Downside

Settlement in Somerset Mendip

England

Downside

Direction Sign â Signpost on Turner's Court Lane, Emborough Located west of Turner&#039;s Court Lane and west of Portway Bridge in Emborough parish. 4 arms and pyramid finial. Google Earth shows that the Emborough / Chewton Mendip arm and the finial were missing in 2011.

Milestone Society National ID: SO_ST6250 — Direction Sign â Signpost on Turner's Court Lane, Emborough Credit: R Raynsford

Downside is a small village located in the county of Somerset, England. Situated approximately 5 miles southwest of Bath, it lies within the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village is part of the civil parish of Stratton-on-the-Fosse and is home to a tight-knit community of residents.

One of the notable features of Downside is Downside Abbey, a Roman Catholic monastery that was founded in the early 19th century. The abbey is home to the Benedictine monks of Ampleforth Abbey, who moved to the site in 1814. The abbey has a rich history and is known for its stunning architecture, including the imposing abbey church and monastery buildings.

In addition to the abbey, Downside is surrounded by picturesque countryside, making it an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts. The area offers a range of walking and cycling trails, allowing visitors to explore the beautiful scenery and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

The village itself is small but charming, with a few local amenities including a village hall and a primary school. There are also a handful of traditional cottages and houses, adding to the village's character and appeal.

Overall, Downside is a tranquil and scenic village that offers a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and community spirit. Whether it's a visit to the impressive abbey or a leisurely walk in the countryside, Downside provides a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby towns and cities.

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Downside Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.248395/-2.517257 or Grid Reference ST6350. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Direction Sign â Signpost on Turner's Court Lane, Emborough

Located west of Turner's Court Lane and west of Portway Bridge in Emborough parish. 4 arms and pyramid finial. Google Earth shows that the Emborough / Chewton Mendip arm and the finial were missing in 2011. Milestone Society National ID: SO_ST6250

R Raynsford

New Direction Sign - Signpost on the B3139 Wells Road in Chilcompton

Located on the northeast side of the crossroads of the B3139 Wells Road, Bakers Lane and Stockhill Road, diagonally opposite the Co-op in Chilcompton parish. 4 arms and pyramid finial. A completely new fingerpost in 2021 to replace the one shown in Link. Milestone Society National ID: SO_ST6451C

J Francis

Downside Abbey

Despite appearances, most of this abbey was built in the 20th century (see ST6550 : Downside Abbey for full description). The remaining Benedictine monks who have been at Downside since 1814 plan to leave in March 2022.

Vieve Forward

Patterns on Portway Bridge

The blocks, shadows and a little graffiti on Portway Bridge.

Neil Owen

Signpost on Turner's Court Lane

Cast arms and embossed lettering on a traditional Somerset post.

Neil Owen

Portway Bridge, open to the sky

The old Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway used to span it, but the tracks were ripped up after the line closed in 1965. See ST6250 : Portway Bridge benchmark for a benchmark on the corner.

Neil Owen

Portway Bridge benchmark

A post-war cutmark, as listed in the Benchmark Database: Link

. The old railway bridge is now minus the tracks - see ST6250 : Portway Bridge, open to the sky.

Neil Owen

Wells Road at Fry's Well

This row of terraced stone cottages is on the north side of the Wells Road, the B3139, on the eastern side of Chilcompton village.

Nigel Mykura

A37 northbound

Alex McGregor

A37 northbound

Alex McGregor

Site of Chilcompton station, 1987

View SW, towards Evercreech Junction, Templecombe and Bournemouth: ex-Midland & LSW (Somerset & Dorset) Joint line, Bath - Bournemouth West. This was on the long climb from Radstock to Masbury Summit; ahead was Chilcompton Tunnel. The whole line was closed on 7/3/66.

Ben Brooksbank

Fields at Portway Bridge

The bridge refers to an old bridge over the now dismantled railway that use to run through Binegar which was part of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. Portway Lane, Turners Court Lane and Kings lane all meet at the bridge. Portway lane is just in front of the house in the middle of the image.

Nigel Mykura

Croft House and the B3356

Croft House stands behind the trees on the left. Taken between heavy showers on a Saturday lunchtime.

HelenK

Parsonage Lane, Chilcompton

The lane joins the main road as it leaves Chilcompton going westward.

HelenK

Keeping pupils and the public apart

These gates close off the grounds of Downside School. Two notices tell the public that this is private property with no right of way; a third tells pupils that they are not to go (in the other direction) past this point.

HelenK

Downside Abbey

The Basilica of St Gregory the Great is the largest neo-Gothic church, not a cathedral, in England and home to the senior community of English Benedictines. The brothers came to Downside from Douai in northern France in 1814, as refugees from the Napoleonic regime, but most of what we see today was built in the 20th century. The cluster of eastern chapels and the transept were constructed between 1882 and 1890, the architects being Archibald Dunn and Edward Hansom. The quire was designed by Thomas Garner and completed in 1905; the tower beyond, placed over the south transept rather than the central crossing, was completed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1938. At 166 feet it is the tallest tower in Somerset after Wells Cathedral at 182 ft (Bath Abbey's tower is 162 ft). The great church is 74 feet high (Bath 75 ft, Exeter Cathedral 69 ft, Wells 73 ft) and 328 feet long at present (Bristol Cathedral 338 ft), but Scott's nave still awaits its final two western bays.

Tiger