Combe St Nicholas

Combe St Nicholas is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Chard and 10 miles (16 km) from Taunton, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The parish, which includes Wadeford and Scrapton, has a population of 1,373.^[1]

Combe St Nicholas
The village
St Nicholas's church
Combe St Nicholas Location within Somerset
Population	1,373 (2011)[1]
OS grid reference	ST302111
Civil parish	Chard
Unitary authority	Somerset Council
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CHARD
Postcode district	TA20
Dialling code	01460
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Yeovil
List of places UK England Somerset 50.8957°N 2.9936°W / 50.8957; -2.9936

History

There are also the remains of a Roman Villa in the town known as Wadeford Roman villa which is scheduled as an ancient monument.^[2]

At the time of the Domesday Book the manor was held by Bishop Gisa. The parish was known as Combe Episcopi until the dedication of the church to St Nicholas in 1239.

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 planning applications and works with the 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.^[3]

The village falls within the 'Blackdown' electoral ward. This ward stretches north west to Buckland St Mary and south to Wambrook. The total ward population at the 2011 Census was 2,334.^[4]

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.

Geography

To the east of the village is Woolhayes Farm, a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The source of the River Isle is at Scrapton.^[5]

Religious sites

The Church of St Nicholas is Norman in origin, with the chancel and lower stage of the tower dating from the 13th century. It was enlarged with aisles added in the 15th century, and received further restoration in 1836. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade 1 listed building.^[6]