Pitney

For the surname, see Pitney (surname).

Human settlement in England

Pitney

Sunset rays catch the tower of St John the Baptist Church

Pitney

Location within Somerset

Population| 374 [1]
OS grid reference| ST455285
District|

* South Somerset

Shire county|

* Somerset

Region|

* South West

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| Langport
Postcode district| TA10
Dialling code| 01458
Police| Avon and Somerset
Fire| Devon and Somerset
Ambulance| South Western
UK Parliament|

* Glastonbury and Somerton

List of places

England
Somerset

51°03′07″N 2°47′21″W﻿ / ﻿51.0519°N 2.7891°W﻿ / 51.0519; -2.7891

Pitney is a village and parish in Somerset, England, located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of Langport and 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. In 2011, the village had a population of 374.[1]

Pitney is home to St John the Baptist Church, the Pitney Farm Shop, and the Halfway House, selected as England's Pub of the Year in 1996 by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

## History

[edit]

The name means "Pytta's place" from Pytta the Saxon, however there is evidence of much earlier occupation from a Bronze Age sword dating from 200 BC found on Pitney Moor.[2] It was recorded in the Domesday book as Petenie supporting the alternative meaning of 'the traversing stream' from the Old English pæþþan and ea.[3]

Several significant archaeological finds have been made at Pitney, including the remains of a Roman villa (roof tiles, pottery, and mosaic) uncovered in the 19th century,[4] and the Pitney brooch, a Saxon cast bronze openwork brooch, modelled after a late Viking design and now in the British Museum.[5]

The medieval manors originated in grants made to Richard Rivel (of Curry Rivel) from the Royal manor of Somerton between 1190 and 1003. The parish was part of the Pitney Hundred.[6] Pitney Warne manor was granted to the Compton family in 1610 and split up and sold by their descendant the Duke of Devonshire in 1919. The lesser manor of Pitney Lortie was held by the Pyne family;[2] the manor house may be the building now known as The Old Court, which has its origins prior to the 16th century.[7]

The 1848 publication, A Topographical Dictionary of England,[8] describes Pitney as an agricultural village of 465 people and writes of the Roman villa:

> At this place has been discovered perhaps the most perfect pavement of an ancient villa yet found in England; the ruins cover about an acre and a half of ground, and the remains of the mosaics show the former splendour of the buildings. In the principal apartment are four pavements of great beauty, with nine figures in good preservation, and four well-drawn busts; in another room is the figure of a youth striking a serpent. The late Sir Richard C. Hoare, who had the subjects illustrated by engravings, supposes, from the English costume of the chief figures, that the villa belonged to the lord of the manor, and was not raised till after the departure of the Romans.

## Governance

[edit]

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 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Langport Rural District.[9] 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 Glastonbury and Somerton 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

[edit]

Pitney's church is dedicated to St John the Baptist. The west tower and south doorway to the nave date to the 14th century, with other parts from the 15th century. The chancel was restored in 1853, with additional restoration to the church in 1875.[10] It was a daughter chapel to Huish Episcopi.[2] It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
2. ^ a b c Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 1-874336-27-X.
3. ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 1-874336-03-2.
4. ^ "Romano-British Villa — Pitney, Somerset". Roman Britain .org. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
5. ^ "The Pitney Brooch". British Museum. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
6. ^ "Somerset Hundreds". GENUKI. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
7. ^ Historic England. "The Old Court (1346113)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
8. ^ "Pisford — Playford, A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848), pp. 573–76". British History Online. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
9. ^ "Langport RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
10. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (2003). The Buildings of England, South and West Somerset (p. 274). Yale University Press.
11. ^ Historic England. "Church of St John Baptist (1056546)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 October 2007.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Pitney at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Towns, villages and hamlets in the former South Somerset district of Somerset, England

* Abbas Combe
* Alford
* Aller
* Ansford
* Ash
* Ashill
* Babcary
* Barrington
* Barton St David
* Barwick
* Beercrocombe
* Blackford
* Bratton Seymour
* Brewham
* Broadway
* Bruton
* Brympton
* Buckland St Mary
* Castle Cary
* Chaffcombe
* Chard
* Charlton Horethorne
* Charlton Mackrell
* Charlton Musgrove
* Chillington
* Chilthorne Domer
* Chilton Cantelo
* Chiselborough
* Closworth
* Combe St Nicholas
* Compton Dundon
* Compton Pauncefoot
* Corton Denham
* Crewkerne
* Cricket St Thomas
* Cucklington
* Cudworth
* Curry Mallet
* Curry Rivel
* Dinnington
* Donyatt
* Dowlish Wake
* Drayton
* East Chinnock
* East Coker
* Fivehead
* Hambridge
* Hardington Mandeville
* Haselbury Plucknett
* Henstridge
* High Ham
* Hinton St George
* Holton
* Horsington
* Horton
* Huish Episcopi
* Ilchester
* Ilminster
* Ilton
* Isle Abbots
* Isle Brewers
* Keinton Mandeville
* Kingsbury Episcopi
* Kingsdon
* Kingstone
* Kingweston
* Knowle St Giles
* Langport
* Limington
* Long Load
* Long Sutton
* Lopen
* Lovington
* Maperton
* Marston Magna
* Martock
* Merriott
* Milborne Port
* Middle Chinnock
* Misterton
* Montacute
* Muchelney
* Mudford
* North Barrow
* North Cadbury
* North Cheriton
* North Perrott
* Norton-sub-Hamdon
* Odcombe
* Penselwood
* Pitcombe
* Pitney
* Puckington
* Queen Camel
* Rimpton
* Seavington St Mary
* Seavington St Michael
* Shepton Beauchamp
* Shepton Montague
* Somerton
* South Barrow
* South Cadbury
* South Petherton
* Sparkford
* Stocklinch
* Stoke-sub-Hamdon
* Stoke Trister
* Tatworth
* Tintinhull
* Wambrook
* Wayford
* West Camel
* West Chinnock
* West Coker
* West Crewkerne
* Whitelackington
* Whitestaunton
* Wincanton
* Winsham
* Yarlington
* Yeovil
* Yeovil Without
* Yeovilton

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