the encyclopedic entry of Publow

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Government and politics

Pensford and Publow has its own Parish council which has some responsibility for local issues, and is part of the Publow and Whitchurch Ward which is represented by one councillor on the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority which has wider responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism etc. The village is a part of the Wansdyke constituency, which will become North East Somerset at the next general election and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.

Demographics

According to the 2001 Census The Publow and Whitchurch Ward (which includes Belluton and Pensford), had 1,087 residents, living in 429 households, with an average age of 40.8 years. Of these 73% of residents describing their health as 'good', 24% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 2.3% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 26,408 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived.

Buildings

Church

Church of All Saints dates from the 14th century has a 15th century tower with gargoyles. The pulpit is Jacobean. It is a grade I listed building. The church consists of a west tower, nave, north aisle and porch, south aisle and porch, and chancel. The west tower has 4 stages with set back buttresses terminating in diagonally set pinnacles at the bell chamber stage. The nave has a clerestorey of four 2-light trefoil headed windows. The east end of the chancel has an early perpendicular (restored) 3-light window with reticulated tracery. The pulpit dates from the early 17th century, and is made of oak with carved, arcaded panels to the upper part and rosettes on the lower part.

Bridge

The bridge over the River Chew dates from the medieval period and was rebuilt and dated 1788 and 1810, and is grade II listed. The bridge developed a crack and showed other signs of potential weakness, which required extensive renovation work involving an unusual combination of cutting-edge engineering techniques and the use of traditional materials, complicated by the presence of two protected species: Daubenton’s bats, which were roosting in cavities under the bridge, and White Clawed Crayfish in the river below. The renovation by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s transportation team, and partner Mott MacDonald, Working with experts from English Heritage, the Environment Agency, received a commendation at the Historic Bridge and Infrastructure Awards in London on Thursday, 16 November, 2006 which were sponsored by the Institution of Civil Engineers.