When the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal was opened in 1827 it joined the River Parrett by a lock at Huntworth, where a basin was constructed, but in 1841 the canal was extended to a floating harbour in Bridgwater, and the Huntworth link was filled in.[1] The canal and river were not re-connected at this point when the canal was restored, because the Parrett is by then a salt water river laden with silt, whereas the canal contains fresh water. Not only is there a risk of silt entering the canal,[2] but the salt water cannot be allowed to contaminate the fresh, as the canal is still used for the transport of drinking water for Bridgwater's population.[3]
Beam Wireless Stationedit
The Imperial Wireless Chain, also known as the Empire Wireless Chain, was a strategic international wireless telegraphy communications network, created to link the countries of the British Empire.
Between 1929 and 1940 Huntworth was the site of the "Bridgwater" Beam Wireless Station, which received HF communications from Drummondville and Yamachiche in Canada, and Kliphevel (now Klipheuwel) and Milnerton in South Africa, working with an associated transmitter station at Bodmin.
Each aerial for the Beam Wireless Station stretched to nearly half a mile (0.78 km) long, and consisted of a row of five 277 feet (84 m) high lattice masts, erected in a line at 640-foot (200 m) intervals and at right angles to the overseas receiving station. These were topped by cross-arm measuring 10 feet high by 90 feet wide (3m x 27.4m), from which the vertical wires of the aerial were hung, forming a 'curtain antenna'.[4]
Although the site has long since closed, and all the equipment has been removed, the facility is remembered in the naming of 5 properties in the village as Beam Wireless Station.
Manoredit
The manor of Huntworth was acquired in the late 13th century by the de Popham family of Popham, Hampshire,[5] which senior family died out in the male line on the death of Sir Stephen Popham (c. 1386 – 1444), five times MP for Hampshire.[6] The Popham family of Huntworth was more prominent and longer-lived than the Pophams of Popham. The most prominent member of the Huntworth line was Sir John Popham (1531–1607), Lord Chief Justice of England from 1592 until his death. His monument survives in the nearby Church of St John the Baptist in Wellington.[7]
Screech Owl is the name of a 11.7 hectares (29 acres) local nature reserve. It is a wetland area which supports a variety of birds, bats and small mammals.[8]
Referencesedit
^Charles Hadfield, (1967), The Canals of South West England, David and Charles, ISBN0-7153-4176-6
^Taunton Civic Society, Taunton's Waterways 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
^Beam Wireless Papers Past, Evening Post (New Zealand), published 1927-10-05, accessed 2010-10-03
^"POPHAM, Edward (1581–1641), of Huntworth, Som". History of Parliament. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
^"POPHAM, Sir Stephen (c.1386-1444), of Popham, Hants". History of Parliament. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
^Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985). Curiosities of Somerset. Bodmin: Bossiney Books. p. 67. ISBN0-906456-98-3.
^"Screech Owl". Natural England. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
External linksedit
Media related to Huntworth at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
huntworth, small, hamlet, farming, community, population, approximately, within, civil, parish, north, petherton, mile, east, motorway, miles, from, bridgwater, somerset, england, bridge, over, bridgwater, taunton, canallocation, within, somersetos, grid, refe. Huntworth is a small hamlet and farming community population approximately 50 within the civil parish of North Petherton 1 mile 1 6 km east of the M5 motorway 3 miles 4 8 km from Bridgwater Somerset England HuntworthHuntworth Bridge over the Bridgwater and Taunton CanalHuntworthLocation within SomersetOS grid referenceST315345Civil parishNorth PethertonDistrictSedgemoorShire countySomersetRegionSouth WestCountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townBRIDGWATERPostcode districtTA5 TA6 TA7Dialling code01278PoliceAvon and SomersetFireDevon and SomersetAmbulanceSouth WesternUK ParliamentBridgwater and West SomersetList of places UK England Somerset 51 06 20 N 2 58 47 W 51 105688 N 2 979790 W 51 105688 2 979790 Huntworth was in the news on 5 12 19 as it was the epicentre of a 3 2 magnitude earthquake Contents 1 Canal 2 Beam Wireless Station 3 Manor 4 Present Day 5 Geography 6 References 7 External linksCanal editWhen the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal was opened in 1827 it joined the River Parrett by a lock at Huntworth where a basin was constructed but in 1841 the canal was extended to a floating harbour in Bridgwater and the Huntworth link was filled in 1 The canal and river were not re connected at this point when the canal was restored because the Parrett is by then a salt water river laden with silt whereas the canal contains fresh water Not only is there a risk of silt entering the canal 2 but the salt water cannot be allowed to contaminate the fresh as the canal is still used for the transport of drinking water for Bridgwater s population 3 Beam Wireless Station editThe Imperial Wireless Chain also known as the Empire Wireless Chain was a strategic international wireless telegraphy communications network created to link the countries of the British Empire Between 1929 and 1940 Huntworth was the site of the Bridgwater Beam Wireless Station which received HF communications from Drummondville and Yamachiche in Canada and Kliphevel now Klipheuwel and Milnerton in South Africa working with an associated transmitter station at Bodmin Each aerial for the Beam Wireless Station stretched to nearly half a mile 0 78 km long and consisted of a row of five 277 feet 84 m high lattice masts erected in a line at 640 foot 200 m intervals and at right angles to the overseas receiving station These were topped by cross arm measuring 10 feet high by 90 feet wide 3m x 27 4m from which the vertical wires of the aerial were hung forming a curtain antenna 4 Although the site has long since closed and all the equipment has been removed the facility is remembered in the naming of 5 properties in the village as Beam Wireless Station Manor editThe manor of Huntworth was acquired in the late 13th century by the de Popham family of Popham Hampshire 5 which senior family died out in the male line on the death of Sir Stephen Popham c 1386 1444 five times MP for Hampshire 6 The Popham family of Huntworth was more prominent and longer lived than the Pophams of Popham The most prominent member of the Huntworth line was Sir John Popham 1531 1607 Lord Chief Justice of England from 1592 until his death His monument survives in the nearby Church of St John the Baptist in Wellington 7 Present Day editThe Bridgwater Canalside Centre provides an entertainment and meeting venue Geography editScreech Owl is the name of a 11 7 hectares 29 acres local nature reserve It is a wetland area which supports a variety of birds bats and small mammals 8 References edit Charles Hadfield 1967 The Canals of South West England David and Charles ISBN 0 7153 4176 6 Taunton Civic Society Taunton s Waterways Archived 2008 11 21 at the Wayback Machine Bridgwater Docks photographic record Beam Wireless Papers Past Evening Post New Zealand published 1927 10 05 accessed 2010 10 03 POPHAM Edward 1581 1641 of Huntworth Som History of Parliament Retrieved 3 September 2014 POPHAM Sir Stephen c 1386 1444 of Popham Hants History of Parliament Retrieved 3 September 2014 Leete Hodge Lornie 1985 Curiosities of Somerset Bodmin Bossiney Books p 67 ISBN 0 906456 98 3 Screech Owl Natural England Retrieved 25 August 2015 External links edit nbsp Media related to Huntworth at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Huntworth amp oldid 1074494319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
