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About us.
Rooksbridge and East Brent
A rural community in the heart of Somerset dairy country.
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Our
village which is part of the parish of East
Brent, sits quietly on the
edge of the Somerset levels, right on the A38 which is a primary route to the
South west.
We are situated about 4 miles. N. of Highbridge,
7 miles. S.E. of Weston super mare and 6 miles S.W. of Cheddar. And within easy
reach of all parts of the South and West.
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You can find us here on the> Map
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With its 12th Century Church of St Mary the
Virgin. Its Methodist
Chapel and Primary School, the parish of East Brent also includes the
villages of Rooksbridge and Edingworth. And is bordered by the parishes
of Brent Knoll, Lympsham, Badgeworth and Mark.
The Rooksbridge Baptist and Good
Shepherd chapels closed many years ago. We have The Methodist Chapel and the
Church of St Mary the virgin at East Brent.
For more about our church and chapels...
Click here
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This milestone on the A38 near Beaconsfield House, remains as a reminder of the important
role of the old Bristol to Exeter Turnpike trust, when Post Coaches and
travellers to all parts of the South west would pass through our village.
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Before the opening of the M5 motorway,
this tranquil scene --caught during a rare quiet moment-- on the main A38 Trunk road through the village, would not have been the impression many summer visitors to the West Country would have
had of Rooksbridge, as they sat in their cars during the infamous
traffic jams of the 60’s and 70’s!
No need of the Speed Camera in those days.
You would have been sat in a queue!
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Our children's primary school
education is covered by our very own
East Brent First School.
And we are in the educational catchment area for the much sought after
Hugh Sexeys Middle School and the Kings of Wessex College for their
further education! |
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Our East Brent
School was first established in 1841 as a Church of England National
School to convey the 3R's and scriptures to the poorer children in the
area.
My wife and many other villagers received the whole of their education
here.
In 1976 it became a First School and now admits children of between 4
and 9 years of age. It is a Voluntary controlled school, which means the
Church of England is represented on the Governing body and close links
are maintained with St. Mary's Church.
There is also a pre-school group which is run mornings Mon-Fri
during term time.
School Website
The school currently has a superb informative web site
www.eastbrentfirstschool.co.uk
It is also linked to the Cheddar Valley Schools Website. |
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Although we are a tiny village, we have a wealth of skills and facilities in
Rooksbridge. Many of which can be contacted via the
'Business' link above. But most of all, we have a community spirit and we are pretty
friendly folk!
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Our village pub The Wellington Arms, known locally as, 'The Welly'
has recently reopened after being closed for several years. !
Also we can boast that we have
one of those rare facilities. A well stocked local Post Office and Stores. Which
is well used and sells anything from a reel of cotton to the ‘Farmers Weekly’!
And at prices comparable to a supermarket!
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The village of Rooksbridge is now centred around the Post Office and Pub, and the bridge where the A 38 Bristol to Bridgwater road crosses the tiny
Mark-Yeo river, is probably where the village got its name from?
In fact a map of 1575 shows 'rokes bridge', "A bridge over a
river".
In the 5th and 6th Centuries the Mark-Yeo acted as part of a busy thoroughfare
from the small port of Rackley on the river Axe Nr Loxton, across 'ye
Brente marshe'
wetlands
to Glastonbury, where small flat bottom barges carried goods and supplies for the Abbots of Glastonbury etc.
At that time the Abbots of Glastonbury owned and ruled much of the Somerset area we now
live in.
Circa 1995 signs of a medieval wharf were found during river cleaning just
north of York Farm in a field called 'Scott's wharf' at a site where the
Mark-Yeo used to join the old river Axe.
In 1984, traces of a 3rd century roman settlement were
found on land adjoining Pill Row. Sections of a stone wall and pavement,
also remains of a timbered and clay tiled building were uncovered during
drainage work. A full report can be obtained from the
Axbridge Archaeological and Local History Society.
According to a land tax assessment made on
22 April 1767. The parish of East Brent was divided into four regions or
tithings, one of which was known as Snighampton? "Rooks Bridge" appears to
have been included in the "Snighampton'' tithing. |
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Did you
know? |
In
Ashbourne, Derbyshire there are 2 houses side by side, one called “East
Brent” and the other called “Rooksbridge”, which were named by the Wood
family when they returned to Derbyshire in the 1890s.
Andy Wood |
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