South Cadbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Cadbury |
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 Church of St Thomas à Becket in South Cadbury |
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 South Cadbury
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| Population | 284 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST632256 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | YEOVIL |
| Postcode district | BA22 7 |
| Dialling code | 01963 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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South Cadbury is a small village in Somerset, England. It's part of a larger area called South Cadbury and Sutton Montis. The village of Sutton Montis is also included in this area.
South Cadbury is famous for Cadbury Castle. This is an old hill fort that many people believe might be King Arthur's legendary Camelot.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The name Cadbury means "Cada's fort." This name comes from Cadbury Castle, which is right next to the village. This huge hill fort covers about 20 acres (8 hectares).
People have lived at Cadbury Castle for a very long time. They were there from the Neolithic period (New Stone Age) until the late Saxon period.
Digging Up the Past
In the 1960s, an archaeologist named Leslie Alcock dug up parts of the castle. He found many interesting things. One important discovery was a large feasting hall from the time of King Arthur.
For centuries, people have thought Cadbury Castle might be Camelot. This idea started in the 16th century with John Leland. He wrote about local stories connecting the site to King Arthur.
You can still find "King Arthur's Well" at the bottom of the hill. Even the local pub, once called the "Red Lion," changed its name to "The Camelot" in 2004.
Old Records
In 1086, a very old book called the Domesday Book mentioned South Cadbury. It recorded that a person named Turstin FitzRolf owned the land.
The village was once part of an old area called the hundred of Catsash.
Village Changes
On April 1, 1933, part of the nearby village of Sutton Montis joined with South Cadbury. Later, on January 1, 2015, the combined area was renamed "South Cadbury & Sutton Montis." Before this merger, in 1931, South Cadbury had 146 people living there.
How South Cadbury is Run
Villages like South Cadbury have a special group called a parish council. This council helps with local issues.
What the Parish Council Does
The parish council decides how much money is needed for local services. They also check plans for new buildings. They work with the police and local groups to keep the area safe.
The council also helps fix roads, paths, and public transport. They look after the environment and important old buildings.
Other Councils
Until 2023, South Cadbury was part of South Somerset. This council handled things like planning, housing, and rubbish collection.
Now, Somerset County Council manages bigger services. These include education, social services, and libraries. They also look after main roads and public transport.
South Cadbury is also part of a larger area called Glastonbury and Somerton. This area chooses one person, called a Member of Parliament (MP), to represent them in the UK Parliament.
Where is South Cadbury?
South Cadbury is located about 7.5 miles (12 km) north-east of Yeovil. It sits just south of the main A303 road. This road connects London to the south-west of England.
Hills and Views
Besides South Cadbury, the area includes Sutton Montis. There are three big hills here: Cadbury Hill, Littleton Hill, and the Beacon. Cadbury Hill has the famous hill fort. Littleton Hill has an old quarry that is no longer used.
South Cadbury is part of the Castle Cary area. This area elects one person to the Somerset County Council.
Old Churches
South Cadbury has a church called St Thomas à Becket. It is a parish church. Most of the church was built in the 13th and 15th centuries. It was fixed up a lot in 1874.
Inside the Church
Many things inside the church are from the 1874 repairs. But it still has a beautiful roof from the 15th century. This roof has carved angels and designs. There's also an old wall painting of St Thomas. This church is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important old building.
A famous 18th-century poet named Charles Churchill used to work as a curate (a type of priest) in South Cadbury.
Sutton Montis Church
The church in Sutton Montis is called Holy Trinity. It has very old parts from the Saxon period. Some parts are even from the 12th century. This church is a Grade I listed building, meaning it's even more important.
Famous People
- Herbert Pitman (1877–1961) was a sailor who worked on the RMS Titanic. He was the third officer on the ship.
