Sedgemoor

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Former non-metropolitan district in England

title: "Sedgemoor" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["sedgemoor", "former-non-metropolitan-districts-of-somerset", "2023-disestablishments-in-england"] description: "Former non-metropolitan district in England" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedgemoor" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Former non-metropolitan district in England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
name
native_name
total_type
motto
blank_emblem_size240px
image_mapSedgemoor UK locator map.svg
mapsize240px
map_captionShown within Somerset
pushpin_map
pushpin_label_position
pushpin_mapsize
subdivision_typeSovereign state
subdivision_nameUnited Kingdom
subdivision_type1Constituent country
subdivision_name1England
subdivision_type2Region
subdivision_name2South West England
subdivision_type3Ceremonial county
subdivision_name3Somerset
subdivision_type4Administrative County
subdivision_name4Somerset Council
parts_style=list
parts
p2
unit_pref
area_total_km2564.36
area_land_km2
area_water_percent
elevation_footnotestags--
elevation_min_ft
population_as_of2021
population_footnotes
population_total
population_density_km2auto
population_density_sq_mi
timezoneGMT
utc_offset0
timezone_DSTBST
utc_offset_DST+1
coor_pinpoint
coordinates
postal_code_typePost Code
postal_codeTA5-9
area_code01278
website
::

| name = Sedgemoor | official_name = | other_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = | total_type = | motto = | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = 240px | image_map = Sedgemoor UK locator map.svg | mapsize = 240px | map_caption = Shown within Somerset | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = Sovereign state | subdivision_name = United Kingdom | subdivision_type1 = Constituent country | subdivision_name1 = England | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = South West England | subdivision_type3 = Ceremonial county | subdivision_name3 = Somerset | subdivision_type4 = Administrative County | subdivision_name4 = Somerset Council | seat_type = | seat = | parts_type = | parts_style = =list | parts = | p1 = | p2 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | established_title = | established_date = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 564.36 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | elevation_footnotes = tags-- | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | elevation_max_m = | elevation_max_ft = | elevation_min_m = | elevation_min_ft = | population_as_of = 2021 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi = | timezone = GMT | utc_offset = 0 | timezone_DST = BST | utc_offset_DST = +1 | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates = | postal_code_type = Post Code | postal_code = TA5-9 | area_code = 01278 | website = | footnotes = Sedgemoor is a low-lying area of land in Somerset, England. It lies close to sea level south of the Polden Hills, historically largely marsh (or "moor" in its older sense). The eastern part is known as King's Sedgemoor, and the western part West Sedgemoor. Sedgemoor is part of the area now known as the Somerset Levels and Moors. Historically the area was known as the site of the Battle of Sedgemoor.

Sedgemoor gave its name to a local government district formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the municipal borough of Bridgwater, the Burnham-on-Sea urban district, Bridgwater Rural District and part of Axbridge Rural District. The district covered a larger area than the historical Sedgemoor, extending north of the Polden Hills across the Somerset Levels and Moors to the Mendip Hills.

On 1 April 2023 the district was abolished and replaced by a new unitary district for the area previously served by Somerset County Council. The replacement council is Somerset Council. Elections for the new council took place in May 2022, and it ran alongside Sedgemoor and the other councils until their abolition in April 2023.

Toponymy

Sedgemoor does not mean 'sedge moor", but is instead 'marsh of a man called Sicga' from the Old Norse personal name Sicga and Old English mor 'moor'. The name was recorded as Secgamere in 1165.

Largest settlements

Parishes

::data[format=table] | Image | Name | Status | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/030D9/Sedg02_mye.pdf |title=Sedgemoor parish population estimates for 2002 |year=2002 |publisher=Somerset County Council |accessdate=17 October 2009 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5lRyCSu4c?url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/030D9/Sedg02_mye.pdf |archivedate=21 November 2009 |df=dmy-all }} | Former local authority | Coordinates | Refs | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | [[File:Ashcott.jpg|alt=Street scene showing road junction with houses and cars|100px]] | Ashcott | Civil parish | 1,186 | Bridgwater Rural District | | title=Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes – SUMMARY Profiles|url=http://www.somersetintelligence.org.uk/files/Somerset%20Census%20Key%20Statistics%20-%20Summary%20Profiles.xls|publisher=Somerset Intelligence|access-date=4 January 2014|format=Excel}} | | [[File:AxbridgeSquare.jpg|alt=Street scene. On the left of the road is a half timbered house where the first and second storeys have irregular black wooden beams showing through white painted walls.|100px]] | Axbridge | Town | 2,057 | Axbridge Rural District | | title=Axbridge RD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025515|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=University of Portsmouth|access-date=4 January 2014}} | | [[File:Badgworth Church.jpg|alt=Stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.|100px]] | Badgworth | Civil parish | 525 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:St Michael and All Angels Church, Bawdrip - geograph.org.uk - 85565.jpg|alt=Brown stone building with red roofs and central square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.|100px]] | Bawdrip | Civil parish | 506 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:SS Nornen wreck.jpg|alt=Wooden hulk of ship, surrounded by wet sand.|100px]] | Berrow | Civil parish | 1,534 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Brean Sands, Somerset, England, from Brean Down arp.jpg|alt=Looking due north at a beach, caravan sites and village in the distance seen from the top of a hill|100px]] | Brean | Civil parish | 635 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Brent Knoll vicarage.jpg|alt=Red brick buildings in front of grey stone church. In the foreground in a grassy field contained within a hedge and fence.|100px]] | Brent Knoll | Civil parish | 1,271 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Bridgwater cornexchange staute and church.jpg|alt=Statue of figure with outstretched arm. To the left a tall church spire and the right a circular building with columns.|100px]] | Bridgwater | Town | 35,886 | Bridgwater Municipal Borough | | | | [[File:Horsey A39.jpg|alt=Large road w2ith houses to left and right and hills beyond.|100px]] | Bridgwater Without | Civil parish | 428 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Broomfield church.jpg|alt=Stone building with prominent square tower.|100px]] | Broomfield | Civil parish | 249 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Pier Burnham-on-Sea.jpg|alt=Short pier above sand, surmounted by white pavilion with flag poles.|100px]] | Burnham on Sea and Highbridge | Town | 19,576 | Burnham on Sea Urban District | | title=Burnham UD|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10042010|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=University of Portsmouth|access-date=4 January 2014}} | | [[File:Edithmead church.jpg|alt=Small light coloured building behind a hedge and gate.|100px]] | Burnham Without | Civil Parish | 1,636 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:St Philips & St James Church. Burtle - geograph.org.uk - 117490.jpg|alt=Small stone building with arched doorway. The church is partially obscured by trees.|100px]] | Burtle | Civil parish | 388 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Cannington church.jpg|alt=Red stone church with square tower.|100px]] | Cannington | Civil parish | 2,271 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Village of Catcott and part of church yard. From tower of St Peter's Church - geograph.org.uk - 124508.jpg|alt=View of the roofs of houses amongst trees and fields. Hills in the distance under a blue cloudless sky.|100px]] | Catcott | Civil parish | 531 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Chapel Allerton - Ashton Windmill - geograph.org.uk - 83605.jpg|alt=White circular building with four black sails.|100px]] | Chapel Allerton | Civil parish | 401 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Cheddar 09-06 9.jpg|alt=Roofs of multiple buildings separated by trees and vegetation. In the distance is a lake and hills.|100px]] | Cheddar | Civil parish | 5,755 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Chedzoy Church - geograph.org.uk - 153750.jpg|alt=Stone building with square tower.|100px]] | Chedzoy | Civil parish | 404 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Chilton Priory.jpg|alt=Square stone tower, behind a stone wall and partially obscured by a tree.|100px]] | Chilton Polden | Civil parish | 698 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Chilton Trinity Church - geograph.org.uk - 1001082.jpg|alt=Reddish stone building with square tower.|100px]] | Chilton Trinity | Civil parish | 260 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Compton Bishop.jpg|alt=Church building with square tower seen within green fields with trees and hills behind.|100px]] | Compton Bishop | Civil parish | 620 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Cossington church.jpg|alt=Stone building with square tower at left hand end. In the foreground either side of a path are gravestones in a grassy area.|100px]] | Cossington | Civil parish | 564 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:West Bower Manor.jpg|alt=Stone buildings with water in front.|100px]] | Durleigh | Civil parish | 548 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:East Brent - Crook Peak and East Brent Church - geograph.org.uk - 43849.jpg|alt=Roofs of houses with prominent church spire to the right. Hills in the background.|100px]] | East Brent | Civil parish | 1,302 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:East Huntspill.jpg|alt=Road junction with direction sign. In the background is a white painted building with a pub sign saying The Crown.|100px]] | East Huntspill | Civil parish | 1,146 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Edington Holy Well - geograph.org.uk - 542761.jpg|alt=Stone wall with arched gap, overgrown with weeds.|100px]] | Edington | Civil parish | 372 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Enmore church.jpg|alt=Square stone tower of church with residential buildings. In the foreground grass field contained by wooden fences.|100px]] | Enmore | Civil parish | 247 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Fiddington Church - geograph.org.uk - 1175231.jpg|alt=Stone building with lighter coloured square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.|100px]] | Fiddington | Civil parish | 298 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Temple of Harmony, Goathurst, Somerset - geograph.org.uk - 920680.jpg|alt=Stone building with pillars, surrounded by grass.|100px]] | Goathurst | Civil parish | 193 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Greintonchurch.JPG|alt=Stone building with square tower, separated from the road in the foreground by a stone wall.|100px]] | Greinton | Civil Parish | 71 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Cricket Pavilion - geograph.org.uk - 84650.jpg|alt=White building with grey roof in the middle of green grass area.|100px]] | Lympsham | Civil parish | 960 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Cattle grazing in East Lyng, Somerset.jpg|alt=Square church tower showing above tees and shrubs. In the foreground is a grass field with cattle.|100px]] | Lyng | Civil parish | 338 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:MARK, Somerset - geograph.org.uk - 66003.jpg|alt=Stone building with prominent square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.|100px]] | Mark | Civil parish | 1,478 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Middlezoychurch.JPG|alt=Stone building with prominent square tower.|100px]] | Middlezoy | Civil parish | 725 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:St. Mary's Church, Moorlinch - geograph.org.uk - 253048.jpg|alt=Square stone tower surrounded by trees and grass.|100px]] | Moorlinch | Civil parish | 408 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Netherstoweychurch.jpg|alt=Stone building with prominent square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.|100px]] | Nether Stowey | Civil parish | 1,373 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:North Petherton church.jpg|alt=Stone building with prominent square tower.|100px]] | North Petherton | Town | 6,730 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Otherychurch.JPG|alt=Stone building with square tower|100px]] | Othery | Civil parish | 642 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Otterhampton church - geograph.org.uk - 95683.jpg|alt=Stone building with prominent square tower. In the foreground is a road and wall.|100px]] | Otterhampton | Civil parish | 831 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Church at Over Stowey.jpg|alt=Stone building with prominent square tower. In the foreground are daffodils.|100px]] | Over Stowey | Civil parish | 352 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Pawlett village shop.jpg|alt=modern building with shop. Sign over window says Pawlett Country Store & Off Licence.|100px]] | Pawlett | Civil Parish | 1,038 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Puriton-Church.jpg|alt=Stone building with square tower|100px]] | Puriton | Civil parish | 1,068 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Shapwick church.jpg|alt=Stone building with square tower|100px]] | Shapwick | Civil parish | 536 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Shipham.jpg|alt=Stone cross surrounded by railings on grass area in front of roads and houses.|100px]] | Shipham | Civil parish | 1,087 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:The Lamb Inn Spaxton - geograph.org.uk - 160227.jpg|alt=White painted building with pub sign saying The Lamb Inn|100px]] | Spaxton | Civil parish | 1,012 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Stawell church.jpg|alt=Stone building with small square tower. In the foreground is a road and wall.|100px]] | Stawell | Civil parish | 386 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Stockland Bristol from the east - geograph.org.uk - 95684.jpg|alt=Houses amongst trees seen across fields and hedges.|100px]] | Stockland Bristol | Civil parish | 165 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Maypole Inn, Thurloxton - geograph.org.uk - 91201.jpg|alt=White painted building with black timbers. In the foreground is a road and road sign.|100px]] | Thurloxton | Civil parish | 153 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:St Gregory's church Weare.jpg|alt=Gray stone building with square tower|100px]] | Weare | Civil parish | 658 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Wedmore church.jpg|alt=Stone building with square tower|100px]] | Wedmore | Civil Parish | 3,318 | Axbridge Rural District | | | | [[File:Wembdon church.jpg|alt=Red stone building with square tower. In the foreground are gravestones.|100px]] | Wembdon | Civil parish | 3,613 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:West Huntspill church.jpg|alt=Stone building with arched window and square tower, separated from the road by a stone wall and railings.|100px]] | West Huntspill | Civil parish | 1,414 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Westonzoylandchurch.JPG|alt=Stone building with square tower|100px]] | Westonzoyland | Civil parish | 1,801 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | | [[File:Woolavington church.jpg|alt=Stone building with square tower|100px]] | Woolavington | Civil parish | 2,115 | Bridgwater Rural District | | | ::

Rivers

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/The_Map_of_Sedgemoor,with_adjacent_Parts(1662).jpg" caption=""The Map of Sedgemoor, with adjacent Parts" from "The history of imbanking and drayning" by [[William Dugdale]] (1662)."] ::

Battles

Industry

Light industry now predominates, but traditional trades including peat extraction, willow crafts and cider making may still be found, in addition to livestock farming. The River Parrett provides a source of eels (anguilla anguilla) and elvers from January through to May.

Also notable is the new Isleport trading estate at Highbridge, which houses many global businesses such as Geest (Isleport Foods) who make yoghurt under franchise to Ski & Muller, Brake Brothers who supply the catering trade, BFP wholesale who supply dry goods to bakeries etc., Woodbury & Haines who supply furniture globally, Polybeam Limited who supply GRP radio masts to customers such as Marconi, and also AT&T whose centre there controls all internet cable traffic to and from the US.

Industry in Bridgwater has also seen major growth recently with the opening of "Express Park" which houses Gerber Foods (a global fruit juice supplier), NHS Logistics depot and Eddie Stobart depot.

Governance

Sedgemoor District Council

Main article: Sedgemoor District Council

The Sedgemoor district was established in 1974 and was based in Bridgwater. It covers a mostly rural area between the Quantock Hills and the Mendip Hills. The council, along with Somerset County Council, was replaced in April 2023 by Somerset Council, a unitary authority.

Education

Main article: List of schools in Somerset

Schools (those which are not independent) in Sedgemoor are operated the Children & Young People's Directorate of Somerset County Council, although some such as The Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar have distanced themselves from the county council by opting for foundation and then subsequently academy status.

References

References

  1. {{United Kingdom district population citation. England
  2. (2004). "Introduction". Institute of Historical Research.
  3. "Frequently asked questions". [[Somerset County Council]].
  4. (2 December 2021). "Elections for new Somerset Council to be held in May 2022". BBC News.
  5. "Sedgemoor District Council". Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy.
  6. (2002). "Sedgemoor parish population estimates for 2002". Somerset County Council.
  7. "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes – SUMMARY Profiles". Somerset Intelligence.
  8. "Bridgwater (Rural District) through time". University of Portsmouth.
  9. "Axbridge RD". University of Portsmouth.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

sedgemoorformer-non-metropolitan-districts-of-somerset2023-disestablishments-in-england