Emborough
{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Somerset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox UK place
|static_image_name=Emboroughchurch.jpg
|static_image_alt=Whitewashed building with square tower.
|static_image_caption=Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Emborough
|country = England
|official_name= Emborough
|coordinates = {{coord|51.2610|-2.5540|display=inline,title}}
|civil_parish=
| population = 148
| lieutenancy_england = Somerset
| unitary_england = Somerset Council
|region= South West England
|constituency_westminster= Wells and Mendip Hills
|post_town= RADSTOCK
|postcode_district=BA3
|postcode_area=BA
|dial_code= 01761
|os_grid_reference= ST615515
}}
Emborough is a village and civil parish {{convert|5|mi|km|1}} north of Shepton Mallet, and {{convert|5|mi|km|1}} north east of Wells, in the county of Somerset, England. It adjoins the parish of Ston Easton. It is situated on the B3139 between Radstock and Wells, just off the A37 road.
History
The name Emborough means smooth hill.{{cite book|last=Bush|first=Robin|title=Somerset: The Complete Guide|publisher=Dovecote Press|date=1994|pages=[https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush/page/94 94]|isbn=1-874336-26-1|url=https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush/page/94}}
The parish was part of the hundred of Chewton.{{cite web|title=Somerset Hundreds|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|publisher=GENUKI|access-date=8 October 2011}}
The parish includes two manor houses occupied by the Hippisley or Hippisley Coxe families since Elizabethan times. They bought the manor in 1570. The current Manor Farmhouse is medieval in origin, with some early 17th century alteration, and further work in the 19th century.{{NHLE|num=1345124|desc=Manor Farmhouse |access-date=15 February 2009}}
Governance
The parish meeting has responsibility for local issues, but does not set a precept, nor have any assets, nor costs. The parish meeting 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 meeting's role includes 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 Mendip (established under the Local Government Act 1972). It was part of Shepton Mallet Rural District before 1974.{{cite web|title=Shepton Mallet RD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10001559|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=University of Portsmouth|access-date=4 January 2014}}
It is also part of the Wells and Mendip Hills 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.
Geography
Emborough is close to the Emborough Quarries Site of Special Scientific Interest.
{{Infobox body of water
| align = left
| name = Emborough Pond
| other_name = Lechmere Water
| image = Lechmer Water.jpg
| caption =
|alt=photo of water and trees
| pushpin_map_alt = Location in Somerset
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Somerset
| coords = {{coord|51|15|23|N|2|33|13|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|name=Emborough Pond}}
| type =
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = United Kingdom
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|10|acre|ha}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
|pushpin_map=Somerset
| shore =
| elevation =
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}}
Emborough Pond (also known as Lechmere Water) is a {{convert|10|acre|m2|adj=on}} lake just south of the village. It was originally a much smaller mill pond.{{cite web |url=http://www.boddyparts.co.uk/emborough_pond.htm |title=Emborough Pond |access-date=25 January 2008 |work=BodyParts }} It was held by monks on a 51-year lease from 1525 who stocked it with bream, tench, perch and roach, as they were not allowed to eat meat but were allowed to eat fish. In 1533 locals came and took the fish then throwing down the dam.{{cite book |title=Religious Belief and Ecclesiastical Careers in Late Medieval England |last=Harper-Bill |first=Christopher |year= 1991|publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=0-85115-296-1 |pages=38 }} It is now used for Carp angling.{{cite web |url=http://fish4carp.blogspot.com/2009/02/carp-fishing-in-somerset.html |title=Carp Fishing in Somerset |access-date=21 November 2010 |work=Fish 4 carp }}
Religious sites
The parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is medieval in origin but underwent extensive renovation in the 18th century. The inside includes a Georgian gallery and a cast iron "Gurney Stove".{{cite book |last=Reid |first= Robert Douglas |title=Some buildings of Mendip |year=1979 |publisher=The Mendip Society |isbn=0-905459-16-4 }} It has been designated as a Grade II* listed building.{{NHLE|num=1177590|desc=Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary |access-date=15 February 2009}}
The church is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.{{cite web|url=https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-mary-emborough.html |title=The Blessed Virgin Mary, Emborough |publisher=Churches Conservation Trust |access-date=28 December 2016 }}
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References
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