Mark, Somerset

Mark is a village and civil parish which lies approximately 10 miles (16 km) from Bridgwater, 5 miles (8 km) from Axbridge, and 4 miles (6.4 km) from Highbridge in the Sedgemoor district of the county of Somerset, England. It includes the hamlets of Yarrow and Southwick.

Mark

Parish Church of St Mark (or Holy Cross)

White Horse Inn
Mark
Location within Somerset
Population1,478 [1]
OS grid referenceST376477
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHighbridge
Postcode districtTA9
Dialling code01278
PoliceAvon and Somerset
FireDevon and Somerset
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament

The Mark Yeo river has its source near the village.

Mark is home to two pubs, a village hall,[2] a village stores and post office, the Ki-Aikido Federation of Great Britain and many clubs and societies, including a Youth Theatre group.

History

The origin of the name is believed to mean A boundary of property from the Old English mærc.[3]

The estate was given to the Bishop of Wells by Edith of Wessex and with Wedmore was used to endow the deanery of Wells Cathedral by 1157 and continued until 1547.[4]

Mark was part of the hundred of Bempstone.[5]

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 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 Sedgemoor, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Axbridge Rural District,[6] which 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 Wells 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

The Parish Church of St Mark (or Holy Cross) dates from the 13th century, but is mainly 14th and 15th century, with further restoration in 1864. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[7] The former market cross in the churchyard dates from the 15th century.[8]

The Methodist Chapel on The Causeway dates from 1797.[9]

Education

The educational system in the Cheddar Valley consists of First Schools for children between the ages of 4 and 9, two Middle Schools (ages 9 to 13) and a Secondary School for pupils up to the age of 18 years. Children from Mark may attend Mark First School,[10] Hugh Sexey Middle School in Blackford,[11] and The Kings of Wessex Academy in Cheddar.

Mark is home to Mark College, a private boarding secondary school for students with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism.[12]

References
  1. "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. "Mark Village Hall". Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  3. Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 1-874336-03-2.
  4. Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne: The Dovecote Press Ltd. pp. 137. ISBN 1-874336-26-1.
  5. "Bempstone Hundred". A Vision of Britain Through Time. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  6. "Axbridge RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  7. Historic England. "Parish Church of St Mark (1252187)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  8. Historic England. "Former Market Cross (1252188)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  9. Historic England. "Methodist Chapel (1113341)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  10. "Mark First School". Mark First School. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  11. "Hugh Sexey Middle School". Hugh Sexey Middle School. Archived from the original on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  12. "Mark College". Priory. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
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