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Martock

Coordinates:50°58′13″N2°45′55″W/ 50.9704°N 2.7653°W/50.9704; -2.7653
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For the Canadian place, seeMartock, Nova Scotia.For the Star Trek character, seeMartok.

Martock
Stone building with square tower.
Martock is located in Somerset
Martock
Martock
Location withinSomerset
Population4,766 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceST463192
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMARTOCK
Postcode districtTA12
Dialling code01935
PoliceAvon and Somerset
FireDevon and Somerset
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Somerset
50°58′13″N2°45′55″W/ 50.9704°N 2.7653°W/50.9704; -2.7653

Martockis a large village andcivil parishinSomerset,England, situated on the edge of theSomerset Levels7 miles (11.3 km) north west ofYeovilin theSouth Somersetdistrict. The parish includesHurst,approximately one mile south of the village, andBower Hinton,which is located at the western end of the village and bounded by Hurst and theA303.Martock has apopulationof 4,766[1]and was historically amarket town.[2]

History

Etymology

Martock was known in theDomesday Bookof 1086 asMertoch.It means 'Rising bright from the shining sea' from theOld English'meretorht'. It was the property ofQueen Edith(Eagdith), wife ofGodwinand mother ofEarl Harold (Harold II).By 1066 it was the property ofQueen Edith,wife ofEdward the Confessor.The word root 'Mer-’ can also refer to 'a boundary or shore line' from the Old English 'maere'. It is possible that the name included the Old English element 'stoc' meaning 'by a lake'.[3]

An alternative theory to the origin of the name Martock comes from theOld Englishwords "mart" meaning market and "ac" for oak. This might relate to an oak tree on the spot now occupied by theMarket House[4]or more precisely the column there.[2]Ekwall suggested that the name derives from 'merkestoc' meaning 'a place on a boundary'.[5]However, Prebendary G.W. Saunders, vicar of Martock from 1917 to 1951, cites two more possibilities. Firstly, from Collinson, who wrote in 1790, that the name Martock is derived from 'market oak'. But unfortunately Martock was not granted a market until 1247 and long before that it was called by this name. His second suggestion is that the name is derived from a Celtic personal name 'Merti', who gave his name to a settlement, hence Merti-oc, the settlement of Merti. Both of these seem to be flights of fancy.[6]

Bower Hinton was called 'Hanton Mertoc' in 1225 and 'Burhenton' in 1280. 'Hinton' meaning a poor enclosure, from the Old English 'hean' and 'tun'.[3]

Newton means the new enclosure from the Old English 'niwe' and 'tun'. The medieval hamlet of Newton, which lay between Bower Hinton and Hurst, was first referred to in 1327.[3]Stapleton was first recorded in 1195. It means the steep enclosure from the Old English 'steap' and 'tun'. Alternatively it may be from the Old English 'stapel' and 'tun', meaning 'settlement by a post'.[3]

Domesday book

Martock had a single entry in theDomesday bookand expanded rapidly in the succeeding years to include dependent settlements at Bower Hinton, Hurst, Newton, Coat, Stapleton,Ash,Witcombe, Milton andLong Load,expanding between 1086 and 1302 from 89 tenants to more than 200.[7]It was the only parish in theMartockHundred.[8][9][10]

Later history

In 1810 1,025 acres of common land were enclosed as a result of theInclosure Acts.[11]

The village was once a junction on local branches of theGreat Western Railway,now dismantled.

Governance

Theparish councilhas 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, andneighbourhood watchgroups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, 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 the responsibility of the council.

The village falls within theNon-metropolitan districtofSouth Somerset,which was formed on 1 April 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972,having previously been part ofYeovil Rural District.[12]The district council is responsible forlocal planningandbuilding control,local roads,council housing,environmental health,marketsand fairs,refuse collectionandrecycling,cemeteriesandcrematoria,leisure services, parks, andtourism.

Somerset County Councilis responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such aseducation,social services,libraries,main roads,public transport,policingandfire services,trading standards,waste disposaland strategic planning.

Anelectoral wardexists in the same name. AlthoughMartockis the most populous area the ward stretches north toLong Load.The total population of this ward taken at the2011 censuswas 5,724.[13]

It is also part of theGlastonbury and Somertoncounty constituencyrepresented in theHouse of Commonsof theParliament of the United Kingdom.It elects onemember of parliament(MP) by thefirst past the postsystem of election.

Economy

Local businesses include arts and crafts (stonemasonry, woodworking, silversmithing) a reclamation yard,[14]and a fish and chip shop. Historically amarket town,these days a monthly farmers market is held in Martock.[15]

Landmarks

TheMarket Houseand cross

TheTreasurer's Houseis aNational Trust-owned property built fromhamstoneduring the 13th century.[16]

Notable dwelling houses include Church Lodge.

Local places of interest include theBurrow Hill Cider Farm.

TheParrett Iron Workswas a series of industrial buildings next to theRiver Parrett.The site was originally named Carey's Mill and the adjoining bridge is called Carey's Mill Bridge which was built ofHam stonein the 18th century.[17]The Iron Works was founded in 1855,[18][19]on the site of a formersnuffmill.[20]The site included a foundry, with a prominent chimney,[21]ropewalk,[22]workshops[23][24]and several smaller workshops and cottages.[25][26][27][28]The sluice which powered the waterwheel[29]and sluice keepers cottage still exist.[30]

ThehamstoneMarket Houseon Church Street was completed about 1785.[31]It is a Grade IIlisted building.[32]A grant of £190,000 was obtained from theHeritage Lottery Fundto restore the building and establish a community office on the ground floor in 2008.[33]In front of the Market House is a Market Cross, also known as The Pinnacle, with a column which dates from 1741 with a flutedTuscan ordercolumn, on a stepped plinth, which supports a ballfinialcrowned with awrought ironweathervane.[34]

Madey Mill is a Grade II*listedwatermillwith medieval origins. The current buildings date from the 17th century.[35]It has suffered from a lack of maintenance and has been placed on theHeritage at Risk Register.[36]

Religious sites

TheChurch of All Saintsdates from the 13th century. It was acquired by the Treasurer ofWells Cathedralin 1227 and he became the rector and patron of the church.[37]The church wasrestoredbyBenjamin Ferrey,who was architect to theDiocese of Bath and Wellsfrom 1841 until his death, and also in 1883–84 byEwan Christian.The tower was built in four stages, to replace the previous one over the central crossing. It has offset cornerbuttressesto the full height of the tower. The church has been designated byEnglish Heritageas a Grade Ilisted building.[38]It is said to be the second largest in Somerset and has unique carved wooden statues in the eaves.

Notable people

  • Arthur Lakes(1844–1917) Born in Martock. Geologist, paleontologist, artist, writer, teacher and minister. Accidentally involved in theBone wars(Great Dinosaur Rush).

References

  1. ^ab"Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles"(Excel).Somerset Intelligence.Retrieved4 January2014.
  2. ^abWest Country GenealogyMartock Parish, Somerset
  3. ^abcdRobinson, Stephen (1992).Somerset Place Names.Wimborne, Dorset: The Dovecote Press Ltd. p. 95.ISBN1-874336-03-2.
  4. ^Robinson, W.J. (1915).West Country Churches.Bristol: Bristol Times and Mirror Ltd. pp. 6–10.
  5. ^Ekwall, Eilert(1940).The Concise Dictionary of English Place-names(2nd ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 317.
  6. ^'The Hundred of Martock', Prebendary G.W. Saunders, Yeovil (Western Gazette), 1933–34.
  7. ^Havinden, Michael.The Somerset Landscape.The making of the English landscape. London: Hodder and Stoughton. pp. 107–108.ISBN0-340-20116-9.
  8. ^"Hundred: Martock".Open Domesday.Retrieved4 June2017.
  9. ^"The Hundred of Martock".Martock Local History Club. Archived fromthe originalon 25 April 2012.Retrieved23 October2011.
  10. ^A.P. Baggs; R.J.E. Bush (1978). R.W. Dunning (ed.)."Martock Hundred: Introduction".A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 4.Institute of Historical Research.Retrieved23 October2011.
  11. ^Havinden, Michael (1982).The Somerset Landscape.The making of the English landscape. London: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 133.ISBN0-340-20116-9.
  12. ^"Yeovil RD".A vision of Britain Through Time.University of Portsmouth.Retrieved4 January2014.
  13. ^"ward population 2011".Retrieved4 March2015.
  14. ^"Castle reclamation".Castle reclamation.Retrieved5 May2010.
  15. ^Martock OnlineFarmers Market
  16. ^Historic England."The Treasurer's House (1225764)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved30 October2007.
  17. ^Historic England."Carey's Mill Bridge (1266523)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  18. ^Historic England."Mill at Parrett Iron Works (1225080)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  19. ^"Former rope walk, about 65 metres south-east of main building, Parrett Iron Works, Carey's Mill".Somerset Historic Environment Record.Somerset County Council.Retrieved12 February2010.
  20. ^"Mill at Parrett Iron Works, Martock, Somerset".Heritage Explorer.English Heritage.Retrieved12 February2010.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^Historic England."Boiler Chimney (1225752)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  22. ^Historic England."Former Rope Walk etc, Carey's Mill (1225754)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  23. ^Historic England."Workshop buildings etc, Carey's Mill (1266185)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  24. ^Historic England."Workshop building etc. Carey's Mill (1225753)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  25. ^Historic England."Nos. 1 & 2 Parrett Works Cottages (1266186)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  26. ^Historic England."Nos. 3 & 4 Parrett Works Cottages (1225756)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  27. ^Historic England."Nos. 5 & 6 Parrett Works Cottages (1225757)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  28. ^Historic England."Carey's Mill Cottage (1225078)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  29. ^Historic England."Waterwheel house (1266524)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  30. ^Historic England."Sluice and sluice keepers house (1266221)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved12 February2010.
  31. ^"Martock Information Centre".Martock Community Website.Retrieved10 April2022.
  32. ^Historic England."The Market House (1225758)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved14 May2010.
  33. ^"Martock Community Office".Somerset Rural Renaissance. Archived fromthe originalon 23 November 2008.Retrieved14 May2010.
  34. ^Historic England."Market Cross (1266188)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved14 May2010.
  35. ^Historic England."Madey Mill (1226550)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved19 October2013.
  36. ^"Madey Mill, East Street, Martock – South Somerset".Heritage at Risk.English Heritage. Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2013.Retrieved19 October2013.
  37. ^Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985).Curiosities of Somerset.Bodmin: Bossiney Books. p. 81.ISBN0-906456-98-3.
  38. ^Historic England."Church of All Saints (1065888)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved2 March2008.
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