Thornfalcon is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Taunton. The village has a population of 119.[1] The parish includes the hamlet of Ash. The name comes from Thorn, and the personal name Fagun (now Falcon) which was the Norman surname of Sir Gilbert of Thorn, whose family were lords of the manor until the 14th century.[2]
History
The parish of Thorne Falcon was part of the North CurryHundred.[3] The manor was bought from the Burridges of Lyme Regis by Nathaniel Butler Batten of Yeovil whose descendants, known as Chisholm-Batten from 1859 lived at Court House.[2]
The Battlements was built by the Chisholm-Batten family in the early-mid 19th century. It was originally a school building, but is now a private house,[4] whilst the Court House is older, dating from the late 15th century.[5]
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council’s operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role includes initiating projects for maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are the council's responsibility.