Fitzhead

Fitzhead is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) north west of Taunton in the Somerset West and Taunton district. The village has an estimated population of 264.[1]

Fitzhead

Church of St James the Great, Fitzhead
Fitzhead
Location within Somerset
Population264 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceST115285
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTAUNTON
Postcode districtTA4
Dialling code01823
PoliceAvon and Somerset
FireDevon and Somerset
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament

History

The name of the village, which was recorded as Fifida in 1178 indicates the original extent of five hides (about 600 acres (242.8 ha).[2]

The parish of Fitzhead was part of the Kingsbury Hundred,[3]

Governance

The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) 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 (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

The village falls within the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton, which was established on 1 April 2019. It was previously in the district of Taunton Deane, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, and part of Wellington Rural District before that.[4] The district council is responsible for local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism.

Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, policing and fire services, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning.

It is also part of the Taunton Deane 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, and was part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament prior to Britain leaving the European Union in January 2020, which elected seven MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.

Landmarks

Fitzhead Court and The Manor date from the late 16th century.[5] The building was constructed by Major Robert Cannon (died 1685) a royalist veteran of the Civil War, and passed through his successors to the Somerville Barons. The estate was sold to Baron Ashburton in 1840.[2] The village is also home to two defunct village pumps.[6]

Religious sites

The parish Church of St James the Great dates from the 15th century with expansion and restoration in the 19th century. It has been designated as a grade II* listed building.[7] The cross in the churchyard is from the 14th century.[8]

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References
  1. "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The Complete Guide. Dovecote Press. p. 100. ISBN 1-874336-26-1.
  3. "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  4. "Wellington RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  5. Historic England. "Fitzhead Court and The Manor (1059202)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  6. http://www.villagepumps.org.uk/fitzhead.htm
  7. Historic England. "Church of St James the Great (1175726)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  8. Historic England. "Cross in Churchyard, Church of St James the Great (1059198)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 January 2009.

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