South Somerset

This article is about the former district. For the former parliamentary constituency, see South Somerset (UK Parliament constituency). For the hamlet in New York state, see South Somerset, New York.

South Somerset was a local government district in Somerset, England, from 1974 to 2023. The district covered an area of 370 square miles (958 km²)^[2] ranging from the borders with Devon, Wiltshire and Dorset to the edge of the Somerset Levels. It had a population of approximately 158,000.^[3] The administrative centre of the district was Yeovil.

South Somerset
Non-metropolitan district
Shown within Somerset
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	South West England
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Admin HQ	Yeovil
Created	1 April 1974
Abolished	1 April 2023
Government
• Type	South Somerset District Council
Area
• Total	370.29 sq mi (959.04 km2)
Population  (2022)[1]
• Total	173,173
• Density	470/sq mi (180/km2)
Time zone	UTC0 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (BST)
Post Code	BA7-10BA20-22
Area code	01935/01963
Website	http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/

On 1 April 2023, the district was abolished and replaced by Somerset Council, a unitary district for the area previously served by Somerset County Council.^[4]

History

See also: South Somerset District Council elections

The district was formed on 1 April 1974, and was originally known as Yeovil, adopting the South Somerset name in 1985. It was formed by the merger of the municipal boroughs of Chard, Yeovil, along with Crewkerne and Ilminster urban districts and the Chard Rural District, Langport Rural District, Wincanton Rural District and Yeovil Rural District.

The district covered the whole of the Yeovil constituency, and part of Somerton and Frome. The district was governed by the South Somerset District Council, last elected in the 2019 South Somerset District Council election.

Abolition

On 1 April 2023, the district council was abolished and replaced by Somerset Council, a unitary authority for the area previously served by Somerset County Council.^[4] Elections for the new council took place in May 2022. It ran alongside South Somerset and the other district councils in the county until their abolition.^[5]

Towns

Its main towns included:

• Bruton
• Castle Cary
• Chard
• Crewkerne
• Ilminster
• Langport
• Milborne Port
• Somerton
• Wincanton
• Yeovil

Wards

The electoral wards included: Camelot and Wessex.

Parishes

Image	Name	Status	Population	Former local authority	Coordinates	Refs
	Abbas and Templecombe	Civil parish	1,560	Wincanton Rural District	50.99°N 2.41°W / 50.99; -2.41 (Templecombe)	[6][7]
	Alford	Civil parish	63	Wincanton Rural District	51.08°N 2.57°W / 51.08; -2.57 (Alford, Somerset)	[7]
	Aller	Civil parish	410	Langport Rural District	51.05°N 2.85°W / 51.05; -2.85 (Aller, Somerset)	[6][8]
	Ansford	Civil parish	1,085	Wincanton Rural District	51.09°N 2.51°W / 51.09; -2.51 (Ansford)	[6][7]
	Ash	Civil parish	626	Yeovil Rural District	50.98°N 2.75°W / 50.98; -2.75 (Ash, South Somerset)	[6][9]
	Ashill	Civil parish	529	Chard Rural District	50.94°N 2.96°W / 50.94; -2.96 (Ashill, Somerset)	[6][10]
	Babcary	Civil parish	248	Langport Rural District	51.05°N 2.62°W / 51.05; -2.62 (Babcary)	[6][8]
	Barrington	Civil parish	438	Langport Rural District	50.96°N 2.87°W / 50.96; -2.87 (Barrington, Somerset)	[6][8]
	Barton St David	Civil parish	561	Langport Rural District	51.08°N 2.65°W / 51.08; -2.65 (Barton St David)	[6][8]
	Barwick	Civil parish	1,221	Yeovil Rural District	50.92°N 2.62°W / 50.92; -2.62 (Barwick, Somerset)	[6][9]
	Beercrocombe	Civil parish	134	Langport Rural District	50.98°N 2.97°W / 50.98; -2.97 (Beercrocombe)	[6][8]
	Compton Pauncefoot	Civil parish	130	Wincanton Rural District	51.03°N 2.50°W / 51.03; -2.50 (Compton Pauncefoot)	[7]
	Bratton Seymour	Civil parish	104	Wincanton Rural District	51.07°N 2.47°W / 51.07; -2.47 (Bratton Seymour)	[6][7]
	Brewham	Civil parish	441	Wincanton Rural District	51.13°N 2.40°W / 51.13; -2.40 (Brewham)	[6][7]
	Broadway	Civil parish	740	Chard Rural District	50.93°N 2.97°W / 50.93; -2.97 (Broadway, Somerset)	[6][10]
	Bruton	Town	2,907	Wincanton Rural District	51.11°N 2.45°W / 51.11; -2.45 (Bruton)	[6][7]
	Brympton	Civil parish	7,308	Yeovil Rural District	50.94°N 2.68°W / 50.94; -2.68 (Brympton)	[6][9]
	Buckland St Mary	Civil parish	521	Chard Rural District	50.91°N 3.04°W / 50.91; -3.04 (Buckland St Mary)	[6][10]
	Castle Cary	Town	2,276	Wincanton Rural District	51.09°N 2.51°W / 51.09; -2.51 (Castle Cary)	[6][7]
	Chaffcombe	Civil parish	229	Chard Rural District	50.89°N 2.92°W / 50.89; -2.92 (Chaffcombe)	[6][10]
	Chard Town	Town	13,074	Chard Municipal Borough	50.87°N 2.96°W / 50.87; -2.96 (Chard, Somerset)	[6][10]
	Charlton Horethorne	Civil parish	591	Wincanton Rural District	51.01°N 2.48°W / 51.01; -2.48 (Charlton Horethorne)	[6]
	Charlton Mackrell	Civil parish	1,073	Langport Rural District	51.05°N 2.68°W / 51.05; -2.68 (Charlton Mackrell)	[6][8]
	Charlton Musgrove	Civil parish	398	Wincanton Rural District	51.08°N 2.39°W / 51.08; -2.39 (Charlton Musgrove)	[6][7]
	Chillington	Civil parish	164	Chard Rural District	50.89°N 2.87°W / 50.89; -2.87 (Chillington, Somerset)	[6][10]
	Chilthorne Domer	Civil parish	574	Yeovil Rural District	50.97°N 2.68°W / 50.97; -2.68 (Chilthorne Domer)	[6][9]
	Chilton Cantelo	Civil parish	445	Yeovil Rural District	51.00°N 2.60°W / 51.00; -2.60 (Chilton Cantelo)	[6][9]
	Chiselborough	Civil parish	275	Yeovil Rural District	50.93°N 2.76°W / 50.93; -2.76 (Chiselborough)	[6][9]
	Closworth	Civil parish	220	Yeovil Rural District	50.89°N 2.62°W / 50.89; -2.62 (Closworth)	[6][9]
	Combe St Nicholas	Civil parish	1,373	Chard Rural District	50.89°N 2.99°W / 50.89; -2.99 (Combe St Nicholas)	[6][10]
	Compton Dundon	Civil parish	705	Langport Rural District	51.09°N 2.73°W / 51.09; -2.73 (Compton Dundon)	[6][8]
	Corton Denham	Civil parish	189	Wincanton Rural District	51.00°N 2.52°W / 51.00; -2.52 (Corton Denham)	[6][7]
	Crewkerne	Town	7,000	Crewkerne Urban District	50.88°N 2.79°W / 50.88; -2.79 (Crewkerne)	[6][11]
	Cricket St Thomas	Civil parish	50	Chard Rural District	50.87°N 2.89°W / 50.87; -2.89 (Cricket St Thomas)	[10]
	Cucklington	Civil parish	173	Wincanton Rural District	51.05°N 2.35°W / 51.05; -2.35 (Cucklington)	[6][7]
	Cudworth	Civil parish	69	Chard Rural District	50.89°N 2.89°W / 50.89; -2.89 (Cudworth, Somerset)	[10]
	Curry Mallet	Civil parish	306	Langport Rural District	50.99°N 2.96°W / 50.99; -2.96 (Curry Mallet)	[6][8]
	Curry Rivel	Civil parish	2,148	Langport Rural District	51.03°N 2.86°W / 51.03; -2.86 (Curry Rivel)	[6][8]
	Dinnington	Civil parish	65	Chard Rural District	50.91°N 2.85°W / 50.91; -2.85 (Dinnington, Somerse)	[10]
	Donyatt	Civil parish	347	Chard Rural District	50.93°N 2.95°W / 50.93; -2.95 (Donyatt)	[6][10]
	Dowlish Wake	Civil parish	277	Chard Rural District	50.91°N 2.89°W / 50.91; -2.89 (Dowlish Wake)	[6][10]
	Drayton	Civil parish	379	Langport Rural District	51.019°N 2.85°W / 51.019; -2.85 (Drayton, Somerset)	[6][8]
	East Chinnock	Civil parish	479	Yeovil Rural District	50.92°N 2.72°W / 50.92; -2.72 (The Chinnocks)	[6][9]
	East Coker	Civil parish	1,667	Yeovil Rural District	50.91°N 2.65°W / 50.91; -2.65 (East Coker)	[6][9]
	Fivehead	Civil parish	609	Langport Rural District	50.99°N 2.92°W / 50.99; -2.92 (Fivehead)	[6][8]
	Hambridge and Westport	Civil parish	514	Langport Rural District	50.99°N 2.86°W / 50.99; -2.86 (Hambridge and Westport)	[6][8]
	Hardington Mandeville	Civil parish	585	Yeovil Rural District	50.90°N 2.69°W / 50.90; -2.69 (Hardington Mandeville)	[6][9]
	Haselbury Plucknett	Civil parish	744	Yeovil Rural District	50.89°N 2.75°W / 50.89; -2.75 (Haselbury Plucknett)	[6][9]
	Henstridge	Civil parish	1,814	Wincanton Rural District	50.97°N 2.39°W / 50.97; -2.39 (Henstridge)	[6]
	High Ham	Civil parish	909	Langport Rural District	51.08°N 2.82°W / 51.08; -2.82 (High Ham)	[6][8]
	Hinton St George	Civil parish	442	Chard Rural District	50.91°N 2.82°W / 50.91; -2.82 (Hinton St George)	[6][10]
	Holton	Civil parish	238	Wincanton Rural District	51.04°N 2.45°W / 51.04; -2.45 (Holton, Somerset)	[6][7]
	Horsington	Civil parish	571	Wincanton Rural District	51.01°N 2.43°W / 51.01; -2.43 (Horsington, Somerset)	[6][7]
	Horton	Civil parish	812	Chard Rural District	50.93°N 2.97°W / 50.93; -2.97 (Horton, Somerset)	[6][10]
	Huish Episcopi	Civil parish	2,095	Langport Rural District	51.04°N 2.81°W / 51.04; -2.81 (Huish Episcopi)	[6][8]
	Ilchester	Civil parish	2,153	Yeovil Rural District	51.00°N 2.68°W / 51.00; -2.68 (Ilchester)	[6][9]
	Ilminster	Town	5,808	Chard Rural District Ilminster Urban District	50.93°N 2.91°W / 50.93; -2.91 (Ilminster)	[6][10]
	Ilton	Civil parish	854	Chard Rural District	50.95°N 2.92°W / 50.95; -2.92 (Ilton)	[6][10]
	Isle Abbots	Civil parish	205	Langport Rural District	50.98°N 2.92°W / 50.98; -2.92 (Isle Abbots)	[6][8]
	Isle Brewers	Civil parish	150	Langport Rural District	50.99°N 2.90°W / 50.99; -2.90 (Isle Brewers)	[6]
	Keinton Mandeville	Civil parish	1,068	Langport Rural District	51.07°N 2.65°W / 51.07; -2.65 (Keinton Mandeville)	[6][8]
	Kingsbury Episcopi	Civil parish	1,307	Langport Rural District	50.99°N 2.81°W / 50.99; -2.81 (Kingsbury Episcopi)	[6][8]
	Kingsdon	Civil parish	303	Langport Rural District	51.04°N 2.69°W / 51.04; -2.69 (Kingsdon, Somerset)	[6][8]
	Kingstone	Civil parish	83	Chard Rural District	50.92°N 2.89°W / 50.92; -2.89 (Kingstone, Somerset)	[10]
	Kingweston	Civil parish	128	Langport Rural District	51.08°N 2.68°W / 51.08; -2.68 (Kingweston)	[8]
	Knowle St Giles	Civil parish	244	Chard Rural District	50.90°N 2.93°W / 50.90; -2.93 (Knowle St Giles)	[6][10]
	Langport	Town	1,081	Langport Rural District	51.04°N 2.83°W / 51.04; -2.83 (Langport)	[6][8]
	Long Load	Civil parish	332	Yeovil Rural District	51.01°N 2.76°W / 51.01; -2.76 (Long Load)	[6][9]
	Long Sutton	Civil parish	833	Langport Rural District	51.03°N 2.76°W / 51.03; -2.76 (Long Sutton)	[6][8]
	Lopen	Civil parish	260	Chard Rural District	50.93°N 2.82°W / 50.93; -2.82 (Lopen)	[6][10]
	Lovington	Civil parish	141	Wincanton Rural District	51.07°N 2.58°W / 51.07; -2.58 (Lovington, Somerset)	[6][7]
	Maperton	Civil parish	140	Wincanton Rural District	51.04°N 2.46°W / 51.04; -2.46 (Maperton)	[6][7]
	Marston Magna	Civil parish	523	Yeovil Rural District	51.00°N 2.58°W / 51.00; -2.58 (Marston Magna)	[6][9]
	Martock	Civil parish	4,766	Yeovil Rural District	50.97°N 2.77°W / 50.97; -2.77 (Martock)	[6][9]
	Merriott	Civil parish	1,979	Chard Rural District	50.91°N 2.79°W / 50.91; -2.79 (Merriott)	[6][10]
	Milborne Port	Civil parish	2,802	Wincanton Rural District	50.97°N 2.46°W / 50.97; -2.46 (Milborne Port)	[6][7]
	Misterton	Civil parish	826	Chard Rural District	50.87°N 2.78°W / 50.87; -2.78 (Misterton, Somerset)	[6][10]
	Montacute	Civil parish	831	Yeovil Rural District	50.95°N 2.72°W / 50.95; -2.72 (Montacute)	[6][9]
	Muchelney	Civil parish	195	Langport Rural District	51.021°N 2.82°W / 51.021; -2.82 (Muchelney)	[6][8]
	Mudford	Civil parish	696	Yeovil Rural District	50.97°N 2.61°W / 50.97; -2.61 (Mudford)	[6][9]
	North Barrow	Civil parish	233	Wincanton Rural District	51.06°N 2.57°W / 51.06; -2.57 (North Barrow)	[6][7]
	North Cadbury	Civil parish	950	Wincanton Rural District	51.05°N 2.52°W / 51.05; -2.52 (North Cadbury)	[6][7]
	North Cheriton	Civil parish	208	Wincanton Rural District	51.03°N 2.44°W / 51.03; -2.44 (North Cheriton)	[6][7]
	North Perrott	Civil parish	246	Yeovil Rural District	50.88°N 2.75°W / 50.88; -2.75 (North Perrott)	[6][9]
	Norton sub Hamdon	Civil parish	743	Yeovil Rural District	50.94°N 2.76°W / 50.94; -2.76 (Norton Sub Hamdon)	[6][9]
	Odcombe	Civil parish	759	Yeovil Rural District	50.94°N 2.70°W / 50.94; -2.70 (Odcombe)	[6][9]
	Penselwood	Civil parish	273	Wincanton Rural District	51.08°N 2.35°W / 51.08; -2.35 (Penselwood)	[6][7]
	Pitcombe	Civil parish	532	Wincanton Rural District	51.10°N 2.47°W / 51.10; -2.47 (Pitcombe)	[6][7]
	Pitney	Civil parish	374	Langport Rural District	51.05°N 2.79°W / 51.05; -2.79 (Pitney)	[6][8]
	Puckington	Civil parish	117	Langport Rural District	50.96°N 2.89°W / 50.96; -2.89 (Puckington)	[6][8]
	Queen Camel	Civil parish	908	Wincanton Rural District	51.02°N 2.58°W / 51.02; -2.58 (Queen Camel)	[6][7]
	Rimpton	Civil parish	235	Yeovil Rural District	50.99°N 2.56°W / 50.99; -2.56 (Rimpton)	[6][9]
	Seavington St Mary	Civil parish	384	Chard Rural District	50.93°N 2.86°W / 50.93; -2.86 (Seavington St Mary)	[6][10]
	Seavington St Michael	Civil parish	127	Chard Rural District	50.93°N 2.84°W / 50.93; -2.84 (Seavington St Michael)	[6][10]
	Shepton Beauchamp	Civil parish	728	Chard Rural District	50.95°N 2.85°W / 50.95; -2.85 (Shepton Beauchamp)	[6][10]
	Shepton Montague	Civil parish	208	Wincanton Rural District	51.08°N 2.47°W / 51.08; -2.47 (Shepton Montague)	[6][7]
	Somerton	Town	4,697	Langport Rural District	51.05°N 2.74°W / 51.05; -2.74 (Somerton)	[6][8]
	South Barrow	Civil parish	162	Wincanton Rural District	51.05°N 2.56°W / 51.05; -2.56 (South Barrow)	[6][7]
	South Cadbury	Civil parish	284	Wincanton Rural District	51.03°N 2.52°W / 51.03; -2.52 (South Cadbury)	[6][7]
	South Petherton	Civil parish	3,367	Yeovil Rural District	50.95°N 2.81°W / 50.95; -2.81 (South Petherton)	[6][9]
	Sparkford	Civil parish	617	Wincanton Rural District	51.04°N 2.57°W / 51.04; -2.57 (Sparkford)	[6][7]
	Stocklinch	Civil parish	154	Chard Rural District	50.95°N 2.88°W / 50.95; -2.88 (Stocklinch)	[6][10]
	Stoke sub Hamdon	Civil parish	1,068	Yeovil Rural District	50.95°N 2.75°W / 50.95; -2.75 (Stoke-sub-Hamdon)	[6][9]
	Stoke Trister	Civil parish	313	Wincanton Rural District	51.06°N 2.38°W / 51.06; -2.38 (Stoke Trister)	[6][7]
	Tatworth and Forton	Civil parish	2,660	Chard Rural District	50.85°N 2.96°W / 50.85; -2.96 (Tatworth)	[6][10]
	Tintinhull	Civil parish	902	Yeovil Rural District	50.97°N 2.71°W / 50.97; -2.71 (Tintinhull)	[6][9]
	Wambrook	Civil parish	184	Chard Rural District	50.86°N 3.00°W / 50.86; -3.00 (Wambrook)	[6][10]
	Wayford	Civil parish	114	Chard Rural District	50.85°N 2.85°W / 50.85; -2.85 (Wayford)	[10]
	West Camel	Civil parish	459	Yeovil Rural District	51.02°N 2.60°W / 51.02; -2.60 (West Camel)	[6][9]
	West and Middle Chinnock	Civil parish	592	Yeovil Rural District	50.92°N 2.76°W / 50.92; -2.76 (West Chinnock)	[6][9]
	West Coker	Civil parish	2,018	Yeovil Rural District	50.92°N 2.69°W / 50.92; -2.69 (West Coker)	[6][9]
	West Crewkerne	Civil parish	631	Chard Rural District	50.88°N 2.79°W / 50.88; -2.79 (Crewkerne)	[6][10]
	Whitelackington	Civil parish	209	Chard Rural District	50.94°N 2.88°W / 50.94; -2.88 (Whitelackington)	[6][10]
	Whitestaunton	Civil parish	256	Chard Rural District	50.89°N 3.02°W / 50.89; -3.02 (Whitestaunton)	[6][10]
	Wincanton	Town	5,272	Wincanton Rural District	51.06°N 2.41°W / 51.06; -2.41 (Wincanton)	[6][7]
	Winsham	Civil parish	748	Chard Rural District	50.85°N 2.89°W / 50.85; -2.89 (Winsham)	[6][10]
	Yarlington	Civil parish	123	Wincanton Rural District	51.06°N 2.49°W / 51.06; -2.49 (Yarlington)	[6][7]
	Yeovil	Town	30,378	Yeovil Municipal Borough	50.95°N 2.64°W / 50.95; -2.64 (Yeovil)	[6][12]
	Yeovil Without	Civil parish	6,834	Yeovil Rural District	50.96°N 2.65°W / 50.96; -2.65 (Yeovil Without)	[6][9]
	Yeovilton and District	Civil parish	1,425	Yeovil Rural District	51.00°N 2.65°W / 51.00; -2.65 (Yeovilton)	[6][9][13]

Major roads

• A30
• A37
• A303
• A357

Railway stations

• Bruton (Heart of Wessex Line and Reading to Taunton Line), Great Western Railway
• Castle Cary (Heart of Wessex Line and Reading to Taunton Line), Great Western Railway
• Crewkerne (West of England Main Line), South Western Railway
• Templecombe (West of England Main Line), South Western Railway
• Yeovil Junction (West of England Main Line), South Western Railway
• Yeovil Pen Mill (Heart of Wessex Line), Great Western Railway

Heritage Railways

• Chard branch line, former Great Western Railway line between Chard and Taunton
• Yeovil Railway Centre

Education

County schools (those which are not independent) in the five non-metropolitan districts of the county were operated by Somerset County Council (now Somerset Council).

For a full list of schools see: List of schools in Somerset

See also

• Somerset portal

• Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
• 2019–2023 structural changes to local government in England