Somerset Churches in the Mendip Hills Area

This 'walk' is actually a tour of four churches in the Mendip Hills Area of East Somerset all in close proximity to Shepton Mallet. We start at St Aldhelm's in Doulting. The key features include a tall spire (very unusual for Somerset as most Somerset churches have towers) and Norman and 15th century fabric giving a mix of early and late medieval styles. A short walk away is St Aldhelm's Well, the source of the River Sheppey and a 15th century tithe barn. Parking is available at the church.

From there we move on to St Bartholomew's Cranmore. Key photographic features include a three stage embattled tower with pinnacles and gargoyles and perpendicular Gothic style - the 15th century structure and 1848 chancel rebuild give opportunities for architectural photography. There are wall monuments to the Strode and Chetham families for portrait style photography. Parking is available outside the church.

At Cranmore we stop at the East Somerset Railway where the Whistle Stop cafe offers a variety of refreshments and toilet facilities are available. For those interested, steam trains will be running during the day. There is a 10 minute walk to the Engine Sheds where you can view the engineers working.

From Cranmore we drive to St. Mary the Virgin Church at Croscombe. There is off street parking nearby. The church is nationally noted for its exceptional Jacobean interior including the pulpit and a magnificant rood screen bearing the arms of James I. Photographic opportunities for textures, patterns and warm wood tones are available. Croscombe also has an unusual spire rising from a three stage tower with diagonal buttresses giving striking exterior compositions from lower village viewpoints. The Jacobean pews provide interesting interior shots with strong leading lines. Exterior shots work well from the lane approaching the church.

Finally we drive to Shepton Mallet and visit St Peter & St Paul Church. There is a pay and display car park near the church or free parking a short walk away at Tesco or Aldi. Toilets and refreshments are available in the town.

This church has a classic Somerset tower reconstructed around 1380. The tower at St Peter and St Paul is earlier than many classic Somerset towers and clearly shows signs it was intended to carry a spire—so it represents a moment when architectural ambition changed course mid-project. There is a magnificant 15th century hand carved oak wagon roof with 350 unique panels. Elements of the church date back to the 12th century including a font possibly pre-Norman.

Walking is limited to the church cemetaries, all interesting in various ways, St Aldhelm's Well and the tithe barn and optionally the Engine Sheds at East Cranmore Railway. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended especially for the church cemetaries if it is wet. We will be driving between the four locations.