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Axbridge
Coordinates: 51.2867° N 2.8152° W
Population	2,024
OS grid reference	ST431545
District	Sedgemoor
Shire county	Somerset
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	AXBRIDGE
Postcode district	BS26
Dial code	01934
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Wells
European Parliament	South West England

Axbridge is a town in Somerset, England, situated in the Sedgemoor district on the River Axe, near the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. The village has a population of 2,024 (2002 estimate).

Contents 1 History 2 Church 3 Village or town? 4 Workhouse 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

Early inhabitants of the area almost certainly include the Romans (who are known to have mined lead on the top of the Mendips) and earlier still, prehistoric man, (who lived in the local caves) whose flint tools have been found on the slopes of the local hills. The history of Axbridge can be traced back to the reign of King Alfred when it was part of the Saxons' defence system for Wessex against the Vikings. Axbridge appears in the Domesday survey of 1086 as Alse Bruge, meaning 'The ash tree bridge' from the Old English ysle and brycg.^[1] It was part of the royal manor of Cheddar.

It was granted a Royal Charter in 1202, when King John sold most of the royal manor of Cheddar to the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Axbridge grew in the Tudor period as a centre for cloth manufacture, This was reflected in its early royal charters allowing it to hold markets, fairs and become a royal borough. It even had its own mint, with coins showing the town's symbol: the Lamb and Flag.^[2] Trade was possible as the River Axe was navigable to wharves at Axbridge.^[3]

Later the towns importance declined which led to stagnation and the preservation of many historic buildings in the town centre. These include King John's Hunting Lodge (actually a Tudor building) which is now used as a museum.

Axbridge is a very old borough and sent members to parliament in the reigns of Edward I and Edward III.^[4]

During the 19th and early 20th century iron ore was extracted from the hill above and east of Axbridge.^[5]

The town had a railway station which opened on 3rd August 1869 and closed to goods traffic on 10th June 1963 and passengers on 9th September the same year. The route of the railway is now the A371 Axbridge bypass but the station buildings and goods shed still survive.^[6]

The thirteenth century parish church of St John is a grade I listed building.^[7]

Work on the current building began in the early 1400s, and grew from an earlier building dating back to about 1230. The church is built of limestone and decorated with Doulting stone, while the steps are an interesting example of Dolomitic Conglomerate (pudding stone). The crossing tower is over 100 feet high, and holds six bells. The statue on the east side is that of St John the Baptist. On the west side is a king - perhaps Henry VII, which would place it after 1485. The North aisle ceiling retains some mediaeval painted panels, and amongst the carved bosses is the head of a Green Man, with leaves sprouting around his face.^[8]

In contrast to the much larger settlement of Cheddar immediately to the south east that remains a village, Axbridge is a town. This apparently illogical situation is explained by the relative importance of the two places in historic times. While Axbridge grew in importance as a centre for cloth manufacture in the Tudor period and gained a charter from King John, Cheddar remained a more dispersed dairy-farming village until the advent of tourism and the arrival of the railway in the Victorian era.

This situation is unlikely to change in the near future, with the residents of both Axbridge and Cheddar proud of their settlement's respective status and the inevitable friendly local rivalry between the two.

The town was part of the Axbridge Rural District from 1894 to 1974, after which it became part of Sedgemoor.

The Axbridge Union workhouse was erected in 1837 at the south side of West Street in Axbridge. The Poor Law Commissioners authorised an expenditure of £4,496.17s.6d on construction of the building which was intended to accommodate 250 inmates. It was designed by Samuel T Welch who was also the architect of workhouses at Wells and Clifton. By 1929 the workhouse had become officially known as Axbridge Poor Law Institution.^[9]

• Cheddar Reservoir

• Axbridge information from the town council
• Axbridge Archaeological Survey