Clutton, United Kingdom

History

Highbury Hill is the site of the earthwork remains of an Iron Age univallate hillfort. It occupies an area of woodland at the end of a narrow ridge. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The 3 hectares (7.4 acres) site lies in an area of woodland at the south eastern end of a narrow ridge with steep slopes around it. There is a 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) outer bank which is 8 metres (26 ft) long with a shallow 8 metres (26 ft) wide ditch. Some Roman silver coins were found at the site in the late 18th century.

Clutton was called Clutone in the 1086 Domesday Book meaning 'A rocky hill enclosure' from the Old English cludig and tun, but there also is an obscure Celtic word cluttya meaning a 'hen's roost'.

There is a long history of coal mining in the village and the surrounding Somerset coalfield, but the mines are no longer working. The workings were described in a report of 1610, located near Widow Blacker's house. In the 19th century, the mines around Clutton were owned by the Earl of Warwick, who also owned sawmills, quarries, brickworks and agricultural interests. The Earl and his wife, Daisy Greville took a keen interest in the welfare of their miners and built Maynard Terrace a unique row of terrace houses at the edge of the village. The village formerly had a station on the Bristol and North Somerset Railway.

From the History section of Clutton, Somerset on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.