History Chew Magna

1 history

1.1 after dissolution of monasteries
1.2 second world war
1.3 chew valley lake construction
1.4 1968 storm
1.5 telephone exchange

history

chew magna has long been largest village in district, , can trace importance saxon times. thriving woollen centre in middle ages - in 1086 example having 108 households rendering £46 per year, of land being cultivated , having 5 mills, 29 cattle, 36 pigs, 448 sheep , 46 goats. acquired market town , non-represented borough status. picture not entirely benign 22 of these households serfs.

the manor of chew held bishops of bath , wells 1062 1548, , therefore called chew episcopi or bishop s chew. bishops built palace near church of st andrews, visited henry iii in 1250. chew court surviving part of palace , has adjacent head listed long heritage.

according robinson manors, lay , religious holdings formed episcopal property held, overlord, giso, last saxon bishop , name magna comes latin meaning greater . supported domesday book made specify 1086 , pre-conquest holder, in both instances given bishop of wells . hence benefice medieval period converted rectory vicarage, substantial tythings adjoining named bishop sutton, knowle knighton sutton, north elm, , stone. furthermore, had living of dundry annexed it. 1848 tithes had been commuted , sole improprietor listed in 1848 of great tithes george smyth.

the parish part of hundred of chew.

in eastern corner of south aisle of church monument of baber family, formerly had large possessions in parish. inserted in window of aisle, wooden effigy, supposed of sir john de hautville, knight of henry iii s, owned northeastern estate named norton hautville, norton hawkfield: in same directional corner of church monuments strach(e)y family lived @ sutton court.

after dissolution of monasteries

since 1600, name changed chew magna has been important of several villages along banks of river chew , reflecting reduced wealth of established church dissolution of monasteries onwards.

around 1700 lord of manor sir william jones, attorney general of england , in 1820s seat of lord lyttelton. until 1880 village had toll roads , toll house collect fees.

by 1848 population partly employed in coal mines in bishop sutton, , in manufacture of stockings , of edge tools limited extent; formerly there considerable factory cloth.

during late 19th , 20th centuries importance of wool trade in village declined , became largely dormitory area cities of bristol , bath, although has continued commercial centre of valley.

world war ii pill box in field north of chew magna view southwards of parish church , chew valley lake (pictured 2011)



view west of same world war ii pill box


second world war

during german bombing raids targeted on bristol, many bombs fell in parish: ruen house on road chew hill bombed. flat area east of y-junction on chew hill chosen starfish site area lit fires simulate bristol in flames. later, halfway between north chew farm , manor farm, north wick area secured royal air force personnel, lit fires, , automatic guns simulate anti-aircraft guns. there genuine heavy anti aircraft battery @ chewhill farm. area guarded pill boxes of 1 remains on west side of blacklands (map reference st579640).

chew valley lake construction

the construction of chew valley lake in 1950s brought opportunities leisure , tourism.

1968 storm

on 10–11 july 1968 storm brought heavy rainfall chew valley , dundry, 175 millimetres (7 in) falling in 18 hours on chew stoke, double area s average rainfall whole of july, , flooded 88 properties in chew magna many being inundated 8 feet (2 m) of water. bridge on road dundry demolished.

telephone exchange

the chew magna telephone exchange manually operated until 1950s. important number chew magna 2 of dr terrell hughes: exchange operators locate him in emergency if away home , surgery. manual exchange served of chew valley , east dundry.