Mendip was a
local government district of
Somerset in England. The district covered a largely rural area of 285 square miles (738 km2)[3] with a population of approximately 112,500,[3] ranging from the
Wiltshire border in the east to part of the
Somerset Levels in the west. The district took its name from the
Mendip Hills. The administrative centre of the district was
Shepton Mallet but the largest town was
Frome.
Several explanations for the name Mendip have been suggested. Its earliest known form is Mendepe in 1185. One suggestion is that it is derived from the
medieval term Myne-deepes.[5][6] However, A D Mills derives its meaning from Celtic monith, meaning mountain or hill, with an uncertain second element, perhaps Old English yppe in the sense of upland, or plateau.[7]
An alternative explanation is that the name is cognate with Mened (Welsh mynydd), a
Brythonic term for upland moorland. The suffix may be a contraction of the
Anglo-Saxonhop, meaning a valley. Possible further meanings have been identified. The first is 'the stone pit' from the
Celticmeyn and dyppa in reference to the collapsed cave systems of
Cheddar. The second is 'Mighty and Awesome' from the
Old Englishmoen and deop.[8]
Until 2023, Mendip district fell under the jurisdiction of Mendip District Council. At the 2019 local elections, no party gained overall control.
Party
Seats
Net Gain/Loss
Liberal Democrat
22
+11
Conservative
10
-22
Green
10
+7
Independent
5
+4
As of March 2022, the council had 23 Liberal Democrats, 12 Conservatives, 10 Greens, and 2 Independents.[9]
Abolition
On 1 April 2023, the council was abolished and replaced by
Somerset Council, a
unitary authority for the area previously served by
Somerset County Council.[4] Elections for the new council took place in May 2022, and it ran alongside Mendip and the other councils until their abolition in April 2023.[10]
Settlements
The five main settlements of the former Mendip council were
Frome,
Glastonbury,
Shepton Mallet,
Street and
Wells. Frome, Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet were the only towns in the district, with Wells having city status and Street maintaining its status as a village despite a population in excess of 11,000.[11]
^"Baltonsborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^
abcdefghijklmno"Wells RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth.
Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^"Batcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Beckington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^
abcdefghijklmnopqrstu"Frome RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth.
Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^"Berkley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Binegar Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Buckland Dinham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Butleigh Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Chewton Mendip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Chilcompton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^
abc"Clutton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^"Coleford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Cranmore Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Croscombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Ditcheat Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Doulting Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"East Pennard Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Emborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Evercreech Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Frome Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from
the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Glastonbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Glastonbury MB". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth.
Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^"Godney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Great Elm Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Hemington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Holcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Kilmersdon Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Lamyat Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Leigh-on-Mendip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from
the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Litton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from
the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Lullington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Lydford-on-Fosse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Meare Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Mells Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"North Wootton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Norton St Philip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Nunney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Pilton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Priddy Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Pylle Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Rode Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Rodney Stoke Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Selwood Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Sharpham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Shepton Mallet Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Shepton Mallet UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth.
Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^"St Cuthbert Out Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Stoke St Michael Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Ston Easton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Stratton on the Fosse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Street Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Street UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth.
Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^"Tellisford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Trudoxhill Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Upton Noble Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Walton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Wanstrow Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Wells Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"West Bradley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"West Pennard Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Westbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Whatley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Witham Friary Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
^"Wookey Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.