Camerton is home to about 600 people living in 258 dwellings spread over a large geographical area (2 miles by 2 miles). It lies in the heart of the Cam Valley with the SNCI Cam Brook running through. With its geographical location in the east/west running Cam Valley, steep sided hills run to the north and south from the valley plain. The Cam Brook flows through Camerton.
Key Views and Landmarks
Camerton Batch Local Nature Reserve, an award winning feature of the parish managed by local volunteers.
New Pit Batch
Ancient monuments – Iron Age Fort, Anglo Saxon Burial Ground and a Roman settlement.
The church the oldest part of which dates back to the 15th century
Camerton Court - This magnificent house was designed by G.S Repton who gave it the classical Greek revival style, built by John Jarrett, the local estate and coal mine owner.
The Limestone Link National Footpath runs east/west through the parish centre
SNCI Cam Brook
The Powder House
Community Hall and associated playing field.
In the past Camerton has accommodated a canal and railway both used to transport coal with the result that many of the older more traditional houses are former miners’ cottages.
Positive Features and Special Qualities
A mainly green and open parish with many beautiful vistas
Children’s Play Area
Extensive network of public rights of way
Coal mining and railway heritage legacy – e.g. as well as the Local Nature Reserve and the New Pit Batch mentioned above the old coal mining tramway known as the Drammyway, the remains of the Somerset Coal Canal, the Old Miners canteen and the Camerton Branch Line.
Interesting historical figures. These include Reverend John Skinner who was one of the most renowned rectors of St Peter’s Church Camerton. Reverend John Skinner was a learned antiquarian, an artist, poet, scholar and a dutiful country priest. He is best known for his journals; he kept a diary of the harsh everyday life in Camerton. Also William Smith who was known as ‘Strata’ Smith as he made the connection between fossils and the layer of rocks in which they were embedded. It is believed that during the time he was working in the Cam valley on surveying of the canal he devised his principles of the science of Geology. He published the first Geological map of England and Wales in 1815 and is known as the ‘Father of Stratigraphy’ and ‘Father of English Geology’.
Information on Reverend Skinner, William Smith and Camerton Court courtesy of Julieann Biggs