WEDMORE, a parish in the hundred of BEMPSTONE,
county of SOMERSET, 4 miles (S. by E.) from
Axbridge, containing, with the hamlet of Panborough,
which is in the hundred of Glaston-Twelve-Hides, 3079
inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, in
the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Dean of
Wells, rated in the king's books at £20. 8. 6. The
church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a handsome cruciform
edifice, in the early style of English architecture, with a
stately tower at the intersection, crowned with balustrades;
on each side of the chancel there is a chapel
and annexed to the south aisle is another of smaller
dimensions. Over the porch is a library, the gift of the
Rev.-Andrews, a former vicar. There are places of
worship for Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists. Wedmore
was originally written Wet-moor, which appellation
it retained till a late period. It was the residence of
the West Saxon monarchs, and, with their hunting seat
at Cheddar, and the brugge of Axe, was given by Alfred
to one of his sons; the king having previously converted
to Christianity the Danish prisoners taken at the battle
of Eddington, whom he caused to be baptized at Aller,
and afterwards kept the festival of Christmas here.
Few places have undergone such rapid and extensive
improvement as Wedmore; since, within memory, the
immediate neighbourhood was usually under water nine
months in the year. At present the situation of the village
is extremely pleasant, being considerably elevated
above the subjacent level, which, from the extensive
drainage effected during the last half-century, has been
rendered valuable land. This ancient borough, by which
distinction a part of it is still known, is under the superintendence
of a portreeve, chosen annually at the
manorial court, with water-bailiffs, constables, and other
officers. The custom of appointing water-bailiffs/and
the discovery of a large vessel, in draining the adjacent
moor, have induced an opinion that the sea, at some remote
period-, came up to the town. A National school,
recently established, is supported by voluntary contributions.