Cucklington

Cucklington is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated on a hill 3 miles (4.8 km) south east of Wincanton and 4 miles (6.4 km) north west of Gillingham, near the Dorset border. The village has a population of 173.^[1]

Cucklington
Cucklington
Church of St Lawrence
Cucklington Location within Somerset
Population	173 (2011)[1]
OS grid reference	ST755275
Unitary authority	Somerset Council
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WINCANTON
Postcode district	BA9
Dialling code	01963
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Glastonbury and Somerton
List of places UK England Somerset 51.0463°N 2.3508°W / 51.0463; -2.3508

The nearest railway station is in neighbouring Gillingham, Dorset. Trains run on the Exeter to Waterloo line.

History

Shanks House.

The name Cucklington comes from Old English meaning the settlement of Cucola's people.^[2]

The parish of Cucklington was part of the Norton Ferris Hundred.^[3]

Shanks House has medieval fragments, but had major works in the 17th and 18th centuries, including refitting by Nathaniel Ireson. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.^[4]

Governance

The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs.

For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the parish comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of South Somerset (established under the Local Government Act 1972). It was part of Wincanton Rural District before 1974.^[5]

It is also part of the Glastonbury and Somerton county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Religious sites

The parish church of St Lawrence dates from the 13th century.^[6]