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{{short description|Village near Bristol, England}} |
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{{Use British English|date=August 2012}} |
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date= |
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} |
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{{Infobox UK place |
{{Infobox UK place |
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|static_image_name=Dundry-fairlawns.JPG |
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|static_image_alt=Yellow stone church tower above other buildings of the same stone.In the foreground is a grassy field with cows. |
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|static_image_width=220 |
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|static_image_caption=Dundry church |
|static_image_caption=Dundry church |
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|country = |
|country = England |
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|coordinates = {{coord|51.3957|-2.6389|display=inline,title}} |
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|latitude= 51.3957 |
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|official_name= Dundry |
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|civil_parish= |
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|civil_parish= |
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| population = 829 |
| population = 829 |
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| population_ref = <ref name="popn"/> |
| population_ref = <ref name="popn"/> |
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|unitary_england=[[North Somerset]] |
|unitary_england=[[North Somerset]] |
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|lieutenancy_england= [[Somerset]] |
|lieutenancy_england= [[Somerset]] |
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|region= |
|region= South West England |
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|constituency_westminster= [[North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Somerset]] |
|constituency_westminster= [[North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Somerset]] |
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|post_town= |
|post_town= BRISTOL |
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|postcode_district=BS41 |
|postcode_district=BS41 |
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|postcode_area= |
|postcode_area= BS |
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|dial_code= |
|dial_code= 0117 |
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|os_grid_reference= |
|os_grid_reference= ST555665 |
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}} |
}} |
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[[File: |
[[File:View of Dundry taken from the church tower 04.JPG|thumb|300px|The western part of Dundry village seen from the top of the church tower in 2004]] |
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[[File:East Dundry 1962.jpg|thumb|300px|The west part of East Dundry in 1962]] |
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| ⚫ | '''Dundry''' is a village and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]], situated on [[Dundry Hill]] in the northern part of the [[Mendip Hills]], between [[Bristol]] and the [[Chew Valley Lake]], in the [[England|English]] county of [[Somerset]] |
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[[Image:StJamesPresbyterianCofEBristoldaybombed.jpg|thumb|300px|The East Dundry baby nearly bombed during his 24 November 1940 Christening in Bristol]] |
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| ⚫ | '''Dundry''' is a village and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]], situated on [[Dundry Hill]] in the northern part of the [[Mendip Hills]], between [[Bristol]] and the [[Chew Valley Lake]], in the [[England|English]] county of [[North Somerset]], previously [[Somerset]]. The parish includes the [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]]s of Maiden Head and [[East Dundry]]. The parish had a 2011 population of 829.<ref name="popn">{{cite web|title=2011 Census Profile |url=http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Environment/Planning_policy_and-research/researchandmonitoring/Documents/North%20Somerset%20Small%20area%20geography%20profiles%20tool.xls |publisher=North Somerset Council |accessdate=4 January 2014 |format=Excel |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204530/http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Environment/Planning_policy_and-research/researchandmonitoring/Documents/North%20Somerset%20Small%20area%20geography%20profiles%20tool.xls |archivedate=4 January 2014}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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According to Robinson the name means 'The hill that is dry' from the [[Old English]] ''dun'' and ''dryge''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |
According to Robinson the name means 'The hill that is dry' from the [[Old English]] ''dun'' and ''dryge''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimborne, Dorset |isbn=1-874336-03-2}}</ref> An alternative derivation is from a [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] name, meaning ''fort of refuge''.<ref name="wansdyke">{{cite web|title=Maes Knoll Iron Age camp|url=http://www.wansdyke21.org.uk/wansdyke/wanwesteast/wanwest1.htm|publisher=Wansdyke Project 21|accessdate=25 July 2010}}</ref> |
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The parish was part of the [[Hundred (county subdivision)|hundred]] of [[Chew (hundred)|Chew]].<ref name=genuki>{{cite web|title=Somerset Hundreds|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|publisher=GENUKI|accessdate=8 October 2011}}</ref> |
The parish was part of the [[Hundred (county subdivision)|hundred]] of [[Chew (hundred)|Chew]].<ref name=genuki>{{cite web|title=Somerset Hundreds|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|publisher=GENUKI|accessdate=8 October 2011}}</ref> |
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Dundry is notable for its stone: the yellow [[Oolite|oolitic]] limestone from local quarries such as [[Dundry Main Road South Quarry]] and the Dundry Downs (to the west of the village) is found even at [[Cardiff Castle]], a fort originally built by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] to defend against [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] invasions. |
Dundry is notable for its stone: the yellow [[Oolite|oolitic]] limestone from local quarries such as [[Dundry Main Road, South Quarry]] and the Dundry Downs (to the west of the village) is found even at [[Cardiff Castle]], a fort originally built by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] to defend against [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] invasions. The stone was much used in medieval Bristol: an outstanding example being [[St Mary Redcliffe]], an [[Anglican]] church in central Bristol. Dundry stone was extensively important in Ireland after the 12th century [[Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland|Anglo-Norman invasions]], being used to build [[Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin]], amongst many other prominent buildings.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Waterman |first=D. M. |date=1970 |title=Somersetshire and Other Foreign Building Stone in Medieval Ireland, c. 1175-1400 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20567668 |journal=Ulster Journal of Archaeology |volume=33 |pages=63–75|jstor=20567668 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://midletonwith1d.wordpress.com/category/dundry-stone/|title = Dundry Stone}}</ref> A large cube of stone (approximately 1.5m each edge) still stands in the churchyard: the cube is much considered to be an early advertisement for Dundry stone. |
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The neighbouring village of [[Chew Magna]] has in its graveyard an early 19th-century [[limestone]] round-topped stone which bears the inscription to William Fowler ''"shot by an [[Highwayman]] on Dundry Hill 14 June 1814 aged 32 years"''.<ref name="contextone">{{cite web |url=http://www.contextone.co.uk/online_reports/downloads/WBF_CMS_report.pdf |title=Rising Main and Sewage Pumping Station, Chew Magna, North East Somerset. Phase 1: Trial pits and boreholes. An Archaeological Watching Brief. |accessdate=19 September 2007 |
The neighbouring village of [[Chew Magna]] has in its graveyard an early 19th-century [[limestone]] round-topped stone which bears the inscription to William Fowler ''"shot by an [[Highwayman]] on Dundry Hill 14 June 1814 aged 32 years"''.<ref name="contextone">{{cite web |url=http://www.contextone.co.uk/online_reports/downloads/WBF_CMS_report.pdf |title=Rising Main and Sewage Pumping Station, Chew Magna, North East Somerset. Phase 1: Trial pits and boreholes. An Archaeological Watching Brief. |accessdate=19 September 2007|work=ContextOne |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070820141038/http://www.contextone.co.uk/online_reports/downloads/WBF_CMS_report.pdf |archivedate = 20 August 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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===Second World War=== |
===Second World War=== |
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* 81,830 houses destroyed.<ref>''Blitz over Britain'' by Edwin Webb and John Duncan 1990, page 90</ref> |
* 81,830 houses destroyed.<ref>''Blitz over Britain'' by Edwin Webb and John Duncan 1990, page 90</ref> |
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Many bombs and anti-aircraft shells landed in Dundry. The diary<ref name="ReferenceA">Bristol Record Office accession 44394</ref> of Doris Ogilvie of East Dundry records that: |
Many bombs and anti-aircraft shells landed in Dundry. The diary<ref name="ReferenceA">Bristol Record Office accession 44394</ref> of Doris Ogilvie of [[East Dundry]] records that: |
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* 24 November 1940: ''Christening of William Duncan at [[St James Presbyterian Church]], The Barton, Bristol. ... Church completely burned out that night. ... This evening a tremendous |
* 24 November 1940: ''Christening of William Duncan'' [born in [[East Dundry]]] ''at [[St James' Presbyterian Church of England, Bristol|St James Presbyterian Church]], The Barton, Bristol. ... Church completely burned out that night. ... This evening a tremendous air raid began about 6pm – ended about midnight – Bristol was demolished in parts and fires started over a tremendously wide area'' [148 long-range bombers of [[Luftwaffe]] 3<ref>''Blitz over Britain'' by Edwin Webb and John Duncan 1990, page 86</ref>]. ''Glare in the sky reflected on hillside opposite the house'' [The Dingle, now Dingle House]''. Shrapnel fell around the house, but vibration from bombs felt very little here – nearest ones fell [[North Wick]], top fields near Knights'' [Walnut Farm]'', [[Bishopsworth]] etc. Next day roads partly closed for time bombs. L in Bristol and returned with tales of devastation and the amazingly good organisation and firefighting services."'' |
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* 27 November 1940: ''The Dundry Parish Hall – 86 people sheltered this week who were driven out of Bristol from demolished houses, flooding etc.'' |
* 27 November 1940: ''The Dundry Parish Hall – 86 people sheltered this week who were driven out of Bristol from demolished houses, flooding etc.'' |
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* Night of 3 January 1941 ''"Lawrie ''[her husband]'' on duty at the wireless station |
* Night of 3 January 1941 ''"Lawrie ''[her husband]'' on'' [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]]'' duty at the wireless station ''[on Dundry Downs]'' all night. This night there was a bad raid on Bristol. A good many bombs dropped around Russell's and Knight's farms'' [North Hill Farm and Walnut Farm, both in East Dundry]'': they sound like flocks of starlings coming down. Bad damage done to Bristol. One fell in Russell's bull pen and exploded."'' |
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* On 17 January ''"Preparations for incendiary bombs going on. Small bags of sand and buckets of water to be at every corner of the house — most awkward, but adds a spice to life."'' |
* On 17 January ''"Preparations for incendiary bombs going on. Small bags of sand and buckets of water to be at every corner of the house — most awkward, but adds a spice to life."'' |
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* On 2 February ''"Lawrie continues his ''[air |
* On 2 February ''"Lawrie continues his ''[air-raid]'' trenching in the kitchen garden"'' |
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* On 12 April ''"Discovered a neat shell cap buried in the lawn, so now we have one like everyone else. This night Lawrie was on fire watch duty from 1 a.m. on. I was alone with D who slept in a basket under the kitchen table. The decoy |
* On 12 April ''"Discovered a neat shell cap buried in the lawn, so now we have one like everyone else. This night Lawrie was on fire watch duty from 1 a.m. on. I was alone with D who slept in a basket under the kitchen table. The [[decoy]] ''[see [[Chew Magna]]]'' over the hill, a mile away, caught HEs'' [high explosive bombs] ''that night: we only felt vibrations."'' |
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* Summer 1942 ''"All this summer has been unnaturally quiet. Only two bad nights when [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] was blasted and set on fire in May."'' |
* Summer 1942 ''"All this summer has been unnaturally quiet. Only two bad nights when [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] was blasted and set on fire in May."'' |
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* Sunday 15 November 1942 ''"Church bells were rung everywhere for the first time to celebrate Egypt victory."'' |
* Sunday 15 November 1942 ''"Church bells were rung everywhere for the first time to celebrate Egypt victory."'' |
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===Dundry Home Guard=== |
===Dundry Home Guard=== |
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During [[World War II]] members of the Dundry [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]] had many draughty nights on the top of the church, on [[Maes Knoll]], and (on Dundry Down) at the wireless complex watching out for air raids and possible troop landings by parachute and glider. Captain Knight of Walnut Farm, East Dundry served in the [[First World War]] and was in charge of the Dundry Home Guard. [[Fire watchers]] turned out to watch for fires whenever there were bombing raids. |
During [[World War II]] members of the Dundry [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]] had many draughty nights on the top of the church, on [[Maes Knoll]], and (on Dundry Down) at the wireless complex watching out for air raids and possible troop landings by parachute and glider. Captain Knight of Walnut Farm, East Dundry served in the [[First World War]] and was in charge of the Dundry Home Guard. [[Fire watchers]] turned out to watch for fires whenever there were bombing raids. |
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500 metres south of Rackledown Farm in [[East Dundry]], there was a Civil Bombing QL decoy site, C1C. It was built as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys. This QL site operated from the same operations room as a permanent [[Starfish site]] SF1B that was located 800 metres further south. These sites featured displays of muted lights to appear like urban areas during poor blackouts. Bonfires were also lit to resemble buildings under attack with the intention of tricking the bombers to release the bomb load before arriving over Bristol. |
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===1968 storm=== |
===1968 storm=== |
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On 10 July 1968 a storm deluged the parish and neighbouring areas—{{convert|172|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain was measured in [[Chew Stoke]],<ref name=EA>{{cite web |
On 10 July 1968 a storm deluged the parish and neighbouring areas—{{convert|172|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain was measured in [[Chew Stoke]],<ref name=EA>{{cite web| url= http://www.publow-with-pensford-pc.gov.uk/pub/backlook/env_agency_leaflet.pdf| title= Learning the lessons — The Chew Valley floods of 1968| publisher= [[Environment Agency]]| access-date= 24 June 2010| archive-date= 16 July 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716144901/http://www.publow-with-pensford-pc.gov.uk/pub/backlook/env_agency_leaflet.pdf| url-status= dead}}</ref> |
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and local streams such as Winford Brook were swollen by rain running off the slopes of Dundry Hill.<ref name=EA/> |
and local streams such as Winford Brook were swollen by rain running off the slopes of Dundry Hill.<ref name=EA/> |
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==Governance== |
==Governance== |
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| ⚫ | The [[Parish councils of England|parish council]] has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish 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 parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, such as the [[village hall]] or [[community centre]], [[playing field]]s and [[playground]]s, as well as consulting 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 of interest to the council. |
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[[File:View of Dundry taken from the church tower 04.JPG|thumb|view of part of the village taken from the church tower.]] |
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| ⚫ | The [[Parish councils of England|parish council]] has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the |
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The parish is in the [[unitary authority]] of [[North Somerset]] which was created in 1996, as established by the [[Local Government Act 1992]]. This act established a single tier of [[local government in the United Kingdom|local government]] with responsibility for almost all local government functions within its area including [[planning permission|local planning]] and [[Building regulations in the United Kingdom|building control]], local roads, [[council housing]], [[environmental health]], [[Market (place)|market]]s and fairs, [[refuse collection]], [[recycling]], [[cemeteries]], [[crematoria]], leisure services, parks, and [[tourism]]. It is also responsible for [[Local Education Authority|education]], [[social services]], [[library|libraries]], main roads, [[public transport]], [[Trading Standards|trading standards]], [[waste disposal]] and strategic planning, although fire, police and ambulance services are provided jointly with other authorities through the [[Avon Fire and Rescue Service]], [[Avon and Somerset Constabulary]] and the [[ |
The parish is in the [[unitary authority]] of [[North Somerset]] which was created in 1996, as established by the [[Local Government Act 1992]]. This act established a single tier of [[local government in the United Kingdom|local government]] with responsibility for almost all local government functions within its area including [[planning permission|local planning]] and [[Building regulations in the United Kingdom|building control]], local roads, [[council housing]], [[environmental health]], [[Market (place)|market]]s and fairs, [[refuse collection]], [[recycling]], [[cemeteries]], [[crematoria]], leisure services, parks, and [[tourism]]. It is also responsible for [[Local Education Authority|education]], [[social services]], [[library|libraries]], main roads, [[public transport]], [[Trading Standards|trading standards]], [[waste disposal]] and strategic planning, although fire, police and ambulance services are provided jointly with other authorities through the [[Avon Fire and Rescue Service]], [[Avon and Somerset Constabulary]] and the [[South Western Ambulance Service]]. |
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North Somerset's area covers part of the [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of [[Somerset]] but it is administered independently of the [[non-metropolitan county]]. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in [[Weston-super-Mare]]. Between 1 April 1974 and 1 April 1996, it was the [[Woodspring]] [[Districts of England|district]] of the [[county of Avon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19950493_en_1.htm |title=The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995 |accessdate=9 December 2007 |work=HMSO | |
North Somerset's area covers part of the [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of [[Somerset]] but it is administered independently of the [[non-metropolitan county]]. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in [[Weston-super-Mare]]. Between 1 April 1974 and 1 April 1996, it was the [[Woodspring]] [[Districts of England|district]] of the [[county of Avon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19950493_en_1.htm |title=The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995 |accessdate=9 December 2007 |work=HMSO |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130105206/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19950493_en_1.htm |archivedate=30 January 2008}}</ref> Before 1974 that the parish was part of the [[Long Ashton Rural District]].<ref name=longashtonrd>{{cite web|title=Long Ashton RD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10107763|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=University of Portsmouth|accessdate=4 January 2014}}</ref> |
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The parish is represented in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] as part of |
The parish is represented in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] as part of the [[North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Somerset]] constituency. It elects one [[Member of Parliament|Member of Parliament (MP)]] by the [[first past the post]] system of election, currently [[Liam Fox]] of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]. It was also part of the [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England constituency]] of the [[European Parliament]] prior to [[Brexit|Britain leaving the European Union]] in January 2020, which elected seven [[Members of the European Parliament|MEPs]] using the [[d'Hondt method]] of [[party-list proportional representation]]. |
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==Religious sites== |
==Religious sites== |
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The [[Church of St Michael, Dundry|Church of St Michael at Dundry]]<ref>Pages 74-78 of Volume 2 of ''West Country Churches'' by [[W J Robinson]], published 1914 by Bristol Times and Mirror Limited.</ref> is a prominent feature in its hill-top position with its tower visible for many miles around. The four-stage tower<ref name="scott">{{cite book |title=The hidden places of Somerset |last=Scott |first=Shane |
The [[Church of St Michael, Dundry|Church of St Michael at Dundry]]<ref>Pages 74-78 of Volume 2 of ''West Country Churches'' by [[W J Robinson]], published 1914 by Bristol Times and Mirror Limited.</ref> is a prominent feature in its hill-top position with its tower visible for many miles around. The four-stage tower<ref name="scott">{{cite book |title=The hidden places of Somerset |last=Scott |first=Shane |year=1995 |publisher=Travel Publishing Ltd |location=Aldermaston |isbn=1-902007-01-8 |page=36 }}</ref> was erected by the [[Society of Merchant Venturers]] of [[Bristol]] as a landmark and is widely visible.<ref>{{cite web | title=Church of St Michael, Dundry | work=historicengland.org.uk | url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1129078 | accessdate=13 October 2007}}</ref> |
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==Transport== |
==Transport== |
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{{Commons category|Dundry}} |
{{Commons category|Dundry}} |
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*[http://www.dundry.org.uk/ Dundry Parish website] |
*[http://www.dundry.org.uk/ Dundry Parish website] |
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*[http://www.dundryinn.co.uk/ Dundry Inn website] |
*[http://www.dundryinn.co.uk/ Dundry Inn website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006152905/http://www.dundryinn.co.uk/ |date=6 October 2008 }} |
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*[http://www.dundry.com Dundry Primary School website] |
*[http://www.dundry.com Dundry Primary School website]{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
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*[http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070222045653/http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/maps/os62htm/1201.htm Map of Dundry circa 1900] |
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[[Category:Civil parishes in Somerset]] |
[[Category:Civil parishes in Somerset]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:05, 16 May 2024
| Dundry | |
|---|---|
 Dundry church | |
  Dundry Location within Somerset | |
| Population | 829 [1] |
| OS grid reference | ST555665 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRISTOL |
| Postcode district | BS41 |
| Dialling code | 0117 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Dundry is a village and civil parish, situated on Dundry Hill in the northern part of the Mendip Hills, between Bristol and the Chew Valley Lake, in the English county of North Somerset, previously Somerset. The parish includes the hamlets of Maiden Head and East Dundry. The parish had a 2011 population of 829.[1]
The village lies on the route of the Monarch's Way long-distance footpath. It is a popular destination for the people of Bristol as it is known for its panoramic views of the city.
History
[edit]According to Robinson the name means 'The hill that is dry' from the Old English dun and dryge.[2] An alternative derivation is from a Celtic name, meaning fort of refuge.[3]
The parish was part of the hundred of Chew.[4]
Dundry is notable for its stone: the yellow oolitic limestone from local quarries such as Dundry Main Road, South Quarry and the Dundry Downs (to the west of the village) is found even at Cardiff Castle, a fort originally built by the Romans to defend against Anglo-Saxon invasions. The stone was much used in medieval Bristol: an outstanding example being St Mary Redcliffe, an Anglican church in central Bristol. Dundry stone was extensively important in Ireland after the 12th century Anglo-Norman invasions, being used to build Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, amongst many other prominent buildings.[5][6] A large cube of stone (approximately 1.5m each edge) still stands in the churchyard: the cube is much considered to be an early advertisement for Dundry stone.
The neighbouring village of Chew Magna has in its graveyard an early 19th-century limestone round-topped stone which bears the inscription to William Fowler "shot by an Highwayman on Dundry Hill 14 June 1814 aged 32 years".[7]
Second World War
[edit]Being so close to Bristol, Dundry caught many of the 77 air raids (mostly in 1940 and 1941) for which Bristol had:
- 919 tons of high-explosive bombs and myriad incendiary bombs
- 1299 persons killed
- 81,830 houses destroyed.[8]
Many bombs and anti-aircraft shells landed in Dundry. The diary[9] of Doris Ogilvie of East Dundry records that:
- 24 November 1940: Christening of William Duncan [born in East Dundry] at St James Presbyterian Church, The Barton, Bristol. ... Church completely burned out that night. ... This evening a tremendous air raid began about 6pm – ended about midnight – Bristol was demolished in parts and fires started over a tremendously wide area [148 long-range bombers of Luftwaffe 3[10]]. Glare in the sky reflected on hillside opposite the house [The Dingle, now Dingle House]. Shrapnel fell around the house, but vibration from bombs felt very little here – nearest ones fell North Wick, top fields near Knights [Walnut Farm], Bishopsworth etc. Next day roads partly closed for time bombs. L in Bristol and returned with tales of devastation and the amazingly good organisation and firefighting services."
- 27 November 1940: The Dundry Parish Hall – 86 people sheltered this week who were driven out of Bristol from demolished houses, flooding etc.
- Night of 3 January 1941 "Lawrie [her husband] on Home Guard duty at the wireless station [on Dundry Downs] all night. This night there was a bad raid on Bristol. A good many bombs dropped around Russell's and Knight's farms [North Hill Farm and Walnut Farm, both in East Dundry]: they sound like flocks of starlings coming down. Bad damage done to Bristol. One fell in Russell's bull pen and exploded."
- On 17 January "Preparations for incendiary bombs going on. Small bags of sand and buckets of water to be at every corner of the house — most awkward, but adds a spice to life."
- On 2 February "Lawrie continues his [air-raid] trenching in the kitchen garden"
- On 12 April "Discovered a neat shell cap buried in the lawn, so now we have one like everyone else. This night Lawrie was on fire watch duty from 1 a.m. on. I was alone with D who slept in a basket under the kitchen table. The decoy [see Chew Magna] over the hill, a mile away, caught HEs [high explosive bombs] that night: we only felt vibrations."
- Summer 1942 "All this summer has been unnaturally quiet. Only two bad nights when Bath was blasted and set on fire in May."
- Sunday 15 November 1942 "Church bells were rung everywhere for the first time to celebrate Egypt victory."
Dundry Home Guard
[edit]During World War II members of the Dundry Home Guard had many draughty nights on the top of the church, on Maes Knoll, and (on Dundry Down) at the wireless complex watching out for air raids and possible troop landings by parachute and glider. Captain Knight of Walnut Farm, East Dundry served in the First World War and was in charge of the Dundry Home Guard. Fire watchers turned out to watch for fires whenever there were bombing raids.
500 metres south of Rackledown Farm in East Dundry, there was a Civil Bombing QL decoy site, C1C. It was built as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys. This QL site operated from the same operations room as a permanent Starfish site SF1B that was located 800 metres further south. These sites featured displays of muted lights to appear like urban areas during poor blackouts. Bonfires were also lit to resemble buildings under attack with the intention of tricking the bombers to release the bomb load before arriving over Bristol. In 1941, there was a Home Guard exercise for Dundry and neighbouring villages including Winford, Bishopsworth, Leigh Woods and Norton Malreward.[9]
1968 storm
[edit]On 10 July 1968 a storm deluged the parish and neighbouring areas—172 mm (6.8 in) of rain was measured in Chew Stoke,[11] and local streams such as Winford Brook were swollen by rain running off the slopes of Dundry Hill.[11]
Governance
[edit]The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, such as the village hall or community centre, playing fields and playgrounds, as well as consulting 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 of interest to the council.
The parish is in the unitary authority of North Somerset which was created in 1996, as established by the Local Government Act 1992. This act established a single tier of local government with responsibility for almost all local government functions within its area including local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection, recycling, cemeteries, crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism. It is also responsible for education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning, although fire, police and ambulance services are provided jointly with other authorities through the Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the South Western Ambulance Service.
North Somerset's area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare. Between 1 April 1974 and 1 April 1996, it was the Woodspring district of the county of Avon.[12] Before 1974 that the parish was part of the Long Ashton Rural District.[13]
The parish is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom as part of the North Somerset constituency. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election, currently Liam Fox of the Conservative Party. It was also part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament prior to Britain leaving the European Union in January 2020, which elected seven MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.
Religious sites
[edit]The Church of St Michael at Dundry[14] is a prominent feature in its hill-top position with its tower visible for many miles around. The four-stage tower[15] was erected by the Society of Merchant Venturers of Bristol as a landmark and is widely visible.[16]
Transport
[edit]In the 1940s and 1950s the Ball family of Dundry ran the "Dundry Pioneer" bus service from Dundry Chapel via Dundry Church and the Hairpin Corner into Prince Street in central Bristol with Bedford buses. After the Dundry Pioneer, Bristol buses route 80, renumbered 373 in 1983, served Dundry.
Notable persons
[edit]Lawrence Ogilvie (1898–1980), East Dundry, plant pathologist
References
[edit]- ^ a b "2011 Census Profile". North Somerset Council. Archived from the original (Excel) on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimborne, Dorset: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1-874336-03-2.
- ^ "Maes Knoll Iron Age camp". Wansdyke Project 21. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
- ^ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ Waterman, D. M. (1970). "Somersetshire and Other Foreign Building Stone in Medieval Ireland, c. 1175-1400". Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 33: 63–75. JSTOR 20567668.
- ^ "Dundry Stone".
- ^ "Rising Main and Sewage Pumping Station, Chew Magna, North East Somerset. Phase 1: Trial pits and boreholes. An Archaeological Watching Brief" (PDF). ContextOne. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ Blitz over Britain by Edwin Webb and John Duncan 1990, page 90
- ^ a b Bristol Record Office accession 44394
- ^ Blitz over Britain by Edwin Webb and John Duncan 1990, page 86
- ^ a b "Learning the lessons — The Chew Valley floods of 1968" (PDF). Environment Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ "The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995". HMSO. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
- ^ "Long Ashton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Pages 74-78 of Volume 2 of West Country Churches by W J Robinson, published 1914 by Bristol Times and Mirror Limited.
- ^ Scott, Shane (1995). The hidden places of Somerset. Aldermaston: Travel Publishing Ltd. p. 36. ISBN 1-902007-01-8.
- ^ "Church of St Michael, Dundry". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dundry.