Excursion No 5 : Thursday 13th August 2020 (Evening)
Three Remote Manorial Churches
Excursion Leader: Bob & Fi Medland Phone: 01761 452959 (day of visit only)
Email: hirundo.bm@gmail.com Mobile: 07702 537000
Summary
This will be the third year running that we will be visiting three churches in north-east Somerset. This year the theme is manorial churches in remote locations. Both Hardington and Foxcote churches are located in tiny hamlets between Radstock and Frome whilst Camerton – a former coal mining village – lies a couple of miles to the north.
St PETER’S, CAMERTON. Grade I listed, the Church is situated in Camerton Park – built in the 15th century. From 1800 to 1839 the vicar was the archaeologist John Skinner. who excavated numerous antiquities, especially barrows, such as those at Priddy and Stoney Littleton. His journals (1803-34), which were published many years after his death, (he committed suicide by shooting himself in 1839); are preserved at the British Library.
In the early 19th century the church still had a medieval nave and chancel which Skinner started to extend. The present north chapel was built in 1638 by the Carew family.
St JAMES THE LESS, FOXCOTE. A lovely little Grade II* listed church which was rebuilt in 1721. It contains Georgian features in its Tuscan pillars, windows and pulpit with carvings. There are several interesting monuments giving information about local families and benefactors. Nothing is known about the earlier church except that an eminent historian referred to it as a ‘humble pile’. There is a small tower with battlements, which Nicholas Pevsner thought was ‘more like a bell turret.’
St MARY’S, HARDINGTON/BAMPFYLDE. Grade I listed, a peaceful church set in a working farmyard. It has beautiful unspoilt Georgian furnishings and a wonderfully preserved 14th C tower. The Bampfylde family restored the village fortunes in the fifteenth century, and inside the church you can see several Bampfylde memorials as well as delightful box pews, pulpit and altar rails. Serving such tiny numbers of parishioners, unsurprisingly this and nearby Hemington churches have become redundant and are now in the care of The Churches Conservation Trust.
A visit to Tuckers Grave pub on the way home is anticipated!
Meeting time and place : 18:30 at Camerton Church, car park.
Note
Car-parking is limited at all churches so please make arrangements for car-sharing if at all possible.
Comfortable, suitable clothes and footwear should be worn, appropriate for a town walk and the prevailing weather conditions.
Please remember that you are responsible for your own safety and by joining the BACAS excursion you do so at your own risk.
Maximum participants: 20 Latest booking date: 30th July
Member’s priority booking – before 14th July Cost: Member’s £6 / non-members £8