Chiselborough: History, Festivals and Trails

Chiselborough offers a range of starting points for planning a trip: church architecture, local festival traditions, as well as the Common and trails through Burridge Copse. Each of these topics has its own focus—from historic building phases and village traditions to wildlife and plant life.

Church and Local History

The Church of St Peter and St Paul dates back to the 12th century. Its chancel dates from the 17th century; the nave was rebuilt in 1842 by E. L. Bracebridge. The three-part layout includes a central tower with a spire. The nave has five bays, which define its structure. The date 1842 therefore refers to a specific building phase, not the origin of the entire church: its medieval beginnings, later chancel and rebuilt nave represent different stages in its architectural history.

The bells also provide a distinct historical reference point. They are rung using the traditional English method of rope and wheel. The three middle bells were probably cast around 1380. This date refers to those three bells and remains a historical estimate.

The Village Hall was built as a school in 1870 by the fifth Earl of Ilchester. It is also the starting point for the “Discovering the Hamdons” circular walk. Another chapter in the village’s history is Chiselborough Forge: the blacksmith’s forge was established in Cat Street in 1932 and operated until it closed in 1950. The church, former school and former forge thus represent different uses and periods in Chiselborough’s history.

Festivals and Traditions

Chiselborough’s historic fair was established in 1257 and continued until 1894. It was held annually on St Luke’s Day in October in the area of today’s Common. Punky Night is a different October tradition: it is still held in late October. Check local announcements for the exact date.

According to local tradition, “punkies” were candle lanterns made from hollowed-out mangelwurzel turnips, with faces carved into them. The Chiselborough Fair & Flower Festival is also part of the annual festival calendar and takes place on the third weekend of June. These different traditions therefore fall at different times of year; the historic fair should be distinguished from the October custom that is still observed.

The Common and Trails through Burridge Copse

The Common in Chiselborough covers 4.7 acres and is recognised as a County Wildlife Site. This designation recognises its particular importance for wildlife and plant life. The Common thus connects a specific natural feature with the village’s history as the area where the historic fair was once held.

The trail through Burridge Copse is about 200 metres long and has only a very slight incline. It branches off the bridleway and footpath between Skillgate Lane and East Street. Along the Burridge Copse trail, there is a bench at a viewpoint above West Chinnock, with views to the southwest. The length and incline are two specific points of reference for understanding this section of the trail, while the bench marks a described viewpoint.

Another path runs around the field between East Street and the bridleway and footpath. It was reinstated as a permissive path in February 2023 and is not a designated public right of way. This distinction sets it apart from the described trail through Burridge Copse. When considering the trails, you should therefore also note the status given for each one; the two descriptions do not imply that the entire route has a single, uniform access status.

For planning around the calendar, a clear comparison is useful: the Fair & Flower Festival takes place in June, while Punky Night is held at the end of October. The historic fair, by contrast, belongs to the past. In Chiselborough, nature, church architecture and traditions can thus be weighed as different themes for a stay.

Discover more destinations: Stogumber, Wedmore, West Coker, Cutcombe, Goathurst, Tintinhull, Tolland, Lyng.

For the broader travel overview: Somerset.