Haselbury Plucknett is a village and civil parish on the River Parrett in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil. The village has a population of 744.
It was one of the few manors which retained its Saxon owner, Brismar, after the Norman Conquest. A later Lord of the manor, Richard of Haselbury, rebelled against King John and was hanged at Sherborne.
Haselbury Bridge (sometimes called Haslebury Old Bridge) is a stone-built bridge dating from the 14th century. It is a scheduled monument and Grade II* listed building. The two arch bridge was built of local Hamstone and carries a small road over the River Parrett. Each of the arches has a span. The bridge is wide including the parapet on each side. The bridge was bypassed in 1831.
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.
For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the parish comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of South Somerset (established under the Local Government Act 1972). It was part of Yeovil Rural District before 1974.
It is also part of the Yeovil county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, electing one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Notable residents
- William Best, 1st Baron Wynford (1767–1845), conservative politician and judge who served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1824 until 1829
- John Bryant (1944–2020), journalist and editor of The Daily Telegraph
Religious sites
The Anglican parish Church of St Michael and All Angels dates from the 14th century.
The village has a small Protestant church. The nearby local primary school goes there to practise and perform their plays.
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File:St Michael's Church - Haselbury Plucknett - geograph.org.uk - 457453.jpg|St Michael's Church - Haselbury Plucknett
File:Gentlemans Row - geograph.org.uk - 542476.jpg|Gentlemans Row
File:The White Horse Inn - geograph.org.uk - 807348.jpg|The White Horse Inn
File:Haselbury Plucknett Village Green - geograph.org.uk - 807330.jpg|Village Green
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