Donyatt

Donyatt is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at the source of the River Isle 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Chard. The village has a population of 347.^[1] The parish includes the hamlet of Peasmarsh.

Donyatt
The Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Donyatt
Donyatt Location within Somerset
Population	347 (2011)[1]
OS grid reference	ST335145
Unitary authority	Somerset Council
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ILMINSTER
Postcode district	TA19
Dialling code	01460
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Yeovil
List of places UK England Somerset 50.9261°N 2.9475°W / 50.9261; -2.9475

History

The village was recorded as Dunnyete meaning Dunna's gate in 725.^[2]

In the Domesday Book a park at Donyatt was held by Drogo from the Count of Mortain.^[3]

Donyatt was part of the hundred of Abdick and Bulstone.^[4][5]

In 1328 it was the birthplace of William Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, whose family held the manor and built a castle or fortified manor house. It had a manorial chapel and it is from this that a Sheela na Gig was recovered and is now incorporated into a private house.^[6]

The almshouses in Church Street date from 1624,^[7] and were founded under the will of John Dunster of London (died 1625).^[2] Next to them is the old school house, which was built in the early 19th century,^[8] and the old school which dates from 1871.^[9]

The Old clay puddling house, a circular thatched building, is a former pottery dating from the 18th century,^[10] when there were also woollen-mills in the village. Thirty-three examples of pottery from Donyatt have been identified from five sites in Virginia and Maryland.^[11] They were part of a wider pottery industry during the 17th and 18th centuries. Sites from which were excavated in the 1960s and 1970.^[12][13]

The "Sea Bridge" carries the road over a stream. It was built in the 18th century with three semi-circular arches.^[14]

The site of Donyatt Halt, between Chard and Ilminster on the B&ER branch line

Donyatt had a small halt along the Chard Branch Line just before Ilminster, which served the local community, it was constructed from sleepers laid horizontally and pegged together to form a basic platform structure, a small over canopy "shed" served as a shelter during the winter months, access to the platform was gained by crossing over the bridge and accessing an inclined path. The Halt is next to some World War II defences used on the Taunton Stop Line, with anti-tank traps around the station. During the threat of invasion, an inspection post could be quickly set up between Donyatt and Ilminster to stop and check the trains before proceeding on the down line "to" and "from" Chard. This was achieved by placing a barrier on some cut out stones entering the Donyatt Halt, you can see these if you wonder why there are two opposite stones on the cycle path, one will have a hole cut into it to act as a pivot for the barrier.

In 2017, the village was part of an ITV News special, focussing on the 2017 United Kingdom general election and how it had repercussions for residents of the area.^[15]

Governance

The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

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 Chard Rural District before 1974.^[16]

It is also part of the Yeovil 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 Anglican parish Church of St Mary is a 15th rebuild of earlier church, where the first recorded rector was in 1255. It has been designated as a grade II* listed building.^[17]