This page looks at the history of Wembdon village and the wider parish. The medieval parish of Wembdon was a composite of small manors. These included Wembdon in the west, four estates called Perry in the north, Cheslade in the far north, Sandford in the east and Sydenham in a detached portion across the river (not dealt with here). In the middle of Wembdon Hill was also Radford.
Do you have history or pictures of the old village you’d like to share? If so we’d be glad to hear from you.
For a fuller history of Wembdon Church and the village, see our book
Containing 70 pages of the most up-to-date research, fully illustrated in colour throughout, with many previously unseen historic images of the village’s history. Any questions, please email here. You can purchase a copy here (ebay), or here (Amazon).
See the index here.
Cover image kindly provided by the Blake Museum, Bridgwater.
Lost Wembdon
Can you help? Somewhere near the old Post Office and Stores in Wembdon was a memorial plaque for a Thomas John Berry, who was killed there in an accident in 1890. It was still there within living memory, but the exact location and its fate remain unknown. The Weston Mercury of 6 December 1890 recorded
BRIDGWATER. SHOCKING FATAL ACCIDENT —Shortly before midnight on Wednesday, Mr Thomas George Berry, 19 years of age, and son of a farmer at Dodington, was riding home from Bridgwater, and when going down hill near Mr Akerman’s residence at Wembdon his hone stumbled and fell. Mr E. K. Babbage and Mr Jarvis, of Bridgwater, were near at the time and on going to Mr Berry’s assistance found him lying in the road insensible. Medical assistance was speedily obtained, Dr Marsden being soon in attendance, and the unfortunate young man was removed in a cab to the Brigdwater Infirmary. He did not recover consciousness, and died in the institution about four hours after his admission, through, it is believed, the rupture of a blood vessel. The deceased was a member of the Bridgwater Troop of the West Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry, and was much respected.