English Heritage sites near West and Middle Chinnock Parish
MUCHELNEY ABBEY
8 miles from West and Middle Chinnock 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.
SHERBORNE OLD CASTLE
11 miles from West and Middle Chinnock 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.
WINTERBOURNE POOR LOT BARROWS
16 miles from West and Middle Chinnock Parish
A 'cemetery' of 44 Bronze Age burial mounds of varying types and sizes, straddling the A35 main road.
GLASTONBURY TRIBUNAL
16 miles from West and Middle Chinnock 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.
THE NINE STONES
17 miles from West and Middle Chinnock Parish
Now in a wooded glade, this small prehistoric circle of nine standing stones was constructed around 4,000 years ago and is surrounded by a mysterious air. Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows are nearby.
KINGSTON RUSSELL STONE CIRCLE
17 miles from West and Middle Chinnock Parish
A late Neolithic or early Bronze Age circle of 18 fallen stones, on a hilltop overlooking Abbotsbury and the sea.
Churches in West and Middle Chinnock Parish
West Chinnock: The Blessed Virgin Mary
Higher Street,
West Chinnock,
Somerset
07485789968
http://www.hamhillchurches.org
Situated at the centre of this small village, in a conservation area, a <span style="font-size: 1rem;">place of worship has stood on the site for many centuries. The list of Rectors starts from 1293 (see the list in the church). The building was described as a Chapel in a will of 1519 and was attached to the living of Chiselborough.</span>
In 1889 the old church was demolished and a larger building was erected. The tower was re-built, using the original stone, a few yards to the west and a belfry was added under a saddleback tower. The interior of the new church was designed in imitation of 13th century architecture and the rebuilding retained a 13th century lancet window in the north wall of the chancel. Many of the memorials refer to members of the Hayward and Ford families. Richard Hayward, sailcloth manufacturer, and Mrs Sarah Woodcock (née Ford) were the principal donors of funds towards the cost of rebuilding. The new church was opened at a service conducted by the Bishop of Bath and Wells on Thursday, 24 July 1890. The architect was Charles Kirk of Lincolnshire, and the builder was Charles Trask of Norton sub Hamdon, who used stone from his quarry on Ham Hill.
In 1970 West Chinnock became an ecclesiastical parish in its own right; from 1977-2017 it was in a group of four parishes, and, from January 2018, it has been part of the Ham Hill Villages Benefice group of seven parishes.
For more information, see the websites : http://hamhillchurches.org and www.westandmiddlechinnock.co.uk
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The church is usually open from 10.00am to 4.00pm, daily, for private prayer.
The Church of England Primary School is directly opposite the church on Scotts Way.
Pubs in West and Middle Chinnock Parish
Muddled Man
Lower Street, West Chinnock, TA18 7PT
(01935) 881235
themuddledmaninn.co.uk