Mendip District

Mendip is a local government district of Somerset in England. The district covers a largely rural area of 285 square miles (738 km²)[2] with a population of approximately 112,500,[2] ranging from the Wiltshire border in the east to part of the Somerset Levels in the west. The district takes its name from the Mendip Hills which lie in its northwest. The administrative centre of the district is Shepton Mallet but the largest town (three times larger than Shepton Mallet) is Frome.

Mendip Mendip District
Non-metropolitan district
Shown within Somerset
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	South West England
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Admin HQ	Shepton Mallet
Created	1 April 1974
Government
• Type	Non-metropolitan district
• Leader	Ros Wyke[1]
• Council	Liberal Democrats
• MPs:	James Heappey (Conservatives), David Warburton (Cons)
Area
• Total	285.50 sq mi (739.44 km^2)
Population  (mid-2019 est.)
• Total	115,587 (Ranked 205th)
Time zone	UTC0 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (BST)
Post Code	BA
Area code(s)	01749
Website	http://www.mendip.gov.uk/

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the municipal boroughs of Glastonbury and Wells, along with Frome, Shepton Mallet, Street urban districts, and Frome Rural District, Shepton Mallet Rural District, Wells Rural District, part of Axbridge Rural District and part of Clutton Rural District.

Toponymy

Several explanations for the name Mendip have been suggested. Its earliest known form is Mendepe in 1185. One suggestion is that it is derived from the medieval term Myne-deepes.[3][4] However, A D Mills derives its meaning from Celtic monith, meaning mountain or hill, with an uncertain second element, perhaps Old English yppe in the sense of upland, or plateau.[5]

An alternative explanation is that the name is cognate with Mened (Welsh mynydd), a Brythonic term for upland moorland. The suffix may be a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon hop, meaning a valley. Possible further meanings have been identified. The first is 'the stone pit' from the Celtic meyn and dyppa in reference to the collapsed cave systems of Cheddar. The second is 'Mighty and Awesome' from the Old English moen and deop.[6]

Governance

The district falls under the jurisdiction of Mendip District Council. As of the 2019 Local elections, the Council went to No Overall Control.

Party	Seats	Net Gain/Loss
Liberal Democrat	22	+11
Conservative	10	-22
Green	10	+7
Independent	5	+4

Since then, an independent has joined the Liberal Democrats, giving them 23 seats - one seat short of an outright majority on Mendip District Council.

Settlements

The five main settlements in Mendip are:

• Frome
• Glastonbury
• Shepton Mallet
• Street
• Wells

Frome, Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet are the only towns in the district, as Wells has city status and Street has maintained its status as a village despite a population in excess of 11,000.[7]

Other villages and hamlets include:

• Ashwick
• Baltonsborough - Batcombe - Beckington - Binegar - Bleadney - Bowlish - Buckland Dinham - Burcott - Butleigh - Butleigh Wootton
• Chantry - Charterhouse - Chelynch - Chesterblake - Chewton Mendip - Chilcompton - Coleford - Coxley - Cranmore - Croscombe
• Dean - Dinder - Ditcheat - Doulting - Draycott - Dulcote
• East Lydford - East Pennard - Easton - Emborough - Evercreech
• Farleigh Hungerford - Faulkland
• Godney - Great Elm - Green Ore
• Henton - Highbury - Holcombe - Hornblotton - Horrington - Huxham Green
• Kilmersdon
• Lamyatt - Leigh-on-Mendip - Leighton - Litton - Lydford-on-Fosse
• Maesbury - Meare - Mells
• Nettlebridge - North Wootton - Norton St Philip - Nunney
• Oakhill - Oldford
• Pilton - Polsham - Prestleigh - Priddy - Pylle
• Rode - Rodney Stoke
• Southway - Standerwick - Ston Easton - Stratton-on-the-Fosse - Stoke St Michael - Stoney Stratton
• Thrupe - Trudoxhill
• Upton Noble
• Vobster
• Walton - Wanstrow - Waterlip - West Compton - West Lydford - West Pennard - West Woodlands - Westbury-sub-Mendip - Westcombe - Westhay - Whatley - Wookey - Wookey Hole - Worminster - Witham Friary
• Yarley

Parishes

Image	Name	Status	Population[8]	Former local authority	Coordinates	Refs
	Ashwick	Civil parish	1,352	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.23°N 2.52°W / 51.23; -2.52 (Ashwick)	[9][10]
	Baltonsborough	Civil parish	864	Wells Rural District	51.11°N 2.64°W / 51.11; -2.64 (Baltonsborough)	[11][12]
	Batcombe	Civil parish	439	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.15°N 2.44°W / 51.15; -2.44 (Batcombe, Somerset)	[10][13]
	Beckington	Civil parish	983	Frome Rural District	51.26°N 2.28°W / 51.26; -2.28 (Beckington)	[14][15]
	Berkley	Civil parish	344	Frome Rural District	51.24°N 2.27°W / 51.24; -2.27 (Berkley, Somerset)	[15][16]
	Binegar	Civil parish	313	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.24°N 2.55°W / 51.24; -2.55 (Binegar)	[10][17]
	Buckland Dinham	Civil parish	381	Frome Rural District	51.26°N 2.35°W / 51.26; -2.35 (Buckland Dinham)	[15][18]
	Butleigh	Civil parish	823	Wells Rural District	51.09°N 2.68°W / 51.09; -2.68 (Butleigh)	[12][19]
	Chewton Mendip	Civil parish	585	Wells Rural District	51.28°N 2.58°W / 51.28; -2.58 (Chewton Mendip)	[12][20]
	Chilcompton	Civil parish	2,062	Clutton Rural District	51.27°N 2.50°W / 51.27; -2.50 (Chilcompton)	[21][22]
	Coleford	Civil parish	2,313	Frome Rural District	51.24°N 2.45°W / 51.24; -2.45 (Coleford, Somerset)	[15][23]
	Cranmore	Civil parish	667	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.19°N 2.48°W / 51.19; -2.48 (Cranmore, Somerset)	[10][24]
	Croscombe	Civil parish	603	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.20°N 2.58°W / 51.20; -2.58 (Croscombe)	[10][25]
	Ditcheat	Civil parish	725	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.13°N 2.54°W / 51.13; -2.54 (Ditcheat)	[10][26]
	Doulting	Civil parish	618	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.19°N 2.51°W / 51.19; -2.51 (Doulting)	[10][27]
	East Pennard	Civil parish	348	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.14°N 2.62°W / 51.14; -2.62 (East Pennard)	[10][28]
	Emborough	Civil parish	148	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.26°N 2.55°W / 51.26; -2.55 (Emborough)	[10][29]
	Evercreech	Civil parish	2,334	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.14°N 2.51°W / 51.14; -2.51 (Evercreech)	[10][30]
	Frome	Town	26,203	Frome Rural District Frome Urban District	51.23°N 2.32°W / 51.23; -2.32 (Frome)	[15][31]
	Glastonbury	Town	8,932	Glastonbury Municipal Borough	51.15°N 2.71°W / 51.15; -2.71 (Glastonbury)	[32][33]
	Godney	Civil parish	237	Wells Rural District	51.18°N 2.74°W / 51.18; -2.74 (Godney)	[12][34]
	Great Elm	Civil parish	171	Frome Rural District	51.24°N 2.36°W / 51.24; -2.36 (Great Elm)	[15][35]
	Hemington	Civil parish	640	Frome Rural District	51.28°N 2.39°W / 51.28; -2.39 (Hemington, Somerset)	[15][36]
	Holcombe	Civil parish	947	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.24°N 2.46°W / 51.24; -2.46 (Holcombe, Somerset)	[10][37]
	Kilmersdon	Civil parish	541	Frome Rural District	51.27°N 2.44°W / 51.27; -2.44 (Kilmersdon)	[15][38]
	Lamyatt	Civil parish	183	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.12°N 2.49°W / 51.12; -2.49 (Lamyat)	[10][39]
	Leigh-on-Mendip	Civil parish	514	Frome Rural District	51.23°N 2.44°W / 51.23; -2.44 (Leigh-on-Mendip)	[15][40]
	Litton	Civil parish	240	Clutton Rural District	51.29°N 2.58°W / 51.29; -2.58 (Litton, Somerset)	[22][41]
	Lullington	Civil parish	162	Frome Rural District	51.26°N 2.31°W / 51.26; -2.31 (Lullington, Somerset)	[15][42]
	Lydford-on-Fosse	Civil parish	511	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.07°N 2.62°W / 51.07; -2.62 (Lydford-on-Fosse)	[10][43]
	Meare	Civil parish	1,304	Wells Rural District	51.17°N 2.77°W / 51.17; -2.77 (Meare)	[12][44]
	Mells	Civil parish	638	Frome Rural District	51.24°N 2.39°W / 51.24; -2.39 (Mells, Somerset)	[15][45]
	North Wootton	Civil parish	317	Wells Rural District	51.17°N 2.62°W / 51.17; -2.62 (North Wootton, Somerset)	[12][46]
	Norton St Philip	Civil Parish	858	Frome Rural District	51.29°N 2.32°W / 51.29; -2.32 (Norton St Philip)	[15][47]
	Nunney	Civil parish	844	Frome Rural District	51.21°N 2.38°W / 51.21; -2.38 (Nunney)	[15][48]
	Pilton	Civil parish	998	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.17°N 2.59°W / 51.17; -2.59 (Pilton, Somerset)	[10][49]
	Priddy	Civil parish	624	Wells Rural District	51.25°N 2.68°W / 51.25; -2.68 (Priddy)	[12][50]
	Pylle	Civil parish	160	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.14°N 2.56°W / 51.14; -2.56 (Pylle)	[10][51]
	Rode	Civil parish	1,025	Frome Rural District	51.28°N 2.2°W / 51.28; -2.2 (Rode, Somerset)	[15][52]
	Rodney Stoke	Civil parish	1,326	Wells Rural District	51.25°N 2.74°W / 51.25; -2.74 (Rodney Stoke)	[12][53]
–	Selwood	Civil parish	798	Frome Rural District	51.24°N 2.31°W / 51.24; -2.31 (Selwood, Somerset)	[15][54]
	Sharpham	Civil parish	130	Wells Rural District	51.14°N 2.77°W / 51.14; -2.77 (Sharpham)	[12][55]
	Shepton Mallet	Town	10,369	Shepton Mallet Urban District	51.19°N 2.55°W / 51.19; -2.55 (Shepton Mallet)	[56][57]
	St Cuthbert Out	Civil parish	3,749	Wells Rural District	51.18°N 2.69°W / 51.18; -2.69 (St Cuthbert Out)	[12][58]
	Stoke St Michael	Civil parish	926	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.22°N 2.48°W / 51.22; -2.48 (Stoke St Michael)	[10][59]
	Ston Easton	Civil parish	550	Clutton Rural District	51.28°N 2.54°W / 51.28; -2.54 (Ston Easton)	[22][60]
	Stratton on the Fosse	Civil parish	1,108	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.25°N 2.49°W / 51.25; -2.49 (Stratton-on-the-Fosse)	[10][61]
	Street	Civil parish	11,805	Street Urban District	51.12°N 2.74°W / 51.12; -2.74 (Street, Somerset)	[62][63]
	Tellisford	Civil parish	182	Frome Rural District	51.29°N 2.28°W / 51.29; -2.28 (Tellisford)	[15][64]
	Trudoxhill	Civil parish	423	Frome Rural District	51.19°N 2.37°W / 51.19; -2.37 (Trudoxhill)	[15][65]
	Upton Noble	Civil parish	128	Frome Rural District	51.15°N 2.41°W / 51.15; -2.41 (Upton Noble)	[15][66]
	Walton	Civil parish	1,106	Wells Rural District	51.14°N 2.77°W / 51.14; -2.77 (Walton, Somerset)	[12][67]
	Wanstrow	Civil parish	489	Frome Rural District	51.17°N 2.41°W / 51.17; -2.41 (Wanstrow)	[15][68]
	Wells	City	10,536	Wells Municipal Borough	51.21°N 2.65°W / 51.21; -2.65 (Wells)	[12][69]
	West Bradley	Civil parish	277	Shepton Mallet Rural District	51.13°N 2.64°W / 51.13; -2.64 (West Bradley)	[10][70]
	West Pennard	Civil parish	670	Wells Rural District	51.14°N 2.65°W / 51.14; -2.65 (West Pennard)	[12][71]
	Westbury	Civil parish	801	Wells Rural District	51.24°N 2.71°W / 51.24; -2.71 (Westbury-sub-Mendip)	[12][72]
	Whatley	Civil parish	245	Frome Rural District	51.23°N 2.38°W / 51.23; -2.38 (Whatley, Mendip)	[15][73]
	Witham Friary	Civil parish	399	Frome Rural District	51.17°N 2.37°W / 51.17; -2.37 (Witham Friary)	[15][74]
	Wookey	Civil parish	1,311	Wells Rural District	51.21°N 2.69°W / 51.21; -2.69 (Wookey)	[12][75]

Transport

Major roads

• A37 from Bristol to Yeovil
• A361 from the M5 to Frome
• A371 from Weston-super-Mare to Wincanton
• A39 from Bath to Bridgwater

Railways

Railway stations

• Frome railway station served by Great Western Railway on the Heart of Wessex Line and Reading to Taunton Line.

East Somerset Railway

Railway stations

• Cranmore railway station
• Cranmore West railway station
• Merryfield Lane railway station
• Mendip Vale railway station

served by the East Somerset Railway.

Education

County schools (those which are not independent) in the five non-metropolitan districts of the county are operated by Somerset County Council.

For a full list of schools see: List of schools in Somerset

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
• Grade II* listed buildings in Mendip
• List of Scheduled Monuments in Mendip

References

1. Mumby, Daniel (21 May 2019). "What the first Lib Dem leader in Mendip for 16 years says she will do". SomersetLive. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
2. "Somerset Intelligence Network" (PDF). Mendip District Council. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
3. "Mendip Hills Natural Area profile" (PDF). English Nature. January 1998. Retrieved 16 July 2006.
4. "Autumn newsletter 2007" (PDF). Mendip Hills AONB. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
5. Dictionary of English Place Names
6. Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1-874336-03-2.
7. "Street Parish Council". Street Parish Council. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
8. Somerset County Council. Mendip Parish Population Statistics [archived 21 November 2009; Retrieved 3 July 2008].
9. "Ashwick Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
10. "Shepton Mallet RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
11. "Baltonsborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
12. "Wells RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
13. "Batcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
14. "Beckington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
15. "Frome RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
16. "Berkley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
17. "Binegar Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
18. "Buckland Dinham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
19. "Butleigh Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
20. "Chewton Mendip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
21. "Chilcompton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
22. "Clutton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
23. "Coleford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
24. "Cranmore Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
25. "Croscombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
26. "Ditcheat Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
27. "Doulting Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
28. "East Pennard Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
29. "Emborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
30. "Evercreech Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
31. "Frome Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
32. "Glastonbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
33. "Glastonbury MB". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
34. "Godney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
35. "Great Elm Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
36. "Hemington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
37. "Holcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
38. "Kilmersdon Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
39. "Lamyat Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
40. "Leigh-on-Mendip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
41. "Litton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
42. "Lullington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
43. "Lydford-on-Fosse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
44. "Meare Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
45. "Mells Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
46. "North Wootton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
47. "Norton St Philip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
48. "Nunney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
49. "Pilton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
50. "Priddy Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
51. "Pylle Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
52. "Rode Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
53. "Rodney Stoke Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
54. "Selwood Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
55. "Sharpham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
56. "Shepton Mallet Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
57. "Shepton Mallet UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
58. "St Cuthbert Out Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
59. "Stoke St Michael Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
60. "Ston Easton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
61. "Stratton on the Fosse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
62. "Street Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
63. "Street UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
64. "Tellisford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
65. "Trudoxhill Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
66. "Upton Noble Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
67. "Walton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
68. "Wanstrow Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
69. "Wells Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
70. "West Bradley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
71. "West Pennard Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
72. "Westbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
73. "Whatley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
74. "Witham Friary Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
75. "Wookey Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.

External links

• Mendip District Council
• Mendip at Curlie

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