Timeline
Old Cleeve
Timeline [in progress]
Year/Event/Source
Prehistory
In 1912 the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society acquired a flint believed, by style, to be neolithic in age. It had been used for many years as flower bed edging in a garden in Roadwater. It may have washed down the River Wash from one of the many ancient camps in the vicinity.
10th century
Washford mentioned as a settlement by a ford
11th century
1086
Domesday Survey takes place:
The King holds Old Cleeve. Earl Harold held it TRE and it paid geld for 4 hides and 1 virgate of land. There is land for 33 ploughs. Of this 1 hide is in demesne, and there are 3 ploughs and 4 slaves; and 19 villans and 9 bordars with 18 ploughs. There are 2 mills rendering 54d, and 24 acres of meadow, woodland 1 league long and half a league broad. It renders 23l of blanch silver.
TNA ref.E31/2/1/2932
12th century
Clyden´s Cross, Monk´s Path
A wayside cross dating from the 12th century - remains Grade II listed
Somerset Heritage
Monk´s Path
A church path thought to date to the 12th century but in some places the visible cobbles may be medieval
Somerset Heritage
St Andrew´s parish church
Small amount of 12th century work in form of Norman herringbone masonry in the north wall of the nave.
1198
Cistercian abbey of Cleeve occupied a site in the 'flowery vale' south of Washford
13th century
1221
Bilbrook established by this date
Abbey Grange of Croydon recorded
Golsoncott recorded
1243
A mill at Roadwater was established by this date; three corn mills in the parish in total
Weaving and fulling trades established
1298
Stamborough named by this date
14th century
Chapel of St Pancras
1320
A chapel at Leighland established by this date
1367
Cash rents had been introduced on the [Cleeve Abbey] estate by this date
15th century
1452
Chapel of St Mary destroyed by a landslip into the sea
mid 15th century
Chapel Cleeve founded to replace the chapel of St Mary
1466
The Monks of Cleeve Abbey were granted licence to hold a market on Wednesday and fairs on St James Day (25th July) and the feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14th September) and the three days following
16th century
By the 16th century Leigh Barton was established as a grange of Cleeve Abbey
early 16th century
The Abbey had two grange farms - Binham Farm and Bye Farm, with land also divided between these and Stout, Croydon and Leigh Barton
Linton mentioned in this century (also known as London)
1507
A mill was established at Leighland by this date
1517
Croydon grange leased to the Prowse family before this date
1532
John Underhay, a Taunton clothier took the lease of land at Kentsford, pasture at Bye and more for a term of 80 years
1536
Hungerford established by this date
Four corn mills in the parish
September: the Crown took over the Abbey
1563
74 households in Old Cleeve tithing and 21 in Leighland
17th century
1624
Philip Powell (or Morgan) became [catholic] chaplain to the Poyntz family at Leigh Barton. Giles Poyntz built a chapel and annex for his chaplain in 1627
1667
323 adults paid the subsidy
1676
Mouth Bridge, or Pill Bridge was built
1678
Blue Anchor, probably an inn, at The Strand was in existence by this date
18th century
1730
The White Horse at Hungerford was established by this date
A Dame school was operating in the village
1749
The Bell, Old Cleeve was built opposite the old parish school
1765
The road from Hartrow Gate and Taunton to Minehead which passed through Hungerford, Washford and Bilbrook was turnpiked by the Minehead Trust
The road from Carhampton, over Pill Bridge, to Blue Anchor and Watchet was turnpiked by the Minehead Trust at the same time.
The road from Williton to Bampton which followed the parish boundary for a short distance was turnpiked by the Minehead Trust at the same time.
1770
The Valiant Soldier, Roadwater had this name by this date
1792
A room was licenced for non-conformist worship in the parish
late 18th century
Cleeve Bay, a sea bathing resort established north west of Chapel Cleeve Manor
19th century
1801
Population 1,040
1802
A friendly society operated at Roadwater
1807
The Minehead Trust took control of the road between Washford and Williton
1809
New Inn, Roadwater was open by this date
1811
A Methodist chapel was built at Lower Washford
1836
The parish became part of the newly formed Williton poor-law union
1851
Brendon Iron Mines opened
Population 1,550
1854
Brendon Hill, a mining village was created around this date
1855
New school building opened at Lower Washford
1856
Railway built to eventually link Brendon Iron Mines to Watchet harbour
1861
Comberow Incline completed
The Blue Anchor Family Hotel was built by the Blue Anchor Inn
Beulah chapel Brendon Hill opened by Bible Christians
Population 1,529
1868
A Temperance Society was established at Roadwater
1871
Population 1,689
1874
West Somerset Railway built following the Mineral Line route by the Washford River.
1875
The Railway Hotel, Washford was built by this year
1883
Brendon Iron Mines closed
Whitehall, Old Cleeve, a lodging house was in business by this date
1894
Cattle auction held on the first Monday of each month in a field beside Washford Station
The parish became part of the administrative unit Williton rural district
20th century
1901
Population 1,307
1907
Ebenezer Chapel, Roadwater built
1920s
Vale House, Roadwater offered guest accommodation
1930s
Houses built to the west and north of Chapel Cleeve Manor
1950s
Houses built within the grounds of Chapel Cleeve Manor
1951
Cleeve Abbey became a property of the Ministry of Works
1971
West Somerset Railway closed
Population 1,677
1974
The parish became part of West Somerset district
1976
West Somerset Railway reopened as a private enterprise
21st century