# Ditcheat

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Village in Somerset, England

Human settlement in England

Ditcheat Ditcheat post office (since closed) Ditcheat Location within Somerset Population 725 [1] OS grid reference ST625365 Unitary authority Somerset Council Ceremonial county Somerset Region South West Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town SHEPTON MALLET Postcode district BA4 Dialling code 01749 Police Avon and Somerset Fire Devon and Somerset Ambulance South Western UK Parliament Frome and East Somerset List of places UK England Somerset 51°07′35″N 2°32′07″W / 51.1264°N 2.5352°W / 51.1264; -2.5352

**Ditcheat** is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parishes_in_England) 4.5 miles (7 km) south of [Shepton Mallet](/source/Shepton_Mallet), and 2.5 miles (4 km) north-west of [Castle Cary](/source/Castle_Cary), in [Somerset](/source/Somerset), England. Besides the village, the parish has four hamlets: **Wraxall**, **Lower Wraxall**, **[Alhampton](/source/Alhampton)** and **Sutton**.

## History

In the [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book) of 1086, Ditcheat belonged to [Glastonbury Abbey](/source/Glastonbury_Abbey) and contained 36 families.[2] The parish of Ditcheat was part of the [Whitstone](/source/Whitstone_(Somerset_hundred)) [Hundred](/source/Hundred_(county_subdivision)).[3]

Nearby main roads are the [A37](/source/A37_road), 1.5 miles (2 km) west of the village, connecting [Bristol](/source/Bristol) and [Yeovil](/source/Yeovil), and the [A371](/source/A371_road), 1 mile (2 km) east, connecting Shepton Mallet and [Wincanton](/source/Wincanton). It lies near the [River Brue](/source/River_Brue) which is crossed by Ansford bridge which dates from 1823.[4] Boulter's Bridge which spans the [River Alham](/source/River_Alham) is of medieval origin[5] and has been designated as a [Scheduled Ancient Monument](/source/Scheduled_Ancient_Monument).[6] The parish is close to the Roman [Fosse Way](/source/Fosse_Way).

The Manor House is a 17th-century manor house built by Sir Ralph Hopton.[7]

## Governance

The [parish council](/source/Parish_councils_of_England) 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](/source/Neighbourhood_Watch_(UK)) 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](/source/Local_government_in_England) purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under the [unitary authority](/source/Unitary_authorities_of_England) of [Somerset Council](/source/Somerset_Council). Prior to this, it was part of the [non-metropolitan district](/source/Non-metropolitan_district) of [Mendip](/source/Mendip_District), which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the [Local Government Act 1972](/source/Local_Government_Act_1972), having previously been part of [Shepton Mallet Rural District](/source/Shepton_Mallet_Rural_District).[8]

It is also part of the [Frome and East Somerset](/source/Frome_and_East_Somerset_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) [county constituency](/source/County_constituency) represented in the [House of Commons](/source/British_House_of_Commons) of the [Parliament of the United Kingdom](/source/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom). It elects one [Member of Parliament (MP)](/source/Member_of_Parliament) by the [first past the post](/source/First_past_the_post) system of election. It was part of the [South West England constituency](/source/South_West_England_(European_Parliament_constituency)) of the [European Parliament](/source/European_Parliament) prior to [Britain leaving the European Union](/source/Brexit) in January 2020, which elected seven [MEPs](/source/Members_of_the_European_Parliament) using the [d'Hondt method](/source/D'Hondt_method) of [party-list proportional representation](/source/Party-list_proportional_representation).

## Religious sites

Church of St Mary Magdalene, Ditcheat

The [Church of St Mary Magdalene](/source/Church_of_St_Mary_Magdalene%2C_Ditcheat) has 12th-century origins. It has been designated by [English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage) as a Grade I [listed building](/source/Listed_building).[9]

[The Abbey](/source/The_Abbey%2C_Ditcheat) is a large house (formerly known as The Priory), built as the [rectory](/source/Rectory) by [John Gunthorpe](/source/John_Gunthorpe) who was rector of Ditcheat, [Dean of Wells](/source/Dean_of_Wells) and [Lord Privy Seal](/source/Lord_Privy_Seal), in 1473. The house was altered in 1667 for [Christopher Coward](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christopher_Coward&action=edit&redlink=1); and given a new facade and rearranged internally in 1864–68, probably by [James Piers St Aubyn](/source/James_Piers_St_Aubyn) for Rev. [William Leir](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Leir&action=edit&redlink=1). The exterior is now mostly his [Victorian](/source/Victorian_architecture) [neo-Tudor](/source/Neo-Tudor); inside there are reused fragments and some original 15th- and 17th-century work – coffered ceilings and the arch-braced roof of the ‘chapel wing’ – but most of the elaborate Gothic work dates from the 1860s.[10]

Priors Leigh on the Alhampton Road is a former chapel, now a private home.[11]

Alhampton is served by [Alhampton Chapel](/source/Alhampton_Mission_Church), a small mission church and [tin tabernacle](/source/Tin_tabernacle) which was erected in 1892.[12] Alhampton Chapel is under the auspices of St Mary Magdalene Church in Ditcheat, both of which form part of the Fosse Trinity Benefice.

Alhampton Tabernacle

Alhampton Inn

## Community facilities

There is a [public house](/source/Public_house) in Ditcheat village, called The Manor House Inn, dating from the 17th century and which used to be owned by the [lord of the manor](/source/Lord_of_the_manor).[13]

The Alhampton Inn, also known as the Knave of Clubs, is claimed to have been an [alehouse](/source/Alehouse) from at least the seventeenth century.[14] After it closed in 2022, a community initiative supported by the [Plunkett Foundation](/source/Plunkett_Foundation) was set up to reopen the pub, and this was successfully achieved in August 2023.[15][16] In 2024, the pub won a Prince of Wales Award of Honour,[17] and was listed by the *[Daily Mail](/source/Daily_Mail)* as one of the hundred best pubs in Britain.[18]

A new woodland, Haddon Wood, was established at Alhampton on 28 acres of land donated by the owner in 2013 to the [Woodland Trust](/source/Woodland_Trust) for the benefit of the local community.[19] The land has been planted with native and orchard trees, and has a pond.[20]

## Sport

Ditcheat is home to the stables operated by [Paul Nicholls](/source/Paul_Nicholls_(horse_racing)), trainer of [Cheltenham Gold Cup](/source/Cheltenham_Gold_Cup)-winning horses [Kauto Star](/source/Kauto_Star) and [Denman](/source/Denman_(horse)).[21]

## Notable people

- [Theodosia Alleine](/source/Theodosia_Alleine) (d. 1685), nonconformist writer[22]

- [William Alleine](/source/William_Alleine) (1614–1677), minister[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- [Paul Barber](/source/Paul_Barber_(farmer)) (1942–2023), farmer, cheese manufacturer and racehorse owner[23]

- [Charles Dowding](/source/Charles_Dowding) (b.1959), horticulturalist and local resident.[24]

- [Paul Nicholls](/source/Paul_Nicholls_(horse_racing)) (b.1962), horse racing trainer.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-popn_1-0)** ["Ditcheat Parish"](http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11122730&c=Ditcheat&d=16&e=61&g=6461439&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1388574924779&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2491). *Neighbourhood Statistics*. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-havinden_2-0)** Havinden, Michael. *The Somerset Landscape*. The making of the English landscape. London: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 97. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-340-20116-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-340-20116-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Somerset Hundreds"](http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/). GENUKI. Retrieved 22 October 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Ansford Bridge (1217028)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1217028?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 20 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Boulter's Bridge (1345164)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1345164?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 20 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Boulters Bridge"](https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1345164&resourceID=5). *Listed Buildings Online*. [English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage). Retrieved 2 January 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Ditcheat House, or Ditcheat Manor (1275484)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1275484?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 20 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sheptonrd_8-0)** ["Shepton Mallet RD"](http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10001559). *A vision of Britain Through Time*. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Church of St Mary Magdalene (1345167)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1345167?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 20 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["The Priory (1275470)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1275470?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 20 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Priors Leigh"](http://www.chestertonhumberts.com/asset-images/rps12/brochures/SHF123545.PDF) (PDF). Chesterton Humberts.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Home"](https://www.alhamptonchapel.org/). Alhampton Chapel. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [CAMRA WhatPub.com](https://whatpub.com/pubs/WSX/100/manor-house-inn-ditcheat) Manor House Inn, Ditcheat

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Alhampton Inn: Our Story"](https://webmaster19437.wixsite.com/website/our-story). Retrieved 28 October 2024

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["The Alhampton Inn to reopen as a community-run pub", *Somerset County Gazette*, 23 June 2023](https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/23607817.alhampton-inn-reopen-community-run-pub/). Retrieved 25 August 2023

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Alhampton Inn: Our Story"](https://amandabrit21.wixsite.com/the-alhampton-inn/our-story). Retrieved 25 August 2023

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Community Spirit Restores Alhampton Inn: A Triumph of Local Collaboration", *Porter Dobson*](https://www.porterdodson.co.uk/blog/community-spirit-restores-alhampton-inn-a-triumph-of-local-collaboration). Retrieved 28 October 2024

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Daniel Clark, "Somerset pubs named among UK's best in Daily Mail top 100", *Somerset Live*, 12 October 2024](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/somerset-pubs-named-among-uks-9610852). Retrieved 28 October 2024

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [John Vallins, "A woodland dream come true", *The Guardian*, 3 November 2014](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/03/country-diary-woodland-dream-true). Retrieved 25 August 2023

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [Haddon Wood, *The Woodland Trust*](https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/haddon-wood/). Retrieved 25 August 2023

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Gold Cup winner in village parade"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7943837.stm). [BBC News](/source/BBC_News). 14 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Alleine, Theodosia (fl. 1654–1677), nonconformist writer"](https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-67079;jsessionid=106D405F5101D314938560FADBB5401A). *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/67079](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F67079). Retrieved 11 February 2024. (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Scargill, Peter (18 June 2023). ["'He deserved all the success he had, what a man' - Denman owner Paul Barber dies at the age of 80"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231113140326/https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/paul-barber-the-dairy-farmer-and-cheese-tycoon-who-hit-the-heights-all-jumps-owners-dream-of-aD1zK7S8RWGs/). Racing Post. Archived from [the original](https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/paul-barber-the-dairy-farmer-and-cheese-tycoon-who-hit-the-heights-all-jumps-owners-dream-of-aD1zK7S8RWGs/) on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Alhampton Open Gardens Afternoon", *CharlesDowding.co.uk*](https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/product/alhampton-open-gardens-afternoon). Retrieved 23 October 2024

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Ditcheat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ditcheat).

- [Parish council website](https://ditcheatparishcouncil.org.uk/)

- [Ditcheat](https://opendomesday.org/place/ST6236/ditcheat/) in the *[Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book)*

- [Alhampton](https://opendomesday.org/place/ST6234/alhampton/) in the *[Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book)*

v t e Towns, villages and hamlets in the former Mendip district of Somerset, England Alhampton Ashwick Baltonsborough Batcombe Beckington Berkley Binegar Blatchbridge Buckland Dinham Chewton Mendip Chilcompton Coleford Cranmore Croscombe Ditcheat Doulting Downhead East Lydford East Pennard Emborough Evercreech Frome Glastonbury Godney Great Elm Hemington Holcombe Kilmersdon Lamyatt Leigh-on-Mendip Litton Lullington Lydford-on-Fosse Meare Mells Milton Clevedon North Wootton Norton St Philip Nunney Pilton Priddy Pylle Rode Rodney Stoke Rudge Selwood Sharpham Shepton Mallet St Cuthbert Out Stoke St Michael Ston Easton Stratton-on-the-Fosse Street Tellisford Trudoxhill Upton Noble Walton Wanstrow Wells West Bradley West Lydford West Pennard Westbury-sub-Mendip Whatley Witham Friary Wookey Wookey Hole

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ditcheat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ditcheat) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ditcheat?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.