Chipstable

Chipstable and the Church of All Saints

Originally 15th century, the Church of All Saints was rebuilt in 1869 in the geometrical style by Benjamin Ferrey. Remnants of the older church include the west tower, the capitals of the three-bay arcade with their figures of angels, and the bench ends dated to around 1530.The ringing chamber with its handsome oak front was built in the 1990s.

Behind a house called Elms Green, was the site of the engineering works of William Pool. In the late 1840s William had set up his business in West Skirdle near Waterrow, where he produced various farm implements, carts, wagons, threshers and other machines.

Site of W. H. Pool Engineers

There, he had formed a working relationship with a blacksmith called Samuel Surridge who made all the ironwork required and arranged for any casting that was needed. By 1861 he had moved his business to a larger site behind his parents' house in Chipstable, where he prospered, employing several people such as wheelwrights, carpenters, a smith and a machine maker The range of products was extensive and included turnip cutters, chaff cutters, cultivators, horse hoes, corn and seed drills, reed combers and hay machines. During the latter part of the 1800s William's son Alfred developed an oil engine which gave impetus to the firm's progress and allowed it to survive long after many similar concerns had ceased trading. However, by the 1930s the business had declined and in 1956, when Alfred died, the buildings were demolished and their contents sold.

With the advent of motorised vehicles, the number of so-called green lanes has diminished rapidly. Tracks such as Pitt Lane have great cultural and historical value.They may represent routes that have been in use since pre-historic times, perhaps trodden by Roman legions, pilgrims, medieval travellers or miners, or etched out by primative sledges and cart wheels. The antiquity of the hedgerows and banks that often enclose these lanes makes them important wildlife habitats.

From Pitt Lane there are lovely views over the surrounding countryside.The Devonian rocks that form these rolling hills are part of an east-west belt that extends from the coast at llfracombe and embraces Exmoor and the Brendon Hills, occurring as an inlier in the Quantock Hills.The Brendon Hills rise to over 400 metres at Wiveliscombe Barrow to the north west of Chipstable. During the 19th century a number of small mining settlements grew around local deposits of iron ore, and many of the buildings and features from this industry remain. The West Deane Way is a 72 kilometre circular route which starts in Taunton and follows the Tone valley west and then north before returning back via Wiveliscombe to the lower slopes of the Quantocks and to Taunton. There was a corn mill at Washbattle Bridge, and here the River Tone forms the boundary between Taunton Deane and West Somerset.

At 342 metres Heydon Hill is one of the highest points in Taunton Deane. There are good views to the east and south, particularly as you descend back towards Chipstable church. There are two round barrows near the top of Heydon Hill, ancient burial sites in which were found urns and a sword during excavations in the 19th century.
 
 

Contributed by: Geoff Tomkins