Curland is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Taunton. The village has a population of 225.[1] The parish includes the hamlet of Abbey Hill.
| Curland | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Curland Methodist Chapel, which has now been converted into 2 houses | |
  Curland Location within Somerset | |
| Population | 225 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST275175 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TAUNTON |
| Postcode district | TA3 |
| Dialling code | 01823 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Curland is home of a thriving equestrian centre.
History edit
The name Curland, which was Curiland in 1252, means land belonging to Curry.[2]
Within the parish is Castle Neroche, a Norman motte-and-bailey castle on the site of an earlier hill fort.
Curland was part of the hundred of Abdick and Bulstone.[3][4]
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.
For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton (formed on 1 April 2019) and, before this, the district of Taunton Deane (established under the Local Government Act 1972). From 1894-1974, for local government purposes, Curland was part of Taunton Rural District.[5]
It is also part of the Taunton Deane 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. It was part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament prior to Britain leaving the European Union in January 2020, which elected seven MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.
Religious sites edit
The parish Church of All Saints occupies a prominent position on a hill. It was rebuilt by Benjamin Ferrey in 1856, on the site of an earlier church,[6] but closed in 1970.[2]
The Curland Methodist Chapel has now been converted into a single dwelling.
References edit
- ^ a b "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ a b Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The Complete Guide. Dovecote Press. pp. 78. ISBN 1-874336-26-1.
- ^ "Abdick and Bulstone Hundred Through Time". A Vision of Britain Through Time. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Abdick and Bulstone in South Somerset". A Vision Britain Through Time. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ "Taunton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of All Saints (1060437)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
External links edit
Media related to Curland at Wikimedia Commons