Wincanton From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For the logistics company, see Wincanton plc. Coordinates: 51. 0559°N 4102°w wincanton

The town had a railway station on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway but this closed on 7 March 1966.^[22]

The town lies on the A303 road, one of the main routes between London and South West England.

[edit] Education

Primary education, up to the age of 11 is offered by Wincanton Primary School and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School.^[23] The history of Wincanton Primary began in 1833 when an appeal was launched to provide a National school in Wincanton and after a number of difficulties the school was built in North Street in 1838, although this had very few pupils. A school board was formed in 1871 and opened a school in the former National school buildings with over 200 pupils. In 1875 there were 206 children attending. In 1894 the board raised money for a new school to accommodate 445 children, which opened in South Street in 1897.^[24]

Wincanton has one secondary school, King Arthur's Community School, which is Somerset's first specialist Sports College.^[25]

The Balsam Centre is a Healthy Living Centre and also a Children's Centre.^[26] Since 2005 it has received grants for the re-fitting of the training kitchen and construction and refurbishment to create a dedicated teaching area, counselling and interview rooms and a studio space for physical and community activities.^[27]

Church of St Peter and St Paul

The Church of St Peter and St Paul was almost totally rebuilt 1887-91 by J. D. Sedding, however parts of the tower may be remnants form an earlier church, dating from 1313, on the same site.^[28] In 1793 the tower was raised by 12 feet (4 m) making it 50 feet (15 m) high, five bells were cast and a sixth added. The additional carving and north porch were added in subsequent years.^[29] The churchyard include a self designed monument to the local architect Nathaniel Ireson who died in 1796.^[30]

The Roman Catholic Church and Presbytery of St Luke and St Teresa was built in 1881 by the priest/architect A.J.C Scoles.^[31]

There are also places of worship for Methodists, Baptists and Quakers in the town.^[32]

[edit] Culture

Wincanton Museum is a small local museum in the High Street. It is housed in a late 18th or early 19th century cottage, which is a Grade II listed building,^[33] which is owned by the Quakers.^[34] The Museum has a collection of artefacts, documents, posters and photographs related to the social history of Wincanton and the surrounding district. There is also a replica of a Victorian kitchen and a collection of 19th and 20th century farm implements.^[35] A separate room is devoted to World War I and World War II when American soldiers were stationed in the town prior to the D Day landings.^[36] The museum closed in 2009, due to increased rents and the need for renovations to the building, but reopened in 2010^[34] only to close again in September 2010.^[37]

The cartoonist Tony Weare was born in Wincanton.^[38]

The town is the home of Wincanton Racecourse even though it is technically in the neighbouring parish of Charlton Musgrove. The track stages several big races, including the Kingwell Hurdle in February, and the CGA Chase on the same day; these races can be significant trials for the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup respectively. Several of the races at the course are shown on Channel 4.^[39]

Wincanton Sports Centre was opened in 2001,^[40] funded by National Lottery grant.^[5]

The Sports Ground in Moor Lane provides facilities for tennis, football and bowls.^[5]

The cricket club have 2 Saturday teams, 1 Sunday team and play in the recreation ground.^[41]

The rugby club play at King Arthur's Community School in the town. In 2010 they won their Dorset & Wilts division of the English Rugby Union South West Division.^[42]

The town sign of Wincanton, showing twinned towns.