Services
Our History
Historical overview of the Parish of Otterhampton, located on the west side of the River Parrett.
Otterhampton parish, located on the west side of the River Parrett, historically intertwined with land ownership complexities, coastal changes and the growth of it’s main village, Combwich.
-
Early History:
The parish is mentioned in the Domesday Book, and its territory was once connected with Cannington and Stockland Bristol. The northern part of the parish was only acquired from Huntspill in 1933.
-
Settlement:
The settlement pattern is scattered, with the exception of Combwich, and there may be evidence of deserted settlement sites near All Saints’ Church.
-
All Saints’ Church:
The church, dedicated to All Saints, dates back to the 12th century, with the current building largely from the 14th century. It was once the main parish church but was later replaced by a chapel of ease in Combwich. The church is built of rubble and has a simple layout including a nave, chancel, north vestry, south porch, and west tower.
-
Combwich:
Combwich, the largest settlement in the parish, has a history as a port for exporting local produce and importing timber. It also had a brick and tile industry, which declined as a result of the creek silting up in the 1930s.
-
Coastal Changes:
The Steart peninsula, part of the parish, has experienced significant flooding over the last millennium, including severe floods in 1981. Coastal erosion and sea level rise have also impacted coastal defenses in the area.
-
Village Hall:The Otterhampton Village Hall, originally a malt house, was renovated in 1944 and has become a focal point for the community with further works and improvements completed at various intervals since 1944.
Take a look at some old copies of Combwich’s own “newspaper”…
Documents
| Document | File Size | File Type |
|---|---|---|
| Combwich-Clarion-September-1973 | 8.03 MB | |
| Combwich-Clarion-Christmas-1973 | 7.16 MB | |
| Combwich-Clarion-December-1974 | 5.11 MB | |
| Combwich-Clarion-October-1980 | 8.00 MB | |
| Combwich-Clarion-February-1982 | 11.22 MB |