Worked by members of the Women’s Institute to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Domesday Survey. The ladies who created these wonderful embroideries were -
Hilda Banham, Lena Church, Kathleen Herbert, Julie Mahoney, Pat Penson, Ann Rogers, Lucia Rogers, Glenys Watkins, Kathleen Webb.
It took five years (1991 to 1996) to complete and the ladies met every month.
First the Domesday mention, when the place was known as CLUTONE.
A little later it was recorded as having some arable, a wood half a mile long and half a mile wide, and a MILL of thirty pence rent.
ROBERTUS was the first Rector recorded. The list from this date of 1308 remains unbroken to present day.
The church is dedicated to St Augustine of Hippo. The earliest bell is dated 1680. Victims of the BLACK DEATH are believed to be buried on the north side of the church.
There were many coal mines in and around the village, with remains of bell pits in nearby Greyfield Wood. The last pit closed in 1921.
JOHN WESLEY visited Clutton four times. On one occasion he was refused permission to preach in the church, so he did so from a tombstone in the churchyard.
The smithies were the TILEY family, mentioned in Collinson’s History of Somerset. The horse chestnut tree and the black- smith’s shop were demolished for a road widening scheme in 1962.
The first turf was cut for the RAILWAY by Mrs Milward, wife of the Rector of Paulton. Clutton was considered to be the most important village along the route.
The FLOWER SHOW and the FOOTBALL CLUB were both founded in the early 1890’s.
The BRASS BAND was formed at the end of the first World War, and played at local fetes and flower shows. It always played at Clutton Whitsuntide Treat in the field known as “Gastons Piece”, where the avenue of trees is a feature.
Early W.I. meetings were held in the school. The headmaster would place a Tilly lamp in the porchway to light the members across the playground. Later, the W.I. paid for electricity to be wired into the main classroom.
The A37 in present day is a very busy highway. Note the screaming jet aircraft overhead and Halley’s comet low in the western sky.
Invitation to the Unveiling of the Domesday Embroidery.
24 January 1996 Clutton WI. Unveiled by The Earl of Warwick at Clutton Village Hall.