Coordinates: 50°55′37″N 2°49′10″W / 50.9270°N 2.8195°W
| Lopen | |
 Church Street, Lopen |
|
  Lopen
Lopen shown within Somerset |
|
| Population | 248 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | South Somerset |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | YEOVIL |
| Postcode district | TA13 |
| Dialling code | 01460 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Yeovil |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Lopen is a village and civil parish in the English county of Somerset, situated 8 miles (12.9 km)eight miles west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 248.[1]
Contents |
History
The name of the village means Lufa's pen or fold.[2]
A Roman mosaic, probably from a Roman villa, was found in the village in 2001.
Lopen is listed in the Domesday Book, with three manors, one of which was held by the Knights Templar. These were bought by the Poulett's of Hinton St George in the 1560's.[2]
In the 18th century the parish was noted for flax growing and for the production of linen sailcloth and twine. These industries continuing until the end of World War II.[2] A mill had first been recorded in the parish around 1285. The mill was a water/grist mill until the mid 18th, then becoming jointly used as a grain mill and for linen production.[3]
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.
The village falls within the Non-metropolitan district of South Somerset, which was formed on April 1, 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Chard Rural District.[4] The district council is responsible for local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism.
Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, policing and fire services, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning.
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, and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament which elects seven MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.
Geography
The parish of Lopen is bounded to the north by the A303 Trunk Road and to the south by Lopen Brook with the road from South Petherton to Merriott, Crewkerne and the south coast running through the middle. Between Lopenhead and Lopen the road crosses the ancient Roman Fosse Way, which at this point is just a minor country lane.
The only retail outlets in the parish are the pub and an organic food shop at Lopen Head, but although they are in the parish they are not really in the village itself which is located half a mile to the south. Furthermore the road from Lopenhead to Lopen descends steeply through a deep and twisty cutting with no pedestrian pavement, consequently these outlets cannot safely be reached on foot from the village.
Religious sites
The Anglican parish Church of All Saints has 12th or 13th century origins, but was largely rebuild in the 14th and 15th centuries with the north transept being added in 1833.[5] As Lopen chapel it was granted to Bruton Priory in 1209 becoming dependent on South Petherton church, later passing to Bristol Cathedral and obtaining burial rights in 1574.[2]
Culture
Punkie Night is celebrated in the village each October.
References
- ^ a b Somerset County Council, 2002. Population estimates
- ^ a b c d Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. pp. 132. ISBN 1874336261.
- ^ "Lopen Mill House". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264142. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Chard Rural District
- ^ "Church of All Saint". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264136. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
External links
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