IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Doulting, SHEPTON MALLET, BA4 4QE

The main road (dating from 1871) runs east-west through the village of Doulting. On the northern side is the distinctive terraced buildings. The Paget family became wealthy through quarrying - as did many in this rich stone area. In creating new properties they employed the architect G.J. Skipper, who had gained a reputation after working for the Clark footwear family in Street.

This shows the Brass memorial plate in memory of Scot Pike

The pump handle of this pump is now locked. It has an undated brass plate in memory of Scot Pike.

At the far end of the house on the right is a small structure housing an old hand pump which was the supply of fresh water for the village . A bit further away is St Aldhelms well which is a much larger spring and the source of the River Sheppey.

Pyramid finial - 1 arm; Somerset SCC pyramid by the A361, in parish of Doulting (Mendip District), junction with Church Lane. Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: SO_ST6443A.

The old village pump in Church Lane. It lies not too far from St Aldhelm's Well and presumably shares the water source, which is the source of the River Sheppy.

Doulting's central area along the main Shepton Mallet road is richly blessed with some fine architecture. The buildings are mainly the work of G.J. Skipper, who also designed much of Street's better buildings for the Clark's footwear organisation. The door seen here is a proud shade of red and is a ribbed timber plank door. Above is an oriel window.

It was a papal edict in the 9th century that was responsible for the proliferation of weathercocks on churches. This edict required every Church in Christendom to be mounted by a cockerel. This symbol was to recall Peter's betrayal of Christ (LUKE 22:34) "I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me". Although only the symbol of the cockerel was required by the edict, the motif, it seems, was quickly wedded with the weathervane. By the 13th century the word for weathercock (gallum) and weathervane (ventrologium) had become interchangeable. Interestingly, early weathercocks did not include cardinal letters, as Christian churches always lay east to west.

Doulting's more recent history revolves around the input made by the Paget family. They employed the architect G.J. Skipper to construct many impressive and stylish buildings in the nineteenth century.