North Petherton
North Petherton is a small town in Somerset, England. It only became a town in the late 20th century, until then claiming to be the largest village in England. It's now largely a dormitory town for workers in Bridgwater and Taunton.The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Nortperet, and the name derives from the area's location to the north side of the River Parrett.
The town boasts a church with a highly decorated tower which, at 120 feet / 36m high, is claimed to be one of the tallest towers in the south west of the country. The building is mainly dated from the 15th century, with a minstrel gallery from 1623.
The annual North Petherton Carnival takes place in November, on the Saturday after the Friday Carnival at Bridgwater, featuring most of the same participants.
In the past the town boasted a brewery and light engineering works, but local emplyment is now largely restricted to farming and service businesses.
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2 Hundred of North Petherton 3 The Alfred Jewel |
Royal Forest of North Petherton
The former Royal Forest (hunting ground) of North Petherton dated from long before the Norman Conquest. Geoffrey Chaucer (~1343-1400), author of "The Canterbury Tales" was appointed Deputy Forester of the Royal Forest (hunting ground) of North Petherton towards the end of his life.
Hundred of North Petherton
The Royal Forest was similar in area to the Saxon Hundred of North Petherton. At the time of the Norman invasion it covered a large area corresponding, today, roughly to a north-south corridor along the M5 motorway from Junction 25 near Taunton, to north of Junction 23 at Stretcholt, and east-west from Athelney to Goathurst.
The Alfred Jewel
The Alfred jewel, an object about 2-1/2" long, made of filigreed gold, cloisonne-enameled and with a rock crystal covering, was found at North Petherton. Believed to have been owned by Alfred the Great it is thought to have been the handle for a pointer that would have fit into the hole at its base and been used while reading a book. It is inscribed, "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN," ("Alfred had me made"). It may be one of the "aestels" Alfred had sent to each bishopric with a copy of his translation of Pope Gregory the Great's book Pastoral Care. A replica of the jewel can be found in the church of St Mary.