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Introduction
The booklet on Claverham is
the result of a comprehensive survey of the village, in
order to produce a Village Character Statement.
An initiative devised by the
Countryside Commission, Village Character Statements encapsulate
what is best and most attractive about villages and, once
adopted by North Somerset Council, have to be taken into
account in planning applications or decisions of a similar
nature.
Although linked to Yatton through
a joint Parish Council, it was felt that Claverham has its
own unique identity, which villagers wish to preserve and
enhance. It was therefore agreed that Yatton and Claverham
would produce separate statements.
Following a well-supported
public meeting in October 2000 - which showed that residents
cared about the village and were concerned for its future
development - a committee was formed which started the task
of looking at Claverham from all angles prior to drawing
up the Character Statement.
 As
well as the committee, many other people became involved
in the research, from working out employment patterns to
counting the number of ponds in the village. All ages took
part; the local scouts delivered the questionnaire, the
pupils from Court de Wyck School contributed several drawings
whilst those who were slightly longer in the tooth took
photos and collated the material. The results of their work
was a photographic exhibition in the village hall in February
2001 - which included both recent and old photographs of
the area, and a questionnaire which was delivered to households
in the village.
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| Rehearsal
for the fund raising 'Entertainment Evening' |
Out of the response to the
questionnaire the committee was able to draw up a Draft
Character Statement, which was put on display at a second
public meeting held in July 2001.
This draft document ran to
over 32 pages and included many photos of Claverham — both
past and present. However when it was presented to North
Somerset Council the committee was told that the preference
now was for much shorter documents, and the Statement, which
was finally adopted by North Somerset Council in February
2002, was a much reduced version - only four pages long
plus maps.
The committee felt that because
so many people had taken part in the original survey, and
there was so much interest in the original document, it
would raise the money to publish enough copies for each
house in the village plus some spares. The following book
is the outcome of that decision.
The committee hopes you will
enjoy reading about Claverham's past, present and possible
future - but above all please keep this book handy and use
it as a reference to ensure that the supplementary planning
guidance, agreed by North Somerset, is adhered to.
The
Village
The village is now centred
on the High Street where there is a Post Office, Claverham
Stores and Melanie's Hairdressers; and the adjoining Bishops
Road where there is a modern Primary School and a new village
hall.
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| View
up High Street from The Crossroads cl909
(Picture Courtesy of Richard Whittaker) |
St Barnabas Church is at the
top of the High Street and the Free Church is situated in
Claverham Road, a few hundred yards from the Post Office.
This cross road, formed by the High Street, Chapel Lane,
Bishops Road and Claverham Road is believed to be
the site of the ancient Stalling's Cross - the market cross
for Court de Wyck. (The former Chapel is thought to stand
on the original site). Stalling's Cross may have been corrupted
to become Stream Cross.
Originally a farming hamlet,
the village now acts as a home to many commuters. However,
it still retains its rural heritage and is surrounded by
some ten farms, three horticultural businesses, a thriving
organic market garden and a small riding school. It is this
patchwork of farms, fields, footpaths and winding lanes
that gives Claverham its character and which the majority
of residents wish to preserve.
As with many villages in North
Somerset, Claverham has a mixture of old local families
and new arrivals. However, all have a unique insight into
what makes their village special and this character statement
provides a 'slice in time', showing what Claverham is like
in the year 2001.
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| View
along High Street towards St Barnabas Church - early
1900's (Picture courtesy of Memories, St Nicholas
Market, Bristol) |
"I like Claverham because
my friends live here. I like the shops in Claverham and
you can play in the school field." - Anthony aged 9
years
Villagers know that time cannot
stand still; some changes are both inevitable and essential
to the life of the community. However, it is hoped that
this document will provide the framework in which the village
can move forward in a structured way, retaining all that
is best from the past, while enhancing the village for the
future.
"There's nowhere like
it in the world" Josephine Richards (nee White) |
