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.
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-
MINEHEAD CONSERVATION SOCIETY
SPRING 2026 NEWSLETTER
Dear Members,
HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL.
We are delighted to welcome new member Elizabeth Graham to the
society who joined at our last event.
Our last event featuring Jim Causley, the celebrated Folk song writer and
singer was a great success. His talk about Sabine Baring- Gould a priest,
antiquarian, writer and folk song collector was fascinating. He interspersed
it with songs some of which were unaccompanied. Two were predictably
about cider! The afternoon was rounded off with a rendering of
'Widecombe Fair ' to which the audience joined in.
A big thank you to Jon & Kay Collis for organising this event and to Liz
O'keeffe and Judy Wrench for supplying and serving the refreshments.
Our next talk is DEATH & SERVICE about Somerset Commonwealth War
Graves- by Richard Cooper-Knight who will tell us about the lives of some
of those buried there. As you are aware Minehead has a Commonwealth
War Grave. SEE ATTACHED POSTER. The date is WEDNESDAY
APRIL 29TH in the UNITED REFORM CHURCH HALL at 7.30pm.
Visitors welcome cost £4. Members usual fee.
Please can one or two people , male or female, offer to serve teas after the
talk. Will need to bring a tea towel and bag for rubbish, milk and biscuits.
Coffee, sugar and tea will be provided by me!
PLANNING
Success. The appeal against the refusal of planning for a dwelling by the
sub-station in Whitecross Lane at the corner of Glebelands has been turned
down. The Inspector centred his refusal on highway concerns.
Cannon
Following pressure from MCS planners requested more detailed evidence
to justify the removal of the cannon from the harbourside. As a result the
Harbour Master was asked to prepare a statement. This is now on the
website. We consider it to be less than adequate and have written again to
that effect. There is no mention anywhere that the harbour is a listed
building! The application No is 3/21/24/006. Both letters can be found
under documents. I would encourage anyone who objected before to
consider writing again as this particular case is particularly important not
only historically but for the present and future protection of our listed
buildings and conservation areas. We must ensure that illegal planning acts
by whomsoever they are committed, are stopped.
DATE FOR SEPTEMBER
SPECIAL EVENT MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28th
A well known celebrity is coming to talk to MCS whom we expect to
attract a large audience, so the event will be in the Methodist Church Hall
at 7.30pm. Put the date in your diary now. More details to follow.
We have been asked to produce a document itemising those things that we
believe Minehead should do to to safeguard its heritage and additional
improvement measures we consider to be important, to make it a more
attractive place to live and visit. I am starting to address this but should
welcome members ideas. ( examples might be- retaining original shop
fronts, getting rid of street clutter, putting tree name labels on all trees in
the Woodcombe arboretum, ridding the seafront of tat, replacing of street
trees in side streets.) Everyone has different ideas and the list could include
house designs, materials used, retention of stone walls, reduction of noise
emanating from hospitality venues.
AOB
The cost of speakers is increasing especially for ones travelling a distance
and if we want quality talks. The occasional one comes free but we always
have to pay for the venue. For this reason we sometimes charge a little
more for visitors to help defray costs.
Celebrating 100yrs
The English countryside is a beautiful masterpiece built by centuries of
collaboration between people & nature.The countryside connects &
sustains us all. For 100yrs the Campaign to Protect Rural England has
been its guardian. Now new pressures with catastrophic impacts on the land we love are emerging. Nature is in freefall and climate change
threatens to alter our landscapes for good.
Here in Somerset our countryside is being industrialised with the spread of
huge solar farms and battery storage systems. Villages are being
overwhelmed by large housing estates of 'cookie-clutter' detached houses
unaffordable to many on local wages. Nature is being squeezed out and the
view of stars steadily being lost due to light pollution. Thus our quality of
life is diminished.
CPRE's centenary vision is for a greener countryside, more resilient and
protected for future generations. To stop the loss the of our countryside and
improve its quality is its major aim and to inspire more people to care for
it.
It is asking people to sign its letter and strengthen its voice
www.cpresomerset.org.uk Appeal text below.
Dear Somerset,
We began our centenary year by publishing a ' letter to Somerset.' We want
a Somerset countryside where people of all ages can make a goodlife for
themselves,where sustainable new developments actually replenish our
environment and where our landscapes and nature are cherished and
nourished for the benefit of us all.
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.
Advertisement
Events
OUR NEXT EVENT IS TO BISHOPS LYDEARD MILL ON THURSDAY JUNE 11TH MEETING AT 2,30PM ( See booking form below) This beautifully restored 3 storied Mill with its working waterwheel, transport museum, numerous artefacts on display all set in gardens complete with the mill stream on which ducks reside, is a treasure. Yvonne Back the owner is looking forward to welcoming us. The visit will include a tour of the Mill filled with artefacts, all the outbuilding displays, the gardens and a tea. The cost £12.50 per person. Parking at the Mill is quite limited so doubling up in cars where possible would be helpful
CONTACT MINEHEAD CONSERVATION SOCIETY
Townsend House, Townsend Road, Minehead TA24 5RG
01643 706258