MINEHEAD CONSERVATION SOCIETY WELCOMES YOU
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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.
The society also arranges social / educational events as part of the appreciation of the local area.
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.
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.
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).
The Society is affiliated to SBPT (Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust) and members are able to take advantage of the visits that it offers.
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
Members by the cemetery lychgate which was restored with financial help from the society
Article in Free Press - July 2025
TO THE EDITOR
It is tragic to see so many of Minehead's heritage buildings simply languishing and I fear another two or three more might soon go the same way. The Old Town Hall, once the pride of the town centre, was bought and is now being sat upon. The Old Hospital, which our Society wanted to be taken on by the Preservation Trust, which was interested in doing so, was voted down by those short-sighted committee members who wanted to create a Development Trust. After years of talking this came to nothing. It was bought with much fanfare and claims of community provision but is now up for sale again. The Queen's Hall was bought but is now being sat upon and yet could once again be a wonderful venue in a prime seafront site. The historic Clanville Gardens which the Conservation Society wanted to restore for the benefit of the town were bought by someone with no such ultruistic motive and seemingly no plan.
Now the Old Police Station and Magistrates Court in Townsend Road is up for auction. What a great venue it would make for a quality hotel and restaurant for Minehead - much needed. Or an apprenticeship training centre; a Fashion and Arts training school and gallery; a technical skills based centre. Something that would create interest.
Soon either the TSB or Santander building will be surplus to requirements as the two banks amalgamate. It is time for Minehead to think constructively about how its buildings could be used to enhance the town's offer. So many people have said 'Please no more flats in these buildings and no more landlords with zilch interest in the community'. Housing is important but so is the preservation of our town's heritage, and a mixed offer of attractions which contibute greatly towards tourism and quality of life for residents.
The museum has been raising money for a new venue. If it could negotiate a long term lease for the Old Town Hall and use the money it secures to instal a lift from the small ground floor former office to the small first floor former office which would provide the requisite access for disabled people, it could use the very attractive former council chamber to house the museum. There is already a toilet on that floor and storage rooms above. It would be in a central town position and what could be more appropriate than a museum to give new life to a heritage building.
We have so many attractive buildings built by notable architects and builders with understandable pride and it now falls to our generation, to see that they are protected , cared for and used in imaginative ways, that enhance the town's attraction and vitality, without endangering the buildings character and appearance.
Sally Bainbridge, Minehead Conservation Society
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)
Office: Townsend House, Townsend Road,
Minehead TA24 5RG (01643 706258)
E-mail: mineheadconservationsoc@gmail.com
Website: mineheadconservationsociety.com
Committee: Principal Officers
Chair – Sally Bainbridge
Vice Chair - Tony White
Secretary – Jon Collis
Treasurer – Janet Davies
Planning Case Officer – Sally Bainbridge
SOCIETY NEWS
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.
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.
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.
NEWSLETTER-
Dear Members,
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026
We are delighted to welcome four new members to the society- Mary Pike, Jill Demirtges and Heather and Rodney Scotney and look forward to meeting them at some of our events.
Those of you who buy the WS Free Press will hopefully have seen the photo and article about our interesting meeting with Ben Parker at the Lychgate. We received a much appreciated thank you letter from the Town Council for our donation towards its restoration. The Society has pledged money this year towards the running costs of Townsend House, Minehead's oldest surviving building, despite its re-modelled facade, which we believe should remain as a town community centre.
You have all received a diary of dates for the first half of this year and you can now add another to your diary.! The Christmas Lunch, this year is at the Golf Club on Thursday December 10th when there will be no limit on numbers.
OUR NEXT MEETING
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28TH 2.30pm in TOWNSEND HOUSE.
Farmer JAMES WRIGHT will be telling us farming stories and about the difficulties of farming on Exmoor. He will be an interesting and enthusiastic speaker, who cares deeply about West Somerset. Cost £1 for members £3 for non members.
A number of new planning issues have sprung up since Christmas and of course the Lagoon proposal, once again. I should welcome your thoughts on this.
The unsightly wooden structure masking a catering vehicle at the west end of Bar 21 has been raised as being incompatible with the CA.
There has been an appeal lodged by the agent of the Whitecross Lane application by the electrical sub-station. So it is here we go again there.
In order to hopefully protect the Beacon Road site, MCS is nominating the land for consideration as an ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE. ( Places such as Carhampton Community Orchard are ACV's) .If ACV Somerset accepts our application we shall need the names,addresses and signatures of 21 members who are on the electoral role. If you would be happy to be one of them please can you email: mineheadconservationsoc@gmail.com so that we can move forward once we know how things stand. If you wish to know further details please ask.
I look forward to seeing you at our events.
Sally
Advertisement - Books by Sally Bainbridge
Buy the books Minehead and Beyond 1 and 2. These books are compilations of articles written for 'Word Gets Around' by Sally Bainbridge on behalf of Minehead Conservation Society. They contain information demonstrating the richness of West Somerset's history, culture, people, heritage traditions and beautiful landscape. The book costs £5 and all profits go to Minehead Conservation Society. Available to buy from: AR Computing, Parks Lane Home Furnishers and Hummingbird in Minehead and Dunster.
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Events
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28TH 2.30pm in TOWNSEND HOUSE. Farmer JAMES WRIGHT will be telling us farming stories and about the difficulties of farming on Exmoor. He will be an interesting and enthusiastic speaker, who cares deeply about West Somerset. Cost £1 for members £3 for non members.
THURSDAY MARCH 5TH AT 2.30PM AT THE QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, BANCKS STREET, MINEHEAD -
Jim Causley, the celebrated Folk Singer and winner of multiple awards, will be entertaining us with musical performances and a talk about folk music of the west country. (see poster) . This event is likely to be popular so we ask you to please book in advance by emailing mineheadconservationsoc@gmail.com and then pay on the door.
The entry cost will be £3 for members and £5 for non-members. To help members Jan will also be happy to take names (and money) at our meeting on 28th January. We advise early booking to ensure a seat as numbers will be limited by the hall size.
If you would like to know more about Jim see his website https://www.jimcausley.co.uk/biography/
CONTACT MINEHEAD CONSERVATION SOCIETY
Townsend House, Townsend Road, Minehead TA24 5RG
01643 706258