West Camel brings together a range of local attractions: at All Saints, a fragment of a 9th-century Saxon cross shaft is set into the church floor; at the West Camel Model Railway Society, visitors can run their own rolling stock on a combined test track. There are also medieval buildings, traditional village events and a Thursday gathering at Davis Hall. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing the history of the buildings from activities with specific visiting times.
Architectural history between the church and village buildings
All Saints Church in West Camel dates largely from the late 14th century and has a cruciform ground plan. A fragment of a 9th-century Saxon cross shaft is set into the church floor. This brings together the plan of a predominantly late-medieval building and a single, significantly older element.
Other buildings also contribute to the village’s architectural history. A surviving tithe barn dates from the 15th century; Church Path Cottage and Dovecote also have origins in this period. The Rectory is probably dated to the early 15th century. West Camel’s dovecote probably dates from the 17th century. It has a circular plan and four buttresses. Together, these examples range from medieval origins to a later-dated dovecote.
Downhead and its earthworks
The medieval settlement of Downhead lies northwest of West Camel. Its earthwork remains belong to a settlement dating from before the Domesday Book of 1086. The earthworks include former houses, a possible manor house, outbuildings, paddocks and hollow ways. This means that different kinds of historic traces can be found in the area: individual surviving buildings in West Camel and landforms that point to an earlier settlement at Downhead. The manor house remains a possible, not confirmed, identification.
Village events, model railway and village hall
Traditional village events are a regular part of life in West Camel. They include shows, competitions and refreshments. If you would like to plan your trip around a particular event, check the date in advance.
The West Camel Model Railway Society offers a different kind of activity: visitors can bring their own locomotives and rolling stock and run them on the combined O, OO and N gauge test track. Visits are possible on Wednesdays or Saturdays without prior booking. Check the visiting arrangements again before your visit.
Teatime for the Soul takes place at 4.30 pm on the first Sunday of each month in West Camel village hall. Check in advance that it is still going ahead. The offering at Davis Hall follows a different schedule: on Thursdays from 9.15 to 11.15 am, coffee and cake are served and books are available; local produce is also available, subject to availability. Opening hours and offerings may change, so check them before your visit.
Location and finding accommodation
West Camel lies on both sides of the River Cam, immediately south of the A303. Village events, Teatime and the model railway follow different schedules. If a particular date is important to your stay, check it in advance.
Discover more destinations: Staple Fitzpaine, Beckington, Kilve, Lympsham, Brent Knoll, Shepton Mallet, Wedmore, North Brewham.
For the wider travel overview: Somerset.
