Nether Stowey

Nether Stowey is a large village with a picturesque centre. The village was home, over the crucial years of 1797 - 1800 to Samuel Taylor Coleridge who worked with William Wordsworth to produce poetry that arguably gave birth to the romantic movement. Nether Stowey retains many historic features of interest including the house where Coleridge lived and wrote, which is National Trust owned and open to the public. The mound and foundations of a Norman castle and the old village lock-up next to an attractive clock tower at it's centre. A stream that Coleridge referred to as 'Stowey's ancient gutter' runs off the Quantocks down to Nether Stowey where it flows alongside Castle Street to the village centre. Castle Hill leads up to the mound and foundations of Stowey Castle which stood for several centuries above the town/village.

The village has a full range of shops and services including a library with IT centre. Nether Stowey is a rural village set in the foothills of the Quantocks, the first area to be designated an area of outstanding beauty 40 years ago. The village itself was first referred to in Anglo Saxon times as being an agricultural settlement on the military road linking the royal Saxon estates of Cannington and Williton with mention being made in the Doomsday Book as being one of four separate manors. The village contains three parts. The upper part is the Mount where the outline remains of an 11tn Century Motte and Bailey Castle can be found on the summit. This was destroyed in the 15th Century resulting from Lord Audley's involvement in the Perkin Warbeck rebellion against the Crown. The panoramic view from the top across Bridgwater Bay and the Bristol Channel is magnificent. St Michael's Church, built before the Norman Conquest was situated s the foot of the Mount on the Eastern side. No remains are visible.

The central part St Mary Street, Castle Street and Lime Street form the present day conservation area encompassing a wide range of architecture, the oldest being 30-34 Castle Street being of mediaeval origin. Recert vernacular research has dated the cottages lower down Castle Street as being originally built in the 11th Century with additions in the 16th, 18th and 20th Centuries. Poole House Castle Street and Old House date from the Georgian period. In 1304 John de Columbers was granted a Tuesday market and yearly two day fair, the local economy being based on textiles and pottery. The junction of the three streets mark the centre where once stood a market place (similar to that in Dunster) with a bell tower. The present clock tower using th bell from the original market place, was built in 1862 by Sir Peregrine Ackland to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Victoria. A third face was installed in 1897 to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee and the fourth face wa added in 1997 to record the centenary of parish councils. The toll gate house and terminus tone in St Mary Street date from the period when Nether Stowey was the major turnpike road from Bridgwater to Watchet. Stowey Court was completed in 1588 by Lord Audley's great grandson, using much of the stone from the castle and St Mary's Church, stands upon a mediaeval site and has 15th Century tower and further rebuilding and enlargemer taking place in 1851. These form the lower part of the village and are isolated from the main part of Nether Stowey by the A39 bypass, which was built in 1968. Set in the foothills of the Quantocks. Home of Samuel Taylor Coleridge between 1797 and 1799. Coleridge Cottage, now owned by the National Trust, can be visited. Remains of an 11th century castle. pubs; shops; tea shops; AONB visitor information; car park; library; WC.

St.Mary, Nether Stowey

Nether Stowey set below the Quantock Hills and is a picturesque village of ancient origin. In Anglo-Saxon times it was an agricultural settlement on a military road that linked royal Saxon estates in Cannington and Williton. The upper part of Nether Stowey is the Mount, with outline remains of Stowey Castle an 11th century motte and Bailey Castle on the summit. The castle was destroyed in the 15th century. In the main village there is a wide range of architecture. The oldest houses, 30 to 34 Castle Street are of medieval origin. Some of the cottages further down Castle Street were built in the 11th century although they have been altered. in St. Mary Street there is a Toll House and nearby Terminus stone, set in the wall, a reminder that Nether Stowey was once on the turnpike road from Bridgwater to the port of Watchet. St. Mary's Church stands on a medieval site and has a 15th century tower, later altered.

Nether Stowey had several famous residents including Robert Parsons, a Jesuit priest, reputed to be behind the Guy Fawkes plot to blow up Parliament and Samuel Grose, who was one of a number of people who improved the efficiency of the steam-pumping engine. Steam engines were in use a hundred years before Grose was born but didn't work particularly well until first Watt and then Trevithick set their minds to the problem. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poet, lived, lived with his wife and son, in Nether Stowey from 1797-1800, and the cottage, in Lime Streetnow belongs to the National Trust and is open to visitors. The cottage has been much altered, but four original rooms remain.

Nether Stowey

The film Pandemonium about Coleridge and fellow poet William Wordsworth, who lived nearby at Alfoxden, was shot in the village of Nether Stowey. Close by are the remains of Adscombe Chapel (late 13th C Scheduled Monument); Over Stowey church was chosen by the Royal Mail as the subject of a 1st class Millennium Christmas stamp Nether Stowey has connection with Charles Lamb and Tom Poole.

Nether Stowey is the headquarters of the Rangers and officers of the Quantock Hills area of outstanding natural beauty. Nether Stowey is a large village with a picturesque centre. The village was home, over the crucial years of 1797 — 1800 to Samuel Taylor Coleridge who worked with William Wordsworth to produce poetry that arguably gave birth to the romantic movement. Nether Stowey retains many historic features of interest including the house where Coleridge lived and wrote, which is National Trust owned and open to the public. The mound and foundations of a Norman castle and the old village lock-up next to an attractive clock tower at it's centre. A stream that Coleridge referred to as 'Stowey's ancient gutter' runs off the Quantocks down to Nether Stowey where it flows alongside Castle Street to the village centre. Castle Hill leads up to the mound and foundations of Stowey Castle which stood for several centuries above the town/village,  T"he village has a full range of shops and services including a library with IT centre.

Nether Stowey is a rural village set in the foothills of the Quantocks, the first area to be designated an area of outstanding beauty 40 years ago. The village itself was first referred to in Anglo Saxon times as being an agricultural settlement on the military road linking the Royal Saxon estates of Cannington and Williton with mention being made in the Doomsday Book as being one of four separate manors.
The village contains three parts. The upper part is the Mount where the outline remains of an 11th Century Motte and Bailey Castle can be found on the summit. This was destroyed in the 15th Century resulting from Lord Audley's involvement in the Perkin Warbeck rebellion against the Crown. The panoramic view from the top across Bridgwater Bay and the Bristol Channel is magnificent. St Michael's Church, built before the Norman Conquest was situated at the foot of the Mount on the eastern side. No remains are visible.

The central part (St Mary Street, Castle Street and Lime Street) from the present day conservation area encompassing a wide range of architecture, the oldest being 30 - 34 Castle Street being of mediaeval origin. Recent vernacular research has dated the cottages lower down Castle Street as being originally built in the 11th Century with additions in the 16th, 18th and 20th Centuries. Poole House, Castle Street and Old House date from the Georgian period. In 1304 John de Columbers was granted a Tuesday market and yearly two day fair, the local economy being based on textiles and pottery. The junction of the three streets marked the centre where once stood a market place (similar to that in Dunster) with a bell tower. The present clock tower using the bell from the original market place, was built in 1862 by Sir Peregrine Ackland to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Victoria. A third face was installed in 1897 to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee and the fourth face was added in 1997 to record the centenary of parish councils.

The toll gate house and terminus stone in St Mary Street dated from the period when Nether Stowey was the main turnpike road from Bridgwater to Watchet. Stowey Court was completed in 1588 by Lord Audley's great grandson using much of the stone from the castle and St Mary's Church, it stands upon a mediaeval site and has a 15th Century tower and further rebuilding and enlargement taking place in 1851. These form the lower part of the village and are isolated from the main part of Nether Stowey by the A39 bypass, which was built in 1968.

Annual fairs have been a feature of Nether Stowey since medieval times. Nether Stowey was a free borough in 1275 and in 1304 John de Columbers was granted the rights to hold a weekly market and a yearly two day fair. The modern May Fair is organised by a voluntary committee, under the auspices of community action for Nether Stowey, the local action committee of the parish council.

Nether Stowey is the location of Coleridge Cottage (National Trust) the house in which Samuel Taylor Coleridge was living when he wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' and 'Kubla Khan'. Coleridge was invited to the village by local merchant Tom Poole. The parish council has just reproduced the booklet 'Nether Stowey -A Village Trail' which guides visitors round the village, highlighting some of the many historic buildings in the centre of the village.

For further information please contact any of the following: Ainslie Ensor (Clerk to the parish council) 01278 733779, Mary Roberts (Chairman of CANS) 01278 732484 or Peter Greig (May Fair committee) 01278 732483

Contributed by: Peter Smythe, Pete Joseph