Modern Britain

The Church of St Andrew & St Mary, Pitminster, is at the southern end of a horseshoe-shaped diversion south from the main east-west lane through the village. It was built around 1300, replacing an earlier Saxon building of unknown form and design - probably largely wooden. The main fabric was enlarged in the fifteenth century, while the unusual tower was built in three distinctive stages involving a square first stage, an octagonal belfry, and a lead covered spire.

During a Victorian restoration in 1869, George Gilbert Scott rebuilt the north aisle, south porch, and north-west chapel. The clerestory windows were replaced and the chancel arch was rebuilt. In 1937 the chancel itself was restored by W D Caröe, and in 1979 the Lady Chapel was restored. The interior is distinguished by effigy tombs of three generations of the Colles family who were lords of the manor in the 1500s-1600s. Today the church is a Grade I listed building.

The original Blagdon Congregational Chapel was located on the northern side of Howleigh Lane. Its position was where the small side lane (shown here) is flanked by low stone walls, opposite the site of the later chapel (see below). As shown on OS maps, it was still in use around 1914 (possibly as a Sunday school), but by the 1949-1967 period it had been closed and replaced. The building still stood at this time but was later demolished to leave no trace of its existence.

The second Blagdon Congregational Chapel sits directly opposite the site of the original chapel (see above), on the southern side of Howleigh Lane, and at the south-west corner of the Blagdon Hill road junction. It was built with chert random rubble in 1837, perhaps with the original chapel as a Sunday school which remained in use into the 1900s. The new chapel became Blagdon Hill United Reformed Church following the union, but is now a private residence.

Blagdon Mission Room, Blagdon Green, is at the north-east corner of the main road through Blagdon Hill and the junction with Curdleigh Lane. The building was erected in 1878 for the benefit of parishioners who lived along the long, steep climb up the Blackdown Hills to its immediate south. Judging by the sign clipped to the doorpost, the building still serves an occasional function as a meeting room, even though its main use has been given over to a small business.

Five photos on this page by P L Kessler. Former Taunton Deane area church names and locations kindly confirmed by South West Heritage Trust.