Whitestaunton
{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Somerset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country= England
|coordinates = {{coord|50.889|-3.023|display=inline,title}}
|official_name= Whitestaunton
|population= 256
|civil_parish = Whitestaunton
|unitary_england= Somerset Council
|lieutenancy_england= Somerset
|region= South West England
|constituency_westminster= Yeovil
|post_town= CHARD
|postcode_area= TA
|postcode_district= TA20
|dial_code= 01460
|os_grid_reference= ST285105
|static_image = File:Whitestaunton - St Andrews church - geograph.org.uk - 223373.jpg
|static_image_caption = St Andrew's church
}}
Whitestaunton is a village and civil parish in the county of Somerset, England. The parish includes the hamlet of Northay. It was known simply as Staunton until the 14th century.{{Cite web|title=Parishes: Whitestaunton {{!}} British History Online|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol4/pp231-238|access-date=2020-07-30|website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}
History
The univallate Iron Age hill fort at Horse Pool Camp is situated approximately {{convert|1|mi}} west from the village. The hill fort is an oval univallate that is {{convert|300|m}} long and {{convert|150|m}} wide.{{cite web | url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/53259 | title=Horse Pool Camp | work=Somerset Historic Environment Record | publisher=Somerset County Council | access-date=26 August 2011}}{{cite web|title=Whitestaunton Camp|url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=189963|work=National Monuments Record|publisher=English Heritage|access-date=5 October 2012}}
The parish of Whitestaunton was part of the South Petherton Hundred.{{cite web|title=Somerset Hundreds|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|publisher=GENUKI|access-date=20 October 2011}}
A Roman bath house and Edwardian folly in the village were excavated by the television series Time Team.{{cite web | url= http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2004_white.html | publisher= Channel 4 | work= Time Team microsite | title= A Roman bath house and Edwardian folly | date= 11 January 2004 | access-date= 2008-02-09}}
Whitestaunton Manor dates from the 15th century and is a Grade I listed building.{{NHLE | desc=Whitestaunton Manor | num=1250783| access-date=2008-02-02}}
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 South Somerset (established under the Local Government Act 1972). It was part of Chard Rural District before 1974.{{cite web|title=Chard RD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10001535|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=University of Portsmouth|access-date=4 January 2014}}
It is also part of the Yeovil 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
The Church of St Andrew dates from the 13th century and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.{{NHLE | desc=Church of St Andrew | num=1263098| access-date=2008-02-02}}
Notable residents
- Charles Isaac Elton (1839–1900) lawyer, antiquary, and politician.
References
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