted of marshy sea.
MUCHELNEY ABBEY
9 miles from Catcott Parish
Once a wealthy Benedictine house, Muchelney’s main buildings were demolished by Henry VIII in 1538. See the richly decorated cloister walk and thatched monks’ lavatory – the only one in Britain.
STANTON DREW CIRCLES AND COVE
19 miles from Catcott Parish
Although this is the third largest complex of prehistoric standing stones in England, the three circles and three-stone ‘cove’ of Stanton Drew in Somerset are surprisingly little known. The Great Circle, 113 metres in diameter, is one of the largest stone circles in the country and has 26 surviving upright stones. Yet recent surveys have revealed that the circles and cove were just part of a much more elaborate and important ritual site than had previously been imagined.
SHERBORNE OLD CASTLE
21 miles from Catcott Parish
Built on a grand scale in the 12th century by the Bishop of Salisbury, Sherborne was coveted by churchmen and noblemen alike giving it a long, chequered history. Picnic, shop, light refreshments.
DAWS CASTLE
21 miles from Catcott Parish
Daws Castle is a clifftop fortress, which was founded by King Alfred to defend the people of Watchet against Viking attacks.
Churches in Catcott Parish
St Peter's, Catcott
Church Way
Catcott
Bridgwater
http://poldenwheel.co.uk/
St Peter's Church itself is believed to have been built in the 13th century (1292), and possibly on the site of a previous Norman chapel. Originally it was a Chapel of Ease, and the mother church was St Mary the virgin at Moorlinch. Together with 6 others they made up 7 sisters, and belonged to the Benedictine Abbey of Glastonbury.
In the 1530's Glastonbury Abbey was dissolved. The lease of St Peter's was transferred to William Coke, and he claimed the church was a chantry, which meant he could close it and remove the vicar. However, the Vicar and six parishioners appealed to the Bishop of Bath and Wells. In 1553 the decision was made that it was indeed a chapel of ease, and William Coke was ordered to reinstate the Church (he had removed and dismantled items). He refused, and was imprisoned for 13months, but he did then rebuild the Church.
The next three and a half centuries were essentially uneventful. The Church remained privately owned, but local people were allowed to attend services at St Peter's, to save them the walk to Moorlinch, but could not be buried there. Thus, burials of local folk, aside from
the family of the lord of the manor, did not start until approximately
1930 (they had to be buried at Moorlinch). In 1924, following an application made to become part of the Bath and Wells Diocese, St Peter's was united with the Burtle parish. Since then the parish has also been joined with other parishes and in 2013 the Polden Wheel was formed, joining 6 parishes together - Ashcott, Burtle, Catcott, Chilton Polden, Edington, Shapwick.
Quite a lot of the 13th century building remains - the north wall (including the small window behind choir stall), part of east wall behind the altar, and the priests door. In the tower, the small door, and the spiral staircase it leads to, are original, but the rest of the tower was rebuilt in the 15th century. Internally it has some interesting features including additional seating that can be pulled out from the pews towards the back, and some wall paintings. The font is 13th century, and shows signs of damage, so may have been removed and replaced by William Coke.
We aim to open the Church early morning to late afternoon, and everyone is always welcome, if you do come please do sign the visitors book.
Pubs in Catcott Parish
Crown Inn
1 The Nydon, Catcott, TA7 9HQ
(01278) 722288
thecrowncatcott.co.uk
King William Inne
King William Road, Catcott, TA7 9HU
(01278) 722933
kingwilliaminncatcott.co.uk