View source for Axbridge

{{Short description|Town in Somerset, England}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
| static_image_name = Axbridge High Street.jpg
| static_image_caption = Axbridge High Street
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|51.287|-2.815|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Axbridge
| population = 2,057
| population_ref = <ref name="popn">{{cite web|title=Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes&nbsp;— SUMMARY Profiles|url=http://www.somersetintelligence.org.uk/files/Somerset%20Census%20Key%20Statistics%20-%20Summary%20Profiles.xls|publisher=Somerset Intelligence|access-date=4 January 2014|format=Excel}}</ref>
| civil_parish             = Axbridge
| unitary_england = [[Somerset Council]]
| lieutenancy_england = [[Somerset]]
| region = South West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Wells and Mendip Hills (UK Parliament constituency)|Wells and Mendip Hills]]
| post_town = AXBRIDGE
| postcode_district = BS26
| postcode_area = BS
| dial_code = 01934
| os_grid_reference = ST431545
}}
'''Axbridge''' is a town in [[Somerset]], England, on the [[River Axe (Bristol Channel)|River Axe]], near the southern edge of the [[Mendip Hills]]. Its population according to the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] was 2,057.<ref name="popn"/>

==History==

''Axanbrycg'' is suggested as the source of the name, meaning a bridge over the River Axe, in the early 9th century.<ref>{{cite book | last =Room | first =Adrian|title =Dictionary of Place Names in the British Isles| url =https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofplac0000room | url-access =registration |year =1988| publisher =[[Bloomsbury Publishing]]|location=London |isbn =0-7475-0170-X}}</ref>

Early inhabitants of the area almost certainly include the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] (who are known to have mined [[lead]] on the top of the Mendips) and, earlier still, prehistoric man, who lived in the local caves and whose [[flint]] tools have been found on the slopes of the local hills. The history of Axbridge can be traced back to the reign of [[King Alfred]], when it was part of the [[Saxons]]' defence system for [[Wessex]] against the [[Vikings]]. In the [[Burghal Hidage]], a list of ''burhs'' compiled in 910, it was listed as ''Axanbrycg''.<ref name="havinden">{{cite book|last=Havinden|first=Michael|title=The Somerset Landscape|publisher=Hodder and Stoughton|location=London|series=The making of the English landscape|page=217|isbn=0-340-20116-9}}</ref> A listing of Axbridge appears in [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as ''{{lang|ang|Alse Bruge}}'', meaning 'axe bridge' from [[Old English]] ''{{lang|ang|isca}}'' and ''{{lang|ang|brycg}}''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Morris  |first=John|title=Domesday Book |year=1980 |publisher=\Phillimore |location=Chichester |isbn=0-85033-367-9}}</ref>

It was part of the royal manor of Cheddar and part of the [[Winterstoke]] [[Hundred (county subdivision)|Hundred]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Somerset Hundreds|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|publisher=GENUKI|access-date=9 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10207289 |work=Vision of Britain website |title=Relationships/unit history of Winterstoke |publisher=University of Portsmouth |access-date=22 October 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Axbridgechurch.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|Church of St John the Baptist, Axbridge]]
[[File:Axbridge Railway Station.jpg|thumb|right|Former Axbridge railway station]]
It was granted a [[royal charter]] in 1202, when [[John of England|King John]] sold most of the royal manor of Cheddar to the [[Bishop of Bath and Wells]]. Axbridge grew in the [[Tudor dynasty|Tudor]] period as a centre for [[cloth]] manufacture, This was reflected in its early royal charters allowing it to hold markets and fairs, and become a royal borough. It even had its own mint, with coins showing the town's symbol: the Lamb and Flag.<ref>{{cite web | title=Axbridge visitors information | url=http://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/visitor/index.html | access-date=25 August 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060819140758/http://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/visitor/index.html| archive-date= 19 August 2006 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref> Trade was possible as the [[River Axe (Bristol Channel)|River Axe]] was navigable to wharves at Axbridge.<ref>{{cite book |last=Toulson |first=Shirley |title=The Mendip Hills: A Threatened Landscape |year=1984 |publisher=Victor Gollancz |location=London |isbn=0-575-03453-X }}</ref>

Later the town's importance declined, which led to stagnation and the preservation of many historic buildings in the town centre. These include [[King John's Hunting Lodge]] (actually a [[Tudor style architecture|Tudor]] building) which is now used as a museum.

Axbridge is a very old borough and sent members to parliament in the reigns of [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] and [[Edward III]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Axbridge | work=GENUKI | url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Axbridge/index.html | access-date=25 August 2006}}</ref>

During the 19th and early 20th centuries iron ore was extracted from the hill above and east of Axbridge.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gough |first=J.W. |title=The mines of Mendip |year=1967 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot | isbn= 978-0-7153-4152-0}}</ref>

[[Axbridge railway station]], on the [[Cheddar Valley line]], opened on 3 August 1869. It closed to goods traffic on 10 June 1963 and to passengers on 9 September 1963. The route of the railway is now the [[A371 road|A371]] Axbridge bypass, but the station buildings and goods shed still survive.<ref>{{cite web | title=Axbridge | work=Bristol Railway Station Archive | url=http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/Axbridge | access-date=28 September 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101013221015/http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/Axbridge| archive-date= 13 October 2010 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref>

The Square was used as the setting for a [[NatWest|NatWest Bank]] television advert in the early 1990s, and in particular [[Axbridge Town Hall]] doubled as a NatWest branch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gp1iTwmrSs|title=NatWest UK Commercial |year=1991|publisher=NatWest|access-date=13 April 2022}}</ref> Ironically a real branch of NatWest, in the High Street, was closed not long afterwards and the premises are now private residential accommodation. In 2017 several locations in the town were used for a [[Thatchers Cider]] television commercial, which featured a hot air balloon.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Thatchers Cider advert filmed in Axbridge|date=23 June 2017 |url=http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/new-thatchers-cider-advert-filmed-132595|publisher=Somerset Live|access-date=15 September 2017}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Axbridge Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 878663 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Axbridge Town Hall]]]]
The [[town council]] has responsibility for local issues. The town council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and [[Neighbourhood Watch (UK)|neighbourhood watch]] groups on matters of crime, security and traffic. The town council also initiates projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, and consults 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. Each year members of the town council elect a mayor for the town.<ref name=axbridgerd>{{cite web|title=Axbridge RD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025515|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher = Portsmouth polytechnic|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> Axbridge Town Council is based at [[Axbridge Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://axbridge-tc.gov.uk/your-council/meetingsagendas/|title=Council Meetings|publisher=Axbridge Town Council|access-date=13 April 2022}}</ref>

For [[local government in England|local government]] purposes, since 1 April 2023, the town comes under the [[Unitary authorities of England|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 [[Axbridge Rural District]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10025515&c_id=10001043 |title=A Vision of Britain Through Time : Axbridge Rural District |access-date=20 February 2009 |archive-date=1 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001003807/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10025515&c_id=10001043 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The town is in Axevale [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral ward]]. Axbridge is the most populous area but the ward stretches south to [[Chapel Allerton, Somerset|Chapel Allerton]]. The total ward population as taken at the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] is 4,261.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/axevale-e05008893#sthash.IgXNrRqS.dpbs|title=Axevale ward 2011|access-date= 5 March 2015}}</ref>

It is also part of the [[Wells and Mendip Hills (UK Parliament constituency)|Wells and Mendip Hills]] [[county constituency]] represented in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]]. It elects one [[Member of Parliament|MP]] by the [[first-past-the-post]] system of election.

==Facilities==

In 2012, The Roxy community cinema was reopened after a five-year renovation programme. This was aided by the [[Big Lottery Fund]], and re-used old seats from the [[Colston Hall]] in Bristol. It has 32 seats and an [[art deco]] box office.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-19516362|title='UK's smallest' cinema relaunches in Axbridge after transformation|work=BBC|date=7 September 2012 |access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref> The premises used to be the Axbridge Lion [[pub]], a [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] Grade II [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE |num=1344858 |desc=The Axbridge Lion |access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.axbridgeroxy.org.uk/about-us/history/ |title=The History of the Roxy|publisher=Roxy Cinema|access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref>

The Axbridge Film Society is based at the cinema.<ref name="bbc 20120907">{{cite news|title='UK's smallest' cinema relaunches in Axbridge after transformation|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-19516362|access-date=7 September 2012|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=7 September 2012}}</ref> In 2016 volunteers raised £5,000 for repairs to the cinema and plans have been drawn up for further refurbishment and the installation of new sound and projection equipment.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Roxy cinema in Axbridge 'saved' after urgent appeal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-35863257|work=BBC|date=21 March 2016 |access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref>

==Church of St John==
{{Main|Church of St John the Baptist, Axbridge}}The 13th-century parish [[Church of St John the Baptist, Axbridge|Church of St John]] is a grade I [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE |num=1173117 |desc=Church of St John The Baptist |access-date=9 May 2006}}</ref>

Work on the current building began in the early 15th century, and grew from an earlier building dating back to about 1230. The church is built of [[limestone]] and decorated with Doulting stone, while the steps are an interesting example of [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomitic]] [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]], which is known as ''[[Puddingstone (rock)|puddingstone]]''.<ref name="reid">{{cite book |last=Reid |first= Robert Douglas |title=Some buildings of Mendip |year=1979 |publisher=The Mendip Society |isbn=0-905459-16-4 }}</ref> The crossing tower is over {{convert|100|ft|m}} high, and holds six bells, one of which dating from 1723 was made by Edward Bilbie of the [[Bilbie family]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=James |first2=Roy |last2=Rice |first3= Ernest |last3=Hucker |title=Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers |year=1995 |publisher=The authors |isbn=0-9526702-0-8 }}</ref> The statue on the east side is that of [[St John the Baptist]]. On the west side is a king&nbsp;— perhaps [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]], which would place it after 1485. The north-aisle ceiling retains some mediaeval painted panels, and amongst the carved bosses is the head of a [[Green Man]], with leaves sprouting around his face.<ref>{{cite web | title=Church of St John The Baptist | url=http://www.stjohnthebaptistaxbridge.org.uk/ | access-date=25 August 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060723050705/http://www.stjohnthebaptistaxbridge.org.uk/| archive-date= 23 July 2006 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref> The nave roof is Jacobean and dates from 1636.<ref name="reid"/> Restoration was undertaken in 1888 by [[J.D. Sedding]], who contributed the fine [[parclose screen]]s.

==Status of settlement==

In contrast to the much larger settlement of [[Cheddar, Somerset|Cheddar]] immediately to the south east that remains a village, Axbridge is a town. This apparently illogical situation is explained by the relative importance of the two places in historic times. While Axbridge grew in importance as a centre for cloth manufacture in the [[Tudor dynasty|Tudor]] period and gained a charter from [[John of England|King John]], Cheddar remained a more dispersed dairy-farming village until the advent of tourism and the arrival of the railway in the [[Victorian era]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.strawberrylinetimes.co.uk/?page_id=203 | title=The Strawberry Line District and its communities | work=Strawberry Line Times| access-date=8 October 2012 |url-status = dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005070720/http://www.strawberrylinetimes.co.uk/?page_id=203 | archive-date=5 October 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Workhouse==
The Axbridge Union workhouse was erected in 1837 on the south side of West Street in Axbridge. The Poor Law Commissioners authorised expenditure of £4,496 17s 6d on construction of the building, which was intended to accommodate 250 inmates. It was designed by Samuel T Welch, who was also the architect of workhouses at [[Wells, Somerset|Wells]] and [[Clifton, Bristol|Clifton]]. By 1929 the workhouse had become officially known as Axbridge Poor Law Institution.<ref>{{cite web | title=Axbridge Workhouse and Poor Law Union | url=http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/Axbridge/Axbridge.shtml | access-date=25 August 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060924132521/http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/Axbridge/Axbridge.shtml| archive-date= 24 September 2006 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref>

==Events==
On the Saturday of the first Bank Holiday weekend in May, the annual Somerset Showcase took place. This includes craft displays and market, farmers' market, entertainment, exhibitions and live music in the evening. September sees the annual Blackberry Carnival, Fair in the Square and Harvest Home, which was introduced in 2007. Other events throughout the year include the Progressive Supper and Santa in the Square. Since 2009, a Concert by Candlelight has been held in the Church of St John the Baptist to coincide with [[Earth Hour]], when people try to reduce their electricity usage.

Axbridge hosts one of the few remaining historical pageants in the UK every 10 years. This started in 1967 in celebration of the opening of the bypass. The next pageant was in 1970 and there has been one every decade since then except the 2020 pageant which was delayed until 2022 because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]. The pageant features a cast of 300 and charts the town's history in 15 scenes featuring battles, riots and fights with live music, horses and livestock, plus a train and vintage cars. The 2022 pageant programme was expanded to be a small festival with live music in the evenings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://axbridgepageant.com/|title=Axbridge Pageant|website=axbridgepageant.com|accessdate=11 March 2023}}</ref>

Axbridge Cricket Club was established in 2004, and plays around 35 friendly matches per season. The club also enjoys an annual club tour and plays other friendly sides around the Somerset county.

The town holds a farmers' market in The Square on the first Saturday of each month.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk/markets/axbridge/ | title=Axbridge Farmers' Market }}</ref>

== Notable residents ==

* [[James Heappey]], MP for [[Wells (UK Parliament constituency)|Wells]] (2015–2024)
* [[Timothy Reynish]], music director, was born in Axbridge

==See also==
{{Portal|Somerset}}
* [[Cheddar Reservoir]]

==References==
{{reflist |colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Axbridge}}
* [http://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/ Axbridge Town Council]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/cultureheritage/heritage/projects/eus/axbridge/ Axbridge Archaeological Survey]

{{Sedgemoor}}
{{Mendip Hills}}
{{Somerset}}

[[Category:Axbridge| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Sedgemoor]]
[[Category:Mendip Hills]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Somerset]]
[[Category:Market towns in Somerset]]