Welcome to Minehead
CLICK FOR 2021 CENSUS DATAIntroduction
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, 21 miles (34 km) north-west of the county town of Taunton, 12 miles (19 km) from the boundary with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park. The parish of Minehead has a population of approximately 11,981, making it the most populous town in the western part of the Somerset West and Taunton local government district, which in turn, is the worst area in the country for social mobility. This figure includes Alcombe and Woodcombe, suburban villages which have been subsumed into Minehead. There is evidence of human occupation in the area since the Bronze and Iron Ages. Before the Norman conquest, it was held by Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia and after it by William de Moyon and his descendants, who administered the area from Dunster Castle, which was later sold to Sir George Luttrell and his family. There was a small port at Minehead by 1380, which grew into a major trading centre during the medieval period. Most trade transferred to larger ports during the 20th century, but pleasure steamers did call at the port. Major rebuilding took place in the Lower or Middle town area following a fire in 1791 and the fortunes of the town revived with the growth in sea bathing, and by 1851 was becoming a retirement centre. There was a marked increase in building during the early years of the 20th century, which resulted in the wide main shopping avenue and adjacent roads with Edwardian-style architecture. The town's flood defences were improved after a storm in 1990 caused flooding. Minehead is governed by a town council, which was created in 1983. In addition to the parish church of St. Michael on the Hill in Minehead, the separate parish church of St Michael the Archangel is situated in Church Street, Alcombe. Alcombe is also home to the Spiritualist Church in Grove Place. Since 1991, Minehead has been twinned with Saint-Berthevin, a small town close to the regional centre of Laval in the Mayenne département of France. Blenheim Gardens, which is Minehead's largest park, was opened in 1925. The town is also the home of a Butlins Holiday Park which increases Minehead's seasonal tourist population by several thousand. There is a variety of schools and religious, cultural and sporting facilities including sailing and wind surfing and golf. One popular ancient local tradition involves the Hobby Horse which takes to the streets for four days on the eve of the first of May each year, with accompanying musicians and rival horses. The town is the starting point of the South West Coast Path National Trail, the nation's longest long-distance countryside walking trail. The Minehead Railway was opened in 1874 and closed in 1971 but has since been reopened as the West Somerset Railway.
Parish Information
Parish statistics
Area |
1,280 hectares |
|---|---|
Population |
11,752 (2021) |
Density |
918 people/km2 |
Mean age |
47.1 |
Ward |
Alcombe |
District |
West Somerset |
Postcodes |
TA24 |
ONS ID |
E04008846 |
Council
Contact details for Minehead Parish Council, including current councillors, precept data and election results.
Education
View educational establishments in Minehead Parish. Data includes OFSTED rating and current appointed governors.
Business
Business directory listing local businesses operating within Minehead Parish.
Planning
View recent planning applications submitted for Minehead Parish.
Property
Price paid data for all property sold in Minehead Parish since 2018. Includes average prices for each property type.
Heritage
Local heritage sites, historic churches, heritage pubs plus local heritage initiatives for Minehead Parish.
Local News
Hosted and licensed by Somerset County Gazette
Minehead to feature in Somerset: Wonder Of The West Country
Published: 21st Feb 2024
Hosted and licensed by West Somerset Free Press
Public can help catch dangerous man wanted in West Somerset murder inquiry say police
Published: 30th Oct 2023
Hosted and licensed by RailAdvent - Railway News
West Somerset Railway route for Train Sim World 4 gets FREE upgrade - RailAdvent
Published: 1st Feb 2024