MINEHEAD CONSERVATION SOCIETY WELCOMES YOU
Make a Difference Today
ABOUT
Minehead Conservation Society is all about conserving and enhancing the built fabric of Minehead and its environs as well as campaigning to protect its beautiful landscape setting from inappropriate development.
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The society also arranges social / educational events as part of the appreciation of the local area.
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The society is affiliated to CPRE (Council for the Protection of Rural England).
ACTIVITIES
The Society monitors all planning applications for Listed Buildings and those within Conservation Areas as well as any it considers might be damaging to the overall character and appearance of the town.
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It strives to encourage the local planning authority to adopt high quality design for all new builds, incorporating the use of local materials, and which will sit comfortably within their immediate surroundings.
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Minehead Conservation Society welcomes all who care about Minehead and its status as an' Outstanding Heritage Settlement'. It offers the opportunity for like-minded people to socialise together and learn more about the history of the area, its many interesting buildings and beautiful landscape by providing a varied programme of activities.
Past Autumn/Winter talks have included such topics as ' Construction,
Maintenance & former uses of buildings on the Holnicote Estate ' and ' 10 Treasures of the Minehead Coast ' to 'Siege and Surrender of Dunster Castle ' and a Magic Lantern Show of Somerset Images.
In the Spring & Summer visits have ranged from a trip on Flying Scotsman and a tour round the Two Rivers Paper Mill to visits to historic houses such as Cothelstone Manor and Orchard Wyndham and the restoration project being undertaken by the Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust at Halswell where tea was served in the Temple of Harmony. Walks around different parts of the town also feature in the programme.
For information on future activities see 'Upcoming Events' below. Also see reports on recent events which have taken place in the blog section (click on 'Blog' at top of website pages).
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The Society is affiliated to SBPT (Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust) and members are able to take advantage of the visits that it offers.
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Tree planted by Minehead Conservation Society at The Parks for the Queen's 90th birthday celebration
Another MCS Plaque Fitted
The latest commemorative plaque installed by MCS - This one is at the Old Ship Aground, installed October 2020
SOME OF THE SOCIETY'S MORE NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Prevented Southlands in Northfield Road from being demolished
Saved the Beach Hotel from inappropriate development.
Stopped the cafe on the Quay (now called Echo) from being converted into a holiday flat.
Fought to keep green area and trees in front of Marley Close from becoming one big car park.
Managed to reduce an application for three houses in Whitecross Lane to just one dwelling.
Gained significant design changes to the buildings proposed for the grounds of Periton Mead and contributed to the listing of the main house.
Helped to save the character and setting of the Grade II Listed Ellicombe Manor .
The society has also contributed to the street scene of Minehead and raised the profile of the town in the following ways..
Master-minded retention of many of the old street lamps.
Proposed the installation of the street lamps strung across the Avenue.
Designed, commissioned and paid for the Fingerpost by the Jubilee Cafe.
Proposed ,raised all the money for and gained planning consent, to erect the Jubilee Clock Tower.
Started the campaign to save the town' s public toilets by setting up a petition and lobbying the local councils.
Planted a tree in the Parks Walk to commemorate the Queen's 90th birthday.
Led numerous walks around the town to raise awareness of its heritage.
Gained planning consent and paid for the historical plaques around the town.
Supplied photos and information about Listed Buildings and other notable buildings to the planners .
NEWSLETTER
Minehead Conservation Society
(Incorporating the Woodcombe Society)
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Office: Townsend House, Townsend Road,
Minehead TA24 5RG (01643 706258)
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E-mail: mineheadconservationsoc@gmail.com
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Website: mineheadconservationsociety.com
Committee: Principal Officers
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Chair – Sally Bainbridge
Vice Chair - Tony White
Secretary – Jon Collis
Treasurer – Janet Davies
Planning Case Officer – Sally Bainbridge
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SOCIETY NEWS
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Please be vigilant, and if you see things that concern you contact the society via email or the website. We rely on our members to assist us.
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Help wanted! Would you be interested in taking minutes of our committee meetings and similar duties in the role of Secretary? We meet about six times a year. See advertisement in next section. Please get in touch if you are able to help or would like details.
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It would be great if all our members could try and persuade a friend or neighbour to join the Society
as there is greater strength in numbers when it comes to major campaigns. Direct them to our website so they can see what we are all about and the activities we organise.
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NEWSLETTER- April 2025
Dear Members,
The visit to Alfoxton was not only interesting but an eye-opener in many ways too.
The setting is superb, the huge walled garden impressive, and the 900-1,000 year old
Oak Tree spectacular but the work, commitment ( and money) required to restore the
20 roomed house to its former glory is mind boggling. We were greeted by Jayaraga,
who began with some background history about the place which stretches back
almost a 1,000 yrs, before giving us a tour of the Oak room and the Music room. We
only saw the beautiful, wide staircase with its right hand curve but could not mount it
as the first and second floors are unsafe. The Buddhist Trust purchased the house,
which was on the heritage 'at risk' register in 2020 and have begun the job of saving
it.
We were taken to see 'the tree' and the walled garden which volunteers are steadily
restoring including the greenhouse. Its panes of heritage glass costs £450 each. The
Trust is only prepared to restore the estate in keeping with its heritage status. So even
the recently installed deer fence is designed to look attractive rather than purely
functional. As you enter the site a wonderful sculpure of the albatross, carved by a
volunteer stands on raised ground.
Worshops, retreats, concerts ,and performances of the Ancient Mariner are held to
raise funds. www.alfoxtonpark.org.uk . If you visit the MCS website do click on Blog
where you will see some photos of the trip taken by member Derek Webb. Feel free
to submit a comment.
We gave the trust a donation and an owl box made by a member to commemorate the
Wordsworths' year in residence. It so happens that the Trust has an Owl expert
volunteer who will erect it in the best possible place. So we have left our mark there!
NEXT EVENT
Something rather different. On Thursday May 15th at 7.30pm Paul Tuck basket
and hurdle maker and willow grower on Wick Moor and Allen Moor, Exbridge
will be giving us a talk and demonstration of his work in Townsend House. Members
£1 Visitors £3. We should welcome a couple of volunteers to make tea/coffee please.
PLANNING NEWS
Three more buildings have now been added to the HER Local Heritage Assets list,
which is good news. These are The Regal ,the former Police Station and Magistrates
Court (currently up for sale) and the Police Superintendent's house.
THE PETROL SERVICE STATION, ELLICOMBE
Dunster PC, Minehead Town Council, ENP and MCS have all objected to this
application for a wide range of reasons. Our objection-3 pages-can be viewed under
'documents' . 200 objections have so far been registered on line plus additional ones
under documents. Application number is 3/10/25/001.
The Harbour Cannon are still in the yard at SW Heritage waiting for something to
happen. A cannon was sighted in CJ Lynch 's yard which was thought to be one of
the harbour cannons but is in fact a plastic replica, ex Butlins!
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Other planning news is available to members in the Newsletter distributed by email.
ADVANCE NOTICE
A three day Book Sale will be held in Townsend House over the weekend of May
4th,5th & 6th.
Hoping to see you on May 15th.
Sally Bainbridge
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Advertisement - Book by Sally Bainbridge
KEY PEOPLE
Advertisement
The society's long standing Secretary stepped down and we are therefore looking for a volunteer to take up this role. The duties are light, but of great importance to the successful running of the society and include preparing the agendas for Committee Meetings, taking minutes, assisting with preparing newsletters and emailing society members as necessary.
If you are interested, or would like to have a discussion about the role whilst considering it further, please contact Sally Bainbridge, Chair. This may be done using the society's contact details on the relevant page of this website.
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Events
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Minehead Higher Town Guided Walk 24th June 2025, meeting at Clanville car park at 2.00pm. A walk through the oldest part of Minehead with the very knowledgeable Tony White, who will provide interesting information and anecdotes throughout.
CONTACT MINEHEAD CONSERVATION SOCIETY
Townsend House, Townsend Road, Minehead TA24 5RG
01643 706258