Brompton Ralph
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox UK place
|static_image_name = Brompton Ralph church (cropped).jpg
|static_image_alt = Stone building with square tower, partially obscured by trees. In the foreground are gravestones.
|static_image_caption=St Mary's Church, Brompton Ralph
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|51.0845|-3.3078|display=inline,title}}
|official_name= Brompton Ralph
|population = 287
|unitary_england= Somerset Council
|lieutenancy_england = Somerset
|region= South West England
|constituency_westminster= Tiverton and Minehead
|post_town= TAUNTON
|postcode_district = TA4
|postcode_area= TA
|dial_code= 01984
|os_grid_reference= ST085325
}}
Brompton Ralph is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, about {{convert|11|mi|km|0}} west of Taunton, and {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} north of Wiveliscombe. It is in a wooded district at the eastern extremity of the Brendon Hills. According to the 2002 population estimates it had a population of 287.
History
The name Brompton, or Brunanton as it was called in the 8th century, is probably a corruption of Brendon, meaning the farmhouse by the Brendons.{{cite web|url=http://www.lhi.org.uk/docs/Brompton_Ralph.pdf |title=Brompton Ralph Heritage Project |accessdate=2007-12-05 |work=Local Heritage Initiative |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904201545/http://www.lhi.org.uk/docs/Brompton_Ralph.pdf |archivedate= 4 September 2006 }}
Within the parish are vestiges of an encampment believed to have been constructed by the Romans.{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50834#s21 |title=Brompton Ralph |accessdate=2007-12-05 |work=British History Online }}
The parish of Brompton Ralph was part of the Williton and Freemanners Hundred.{{cite web|title=Somerset Hundreds|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|publisher=GENUKI|accessdate=23 October 2011}}
The manor farmhouse, which is Grade II* listed, dates from the mid 17th century.{{NHLE | desc=Manor Farmhouse | num=1057971 | accessdate=2007-12-05}}
Governance
The parish council has 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, and neighbourhood watch groups 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.
For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the parish comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton (formed on 1 April 2019) and, before this, the district of West Somerset (established under the Local Government Act 1972). It was part of Williton Rural District before 1974.{{cite web|title=Williton RD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10042021|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=University of Portsmouth|accessdate=5 January 2014}}
It is also part of the Tiverton and Minehead county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Religious sites
St Mary's Church has a 15th-century tower and south door. The nave was refenestrated and the vestry added in the 16th century, and the church was partly rebuilt about 1740. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.{{NHLE | desc=Church of St Mary | num=1057972 | accessdate=2007-12-05}} Due to damage caused by leaking roofs it has been added to the Heritage at Risk Register.{{cite web|title=Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Brompton Ralph - West Somerset|url=http://risk.english-heritage.org.uk/register.aspx?id=21148|work=Heritage at Risk|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=20 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022204025/http://risk.english-heritage.org.uk/register.aspx?id=21148|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Commons category|Brompton Ralph}}
{{reflist}}
{{West Somerset}}