Burnham-on-Sea

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Coordinates: 51°14′15″N 2°59′37″W / 51.2376°N 2.9935°W / 51.2376; -2.9935

Burnham-on-Sea
The shortest pier in Britain on the sea front at Burnham-on-Sea.
Burnham-on-Sea  Burnham-on-Sea shown within Somerset
Population	18,401 (2001 census)
OS grid reference	ST306492
Parish	Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge
District	Sedgemoor
Shire county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BURNHAM-ON-SEA
Postcode district	TA8
Dialling code	01278
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Wells
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Burnham-on-Sea is a town in Somerset, England, at the mouth of the River Parrett and Bridgwater Bay. Burnham remained a small village until the late 18th century, but is now a popular seaside resort. It forms part of the parish of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge. According to the 2001 census the population of the parish was 18,401.^[1]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early history 1.2 Church ownership 1.3 1607 floods 2 Geography 3 Governance 4 Landmarks 4.1 Lighthouses 4.2 Pier 4.3 Burnham-on-Sea Area Rescue Boat 5 Transport 6 Education 7 Religious sites 8 Culture 9 Notable residents 10 References 11 External links

[edit] History

The history of Burnham-on-Sea is the history of the reclamation of the Somerset Levels from the River Severn and the Bristol Channel.

[edit] Early history

The Romans were the first peoples to try to reclaim the Somerset levels, and it was their people who were probably the first settlers in the high sand dunes behind the River Parrett. This could have been in part to maintain navigational systems, to aid ships entering the River Parrett and what is now Highbridge. When the Romans left, the system of drainage they hand installed was not maintained, and the areas reverted to become a tidal salt flat under the Anglo Saxons.

Land at Burnham is mentioned in the late 9th century in King Alfred's will, suggesting a Saxon farmstead existed. Good evidence exists at the time of the Norman Doomsday Book that settlements existed at both Burnham and Huntspill, with their common boundary running along what is now the Westhill Rhyne.

[edit] Church ownership

The church at Burnham and its lands were given to Gloucester Abbey in the 12th century, later transferred to the Wells Cathedral with up to 50 houses surrounding the church.

[edit] 1607 floods

One of the earliest recorded historical incidents to affect the town was the Bristol Channel floods of 1607. Today the town is defended from flooding by a large curved concrete wall that runs along the Esplanade, boasting a wide variety of graffiti and street art. In 2007, the Duke of Edinburgh held an official visit to the Sea Wall to celebrate its anniversary.

There have been many shipwrecks on the Gore sand and the first lifeboat was sent to Burnham by the Bridgwater Corporation in 1836, with a second boat in 1847. The first Royal National Lifeboat was funded by the town of Cheltenham and arrived in 1866. The lifeboat was removed in 1930 because of the difficulty in getting a full crew, and because the launching arrangements were not suitable for a powered boat.^[2]

[edit] Geography

Burnham-on-Sea is notable for its beach and mudflats, the danger they pose to individuals and shipping, and the efforts locals have gone to defend their town and to prevent loss of life. The Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world of 15 metres (49 ft),^[3] second only to Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada.^[4][5] The extensive mud flats at Burnham are characteristic of Bridgwater Bay and the rest of the Bristol Channel where the tide can recede for over 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Over the years a string of people have died when they became trapped in mud and were overcome by the fast moving and rapidly rising waters.

In the south west corner of Burnham-on-Sea, north of the River Brue, is Apex Leisure and Wildlife Park. Covering over 42 acres (17 ha)^[6], the park has been created from excavated clay pits; these were flooded, and the lakes are now home to many types of wildlife and leisure activities.

[edit] Governance

Burnham is within the Sedgemoor Non-metropolitan district which has traditionally been Conservative run since its creation in 1974 when it was merged with the old Bridgwater & Burnham-On-Sea Urban District Councils. Liberal Democrats fared well in Burnham and Highbridge areas until 1999, when the Conservatives re-took Sedgemoor, with the Liberal Democrats losing the seat of Highbridge to Labour.

It falls within the Wells county constituency which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system. Since 1983 the MP has been David Heathcoat-Amory of the Conservative Party.^[7]

It is also within the South West England European Parliament constituency.

[edit] Landmarks

[edit] Lighthouses

The town's signature collection of lighthouses, including the Round Tower lighthouse of 1829, the Pillar Lighthouse^[8] and the Lighthouse on legs.^[9] The original lighthouse was built after the local vicar, either John Goulden in 1764 or Walter Harris in 1799, raised a subscription amongst the local population. This was taken over and improved by Trinity House in 1815.^[2]

[edit] Pier

A 900 feet (274 m) stone pier, was constructed in 1858 by the Somerset Central Railway. Soon afterwards, in 1860, a steamer service to Wales was created, however, this was never a commercial success and ended in 1888. The pier retains its railway lines under a surface coating of concrete.^[10]

The concrete pier, built in 1911–1914,^[11] claims to be the shortest pier in Britain.^[12] In 2008, it was rated amongst the top five piers in Britain by the Daily Express.^[13]

[edit] Burnham-on-Sea Area Rescue Boat

Burnham-on-Sea Area Rescue Boat (BARB) was set up in 1992 to fund and operate rescue craft in the Bridgwater Bay area. BARB's boat house on the sea front was built in 1994 by the Challenge Anneka TV show.

In 2002, Lelaina Hall, a five-year-old girl from Worcester, died on the mud flats before help could reach her. The outcry over her death prompted a Western Daily Press campaign to fund an inshore hovercraft.^[14] BARB currently operates the Spirit of Lelaina alongside her sister hovercraft the Light of Elizabeth, which is named after Lelaina's sister.^[15]

[edit] Transport

Burnham-on-Sea railway station was the terminus of the Burnham branch of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. The former Great Western Railway station is now known as Highbridge and Burnham and is one of the top tourist attractions in the local area.

[edit] Education

Primary schools in the town providing education for children up to the age of 11 include; Berrow Church of England Primary School, Burnham-on-Sea Community Infants School, St Andrew's Church of England Junior School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and Nursery.

The nearest secondary school is The King Alfred School a sports college school in Highbridge.

[edit] Religious sites

The parish church, St. Andrew's, is a grade I listed building dating from the 14th century.^[16]

There are also places of worship for Baptists, Methodists and Jehovah's Witnesses in the town.^[17]

[edit] Culture

The town is part of the West Country Carnival circuit.

[edit] Notable residents

• John Pople, theoretical chemist, born in the town
• Thomas Alan Stephenson, marine biologist, born in the town
• Frank Foley, Major (Army), Wartime hero who saved thousands of Jews in World War II. Born in Highbridge.
• Richard Wilson Webb, detective fiction writer under the pen-name Patrick Quentin, born in the town

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Burnham-on-Sea

• Burnham & Highbridge Town council Website
• The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey: Burnham and Highbridge, by Clare Gathercole
• Burnham-on-Sea at the Open Directory Project
• Photos of Burnham-on-Sea and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk

v • d • e Ceremonial county of Somerset Somerset Portal Boroughs or districts Mendip, Sedgemoor, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Somerset, Taunton Deane, West Somerset Major settlements Axbridge, Bath, Bridgwater, Bruton, Burnham-on-Sea, Castle Cary, Chard, Cheddar, Clevedon, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Frome, Glastonbury, Highbridge, Ilminster, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Minehead, Nailsea, North Petherton, Portishead, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Somerton, South Petherton, Street, Taunton, Watchet, Wellington, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Wincanton, Wiveliscombe, Yeovil See also: List of civil parishes in Somerset Rivers Alham, Aller, Avill, Avon, Axe, Badgworthy Water, Banwell, Barle, Brue, Cam Brook, Cary, Chew, East Lyn, Exe, Fivehead, Frome, Haddeo, Hoar Oak Water, Holford, Horner, Huntspill, Isle, Mells, Midford Brook, Oare Water, Parret, Severn Estuary, Sheppey, Somer, Tone, Washford, Wellow Brook, West Lyn, Yeo (Congresbury), Yeo (South Somerset) Topics County Council, Culture of Somerset, Economy of Somerset, Geography of Somerset, Geology of Somerset, History of Somerset, Transport in Somerset Geographic areas: Blackdown Hills, Brendon Hills, Chew Valley, Exmoor, Mendip Hills, Polden Hills, Quantock Hills, Somerset Levels, South West Coast Path, West Somerset Coast Path