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Weston-super-Mare.

Christ Church.
Baptisms 1855-1873.
Marriage 1886-1892.   

Emmanuel.
Baptisms 1881-1897.
Burials  1847-1856. 

Holy Trinity.
Baptisms 1861-1902.
Marriages 1862-1900.

St. Johns.
Baptisms 1813-1841.
Baptisms 1841-1850. 

Burials  1813-1851.   

St. Pauls.
Baptisms 1897-1903.

Banwell
Baptisms 1750-1763.
Burials     1750-1765.
Marriages 1740-1754.

Kewstoke.
Marriages 1838-1904.

 

Kingston Seymour

Baptisms 1813-1850

Marriages 1727-1754

Burials 1813-1850    

Milton, St. Judes.
Baptisms 1896-1906.
Marriages 1892-1912.

Puxton
Baptisms 1728-1794.
Burials     1732-1794.   

     
Wick St. Lawrence.
Baptisms 1740-1790.
Marriages 1710-1751.
Burials 1749-1787.

Worle. St. Martins.
Marriages 1813-1837
Baptisms 1771-1812
Baptisms 1813-1845

Burials 1813-1840
Marriages 1755-1812 

Weston-super-Mare, initially known as Weston near Worle, was just an appendix of Worle until the nineteenth Century.

The Rev. John Collinson, F.A.S. who was Vicar of Long Ashton wrote of Weston-super-Mare in the late eighteenth century:

"Weston-super- Mare lies upon the Channel northward from Uphill, on the opposite side of that rich moor, the skirts of which towards the sea are, as before related, so covered with drifts of sand. It is situated at the western end of that immense ridge of rock called Worle-Hill, and on its southern acclivity, commanding a beautiful prospect of land and water. The extreme point of this hill juts into the sea, forming a headland known to mariners by the name of Anchor-head, where a huge disjointed rock, called  Bearn-Back, is wearilessly combated by the waves, which in storms rage against these shores with uncommon violence.

 Worle is mentioned in the Doomsday book:
         "Walter de Dowai holds of the King, Worle. Edgar held it in the time of King Edward, and gelded for six hides and a half".

    St. Martins Church Worle.

Weston was just a small fishing village when Collinson wrote his 'History of Somerset'. It has grown to its present position owing to the coming of the Railways in1841 and the emergence of holiday resorts that placed Weston as a favourite place to visit.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel built the Railway link between Bristol and Weston and trains began to run daily between Bristol and Weston in the 1850's. Weston's population doubled in size at this time, changing a small fishing village of around 100 people to a fashionable resort.

The town was enhanced in 1826 by the esplanade sea wall, which was lengthened by 1885 so that the wall-way extended from Anchor Head to the Old Royal Hospital.  The construction of the Old Pier linking Birnbeck Island with the mainland, allowing paddle steamers to berth, was completed by 1867 whilst the Grand Pier which included a large pavilion and theatre, was opened in 1904.

With its fine bays in front and much woodland behind, Weston-s-Mare is admirably situated.

On the summit of the hill above the village of Worle is a vast Roman encampment of a circular form, called Worle-Berry, strongly fortified in some parts with one and in others with two and three ditches, and a rampire of heaped stones in many places twenty feet in height. This was the last fortification the Romans had in this district westward, and if not the strongest, yet the most convenient they had in all these parts for surveying the motions of the enemy, and was probably one of their Castra æstiva. The brow of Worle-hill is here capped with rugged rocks of grey limestone.

Worle was a small village, but much bigger than Weston near Worle. The village was built around the parish church of St. Martins and surrounded by open fields.

"The church, which is dedicated to St. Martins, is a neat Gothick structure, consisting of a nave, chancel, and north aisle: at the west end is a low tower, surmounted with a small spire, and containing a clock and six bells.
The village of Worle is not unpleasantly situated, it has a compact appearance; the dwellings are neat and comfortable, and a prospect from them opens over the moors to the Mendip-hills."                                                                   

Rev John Collinson in 1790.

Since the 1950's Worle has developed into a very large community. The friendly village atmosphere has long since disappeared and the old centre has been swallowed into the expanding area. More houses, supermarkets, schools and churches have been built, to support the new population and the old village has long since disappeared.

        Post-cards

   Paddling at Weston-super-Mare 1905.

Mary Mason.B.A.