Local History
You may also like to read about Pen Selwood during the Second World War. Click here to read more.... External Link: http://www.british-history.ac.uk  Pen Selwood parish is situated to the north east of Wincanton and is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as an area rich in history. The battle of Peonnan is thought to have taken place here in 658. King Cenwalh (Cenwalch or Kenwalh), the Saxon King who ruled Wessex from 643 - 672, defeated the Britons in a series of battles including this one which, it is said, opened up the West Country to the Saxons. Kenwalh's Castle, a hill fort, lies to the North of Pen Selwood. King Alfred, allegedly, gathered his army together around a small hill near the Egbert Stone at Pen Mill prior to defeating the Danes at Ethandune near Edington Wiltshire in the Spring of 878. In 1001 the Danes won a battle when King Ethelred's officers were unable to cope with such a large number of Danes and retreated only to be pursued and wiped out by the Danes who then burnt the village of Pen to the ground. The Danes then lost a much more significant battle here in 1016 when King Edmund Ironside was the victor. It was after this battle that it is said; Edmund converted the heathen Danes to Christianity.  After the Norman Conquest, King William gave Penne to Roger Arundel. The Normans also left their mark on our village. Three Motte and Bailey castles, all within 2 miles of the church, perhaps gives some indication of the strategic importance that they awarded to the area. The remains of one castle can be found in Cockroad Wood (just outside the Parish of Pen Selwood), the second, smaller castle remains are at Castle Orchard and the smallest of the three is at Ballands. All three are clearly marked on Ordnance Survey maps of the area. Some older maps also show the site of a church near Ballands Castle. All three castles are now little more than grass or tree covered mounds. More recent history of our village includes details about buildings: The Manor House (known as Great House) was an imposing, three storey dwelling that was still standing in 1842.. The red brick buildings that can be found on or seen from the Community Field, formed part of an "early warning system" and radio station for Zeals Airfield during World War 2. Pen Pits House built in 1935 for Mr Arthur Bliss. Arthur Bliss later become Sir Arthur Bliss - Master of the Queen's Music.. Pen Selwood's history has been recorded in considerable detail in various publications over the years: CAER PENSAUELCOIT a long lost unromanised BRITISH METROPOLIS - published in 1882 by Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. The Result of Further Excavations at Pen Pits - by Rev 1-LI-I. Winwood, F.G.S. published by Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in 1885. The Story of PEN SELWOOD by Mary Harfield in 1965 Pen Selwood - A Village on the edge of the great Sel wood Forest by Jock Baker and Michael Shiel (illustrated by Olivia Bovil) in 1988 Pen to Paper - Memories of Pen Selwood by Vi Hocking (compiled by Andrew Jenkins) in 1997. 
|
