Rode, Somerset facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rode |
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 Village centre |
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 Rode
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| Population | 1,025 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST805540 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Frome |
| Postcode district | BA11 |
| Dialling code | 01373 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Rode (formerly Road) is a village in the ceremonial county of Somerset in England, 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Frome and 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Trowbridge.
The small settlement of Rode Hill, northeast of Rode village, is now contiguous with it. The village lies within a mile of the Wiltshire border and is the easternmost settlement in Somerset. The Wiltshire village of Southwick is 2 miles (3 km) to the northeast.
History
The village appears as "Rode" in the Domesday Book, but the spelling was labile from an early date: it is "Roda" in assize rolls of 1201, "la Rode" in a charter roll of 1230; by the 18th century "Road" was regarded as the usual form. This was reverted to the older spelling "Rode" by Somerset County Council in 1919. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon rod, meaning a clearing. The parish was part of the hundred of Frome.
Rode rose to prominence as a trading centre on the ceremonial borders of Wiltshire and Somerset, and later became a market town. The old village was positioned around St Lawrence's church along the main thoroughfare (known as Rode Major; now on the ordnance map as "Church Row"). However, many parts of the old village were damaged in a fire and the ruins can be seen in the field adjoining the church.
Rode's prominence was greatest during the 16th and 17th centuries, when the wool milling industry boomed in the South West; a success due largely to the meandering nature of its rivers, which afforded the space for the construction of mill ponds and streams, and because of its close proximity to the international port of Bristol. At one point Rode was home to four or five wool mills which created great wealth for the village and funded the construction of many large houses in the village, such as Rode Manor, Langham House, Milfield House and Southfield House. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries the village centre thrived enough for Rode to be known as a market town.
Possibly the greatest single moment in the milling industry of Rode was during the 18th century when a consortium of Rode mills won a competition to make Queen Charlotte's dress. In winning the prize a mill in the village invented the dye Royal Blue and received a certificate to sell it under that name.
By the middle to the end of the 19th century, the wool mills of Rode were struggling, like many in the South West region, as a result of both the industrial revolution and the invention of steam power, which caused mills to move to northern industrial centres.
Rode is now largely a dormitory village, offering good access to Bristol, Bath, Trowbridge and Frome.
Religious sites
The Church of St Lawrence dates from the late 14th and early 15th century. It was restored in 1874 by Charles Edward Davis and is a Grade I listed building. There is also a Baptist-Methodist chapel, dating from 1809, which has Grade II listed building status for the gates and walls.
Christ Church at Rode Hill was built in 1824 but was declared redundant in 1995 and is now a house and violin shop.
Landmarks
Rode is home to two village pumps, a mounted plough, a wellhead pump, an elaborate village sign, a flagpole and a war memorial in the form of a cross. The latter three are all placed on the village green.
A three arch packhorse bridge crosses the River Frome. It is 48 inches (1,200 mm) wide and has a total span of 63 feet (19 m).
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Rode (Somerset) para niños
