Discover Fitzhead: Church, Churchyard and Village History

Fitzhead is a small rural village in hilly countryside. Its local history is particularly evident at St James the Great, the churchyard cross and the 17th-century tombs. A Ramblers’ walking route also passes through Fitzhead; a day workshop in the village adds pottery to its cultural offerings. A milestone near Knapp Cottage marks another historical trace. If you are planning your stay around your interests, you will find starting points here for architectural history, medieval sculpture, walking and craftwork.

St James the Great and the Churchyard

St James the Great is a church dating predominantly from the 15th century. It comprises a nave, north aisle, chancel and vestry; the tower is designed in the Early English Perpendicular style. The description thus combines identifiable parts of the church building with a distinct stylistic classification of the tower. The building’s history extends beyond its medieval fabric: in 1849, the nave and chancel were rebuilt using the old materials. The 15th-century chancel screen was moved back to the entrance to the chancel in 1900. This makes it possible to distinguish chronologically between the older building fabric, the 19th-century rebuilding and the later repositioning of a historic feature.

In the churchyard stands a 14th-century cross featuring medieval figurative sculpture. It is thought to be in its original position and is well preserved despite restoration work. It was restored in 1908 and given a new head. The cross’s date thus points to its medieval origins, while the restoration and new head refer to the work carried out in 1908.

The Mary Byam Chest Tomb is a chest tomb made of carved sandstone from the mid-17th century. Its inscription names Mary as the wife of William Byam and gives the year of her death as 1648. To the south of the tower stands a row of three chest tombs dating from the early to late 17th century. The inscription on the Mary Byam Chest Tomb identifies a single tomb with a specific person; the row south of the tower, by contrast, spans a broader period. Together with the older churchyard cross, these monuments offer an overview of features from several centuries.

Other Historical Traces

A milestone near Knapp Cottage offers a different perspective on local history. It dates from the early 19th century, is made of dressed granite and cast iron, and bears a cast-iron plaque inscribed “Wiveliscombe 3 miles”. Unlike the church and tombs, this object combines a specific destination and distance with its date and materials.

Walking and Pottery

The Ramblers’ route “Meandering Across Somerset Part 10” passes through Fitzhead on a section between Wellington and Wiveliscombe. If you are interested in walking, you can place the village along a named route between these two places. This differs from the history-focused attractions located in the village around the church, churchyard and milestone.

Another option is the day workshop in Fitzhead. It teaches wheel throwing and decoration in the traditional majolica style. These two activities combine shaping and decorating, adding a craft dimension alongside local history and walking. Booking is by arrangement. If you would like to include the workshop in your travel plans, arrange your participation accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Ilminster, West Camel, Axbridge, Hornblotton, East Brent, Minehead, Chilcompton, Ashcott.

For the broader travel overview: Somerset.