87-625: The Skeleton Army was a diffuse group from Weston-super-Mare , active particularly in Southern England , that opposed and disrupted The Salvation Army 's marches against alcohol in the late 19th century and best known for an attack in Bethnal Green in London . Clashes between the two groups led to the deaths of several Salvationists and injuries to many others. The earliest reference to an organised opposition to The Salvation Army
174-535: A breach of the law, as it was the actions of antagonistic parties including the Skeleton Army which led directly to the riotous behaviour. The convictions against Beatty and the two other Salvationists were later quashed by the High Court and costs were awarded against the sentencing magistrates. The action was reported by The Times ; at the appeal hearing it was erroneously stated that the Skeleton Army
261-699: A gentle slope, it is inadvisable to try to reach the sea at low tide, as the sand gives way to deep mud which has often resulted in loss of life over the years. Driving on the beach is permitted in certain areas, but occasionally the drivers are caught unawares as they drive too close to the sea and break through the sand into the underlying mud, and are then stuck. The tidal rise and fall in the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel can be as great as 14.5 m (48 ft), second only to Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada . This tidal movement contributes to
348-423: A national level until 1880, the board passed a by-law in 1871 that compelled parents to have their children schooled between the ages of five and thirteen. The LSB was largely successful in their aims and often struggled to keep up with the demand for their services. For instance, by the end of the 1880s, the board was providing school places for more than 350,000 children. This growth was frequently attributed to
435-546: A new Salvation Army Corps was opened in Potton in Bedfordshire on 1 June 1890, large contingents of the Skeleton Army made fun of the local Salvationists. The War Cry reported: ... the skeletons did all the shouting and we had only the opportunity of blessing them by showing unruffled love in answer to the disturbance in our proceedings"...."The skeleton flag was out with its coffin, skull and cross-bones as well as
522-518: A number shopkeepers' names... I found that publicans , beer sellers and butchers are subscribing to this imposture... the collector told me that the object of the Skeleton Army was to put down the Salvationists by following them about everywhere, by beating a drum and burlesquing their songs, to render the conduct of their processions and services impossible... Amongst the Skeleton rabble there
609-740: A response to this, the boards were abolished by the Education Act 1902 , which replaced them with local education authorities . In London, the London County Council had been created in 1889 to replace the Metropolitan Board of Works and in 1904 the responsibility for education in London was transferred to the LCC. The LSB held its final meeting on 28 April 1904, with the county council taking over on 1 May. The LCC itself
696-510: A seaside resort. A railway station and two piers were built. In the second half of the 20th century it was connected to the M5 motorway but the number of people holidaying in the town declined and some local industries closed, although the number of day visitors has risen. Attractions include the Grand Pier , Weston Museum and The Helicopter Museum . Cultural venues include The Playhouse ,
783-489: A seasonal amusement park and ice rink . In July 2011, North Somerset Council gave planning approval to the £50 million Leisure Dome , a 210-metre (690 ft) indoor ski slope to be built on the site of RAF Locking . In 2015 the future of the project was in doubt because of the need for additional funding, and no mention of the LeisureDome proposals appear on the information provided by St. Modwen Properties ,
870-408: A significant reduction in the number of rehabilitation facilities in the town, with the number of patient beds having nearly halved. A structure known as Silica was installed at Big Lamp Corner during 2006. It is a piece of public art, an advertising sign, a retail kiosk selling newspapers and hot food, as well as a bus shelter. It has been criticised by local residents who liken it to a carrot or
957-473: A space ship, although it is meant to symbolise man's harmony with the sea. This was part of North Somerset Council's ongoing civic pride initiative that has sought to revitalise Weston-super-Mare's public spaces, which had suffered a period of decline. Other public space improvements have been made throughout the town such as improvements to the street scene in Grove Park Village. On 28 July 2008,
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#17327719908801044-400: A stump of the medieval preaching cross survives by the exterior south wall. The former rectory is a 17th-century structure with later additions. Though it remains adjacent to the church, it has not been a parsonage house since the end of the 19th century. Today it is known as Glebe House and is divided into flats. The Old Thatched Cottage restaurant on the seafront carries the date 1774; it is
1131-495: Is Ellenborough Park a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the range of plant species found there. The beach of Weston Bay lies on the western edge of the town. The upper part is sandy, but the sea retreats a long way at low tide, exposing large areas of mud flats (hence the colloquial name of Weston-super-Mud). The tidal range in this part of the Bristol Channel is great, and since beach and mud flats are on
1218-539: Is Worlebury Camp , on Worlebury Hill , dating from the Iron Age . Castle Batch was a castle that once stood overlooking the town. The present site has an earthwork mound of 160 feet (50 m) in diameter which is believed to be the remains of a motte . The parish was part of the Winterstoke Hundred . The medieval church of St John was demolished in 1824 and rebuilt on the same site, though
1305-399: Is a grade II* listed building . Large areas of land were released for development from the 1850s onwards. Large detached villas, for the middle classes, were built on the southern slopes of Worlebury Hill. Semi-detached and terraced housing was built on the low "moorland" behind the sea front in an area known as South Ward. Many of these houses have now been converted into bedsits . Most of
1392-785: Is a large percentage of the most consummate loafers and unmitigated blackguards London can produce...worthy of the disreputable class of publicans who hate the London School Board , education and temperance and who, seeing the beginning of the end of their immoral traffic, and prepared for the most desperate enterprise. Both sources agree Salvationists were pelted with missiles. At Bethnal Green, such items as flour, rotten eggs, stones and brickbats were among those used, and many Salvationists were manhandled and beaten. When news of trouble in London spread, Skeleton riots took place in other parts of Britain. For example, when in April 1884
1479-495: Is a seaside town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary authority area in the county of Somerset , England. It lies by the Bristol Channel 20 miles (32 km) south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill . Its population at the 2021 census was 82,418. The area around the town has been occupied since the Iron Age . It was still a small village until the 19th century when it developed as
1566-712: Is notable for fully retaining many Art Deco features both internally and externally, and retaining its original theatre organ , a Compton from 1935. It is believed to be the only cinema organ in the West Country left working in its original location and is still in regular use. Other organs by Compton in Weston-super-Mare can be found at Victoria Methodist Church and All Saints' Church by George Bodley (modelled on that in Downside Abbey ). Local traders, unhappy that visitors were not coming as far as
1653-551: The Conservative cabinet minister, William Henry Smith . The original intention of the board was to provide a sufficient number of school places for the poorest children in London, which were originally estimated at little more than 100,000. The policy adopted by the LSB was to provide London with modern, high-quality schools, whilst compelling parents, by law, to educate their children. Although education would not be compulsory on
1740-635: The Diocese of Bath and Wells . Prior to 1348 it was known as Weston-juxta-Mare ("beside the sea"). The name was changed by Ralph of Shrewsbury , who was the Bishop of Bath and Wells . Between the 14th and 17th centuries the "super Mare" part of the name disappeared and it was just known as Weston, although in 1610 it was recorded as Weston on the More; môr being the Welsh word for sea. Weston's oldest structure
1827-489: The London School Board ( LSB ), was an institution of local government and the first directly elected body covering the whole of London. The Elementary Education Act 1870 ( 33 & 34 Vict. c. 75) was the first to provide for education for the whole population of England and Wales . It created elected school boards , which had power to build and run elementary schools where there were insufficient voluntary school places; they could also compel attendance. In most places,
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#17327719908801914-665: The Luftwaffe . The first bombs fell in June 1940, but the worst attacks were in January 1941 and in June 1942. Large areas of the town were destroyed, particularly Orchard Street and the Boulevard. On 3 and 4 January 1941, incendiary bombs fell on the town. The Air Ministry set up a " Q-station " decoy at Bleadon in an attempt to divert the bombers to an unpopulated area. In all 110 civilians lost their lives through enemy action in
2001-598: The Member of Parliament (MP), John Penrose during his maiden speech in the House of Commons in 2005. By 2009, Weston was home to around 11% of drug rehabilitation places in the UK, and North Somerset Council proposed an accreditation system examining the quality of counselling, staff training, transparency of referral arrangements, along with measures of the treatment's effectiveness and site inspections. By 2012, there had been
2088-590: The Poppy Appeal . The Bristol and Exeter Railway arrived in Weston-super-Mare on 14 June 1841. This was not the route that serves today's Weston-super-Mare railway station , but rather a single-track branch line from Weston Junction , midway between the present day Worle and Uphill junctions, which terminated at a small station in Regent Street close to the High Street. A second larger station
2175-780: The Queen's Flight . Residential areas outside the town centre include Ashcombe and the Oldmixon, Coronation, and Bournville housing estates , built in the mid to late 20th century. In 1986, Weston General Hospital was opened on the edge of Uphill village, replacing the Queen Alexandra Memorial Hospital on The Boulevard, which was opened in 1928. Around 2000, the town saw a growth in residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment centres, with attendant crime and social problems. These problems were highlighted by Weston's councillors and newspapers, and by
2262-678: The Victorian era boom in seaside holidays. Construction of the first hotel in the village started in 1808; it was called "Reeves" (now the Royal Hotel). Along with nearby Burnham-on-Sea , Weston benefited from proximity to Bristol , Bath and South Wales . The first attempt at an artificial harbour was made in the late 1820s at the islet of Knightstone and a slipway built from Anchor Head towards Birnbeck Island. Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his family lived in Weston, at Swiss Villa (towards
2349-518: The West Midlands . Weston was found to attract two distinct groups: "grey tourists" over the age of 60 and families with young children. The Art Deco Tropicana , once a very popular lido on the beach, suffered years of neglect before closing to the public in 2000, and despite a number of attempts to reopen it, permission was given to demolish it in 2012. However, the complex reopened in 2015 and now serves as an events space, primarily hosting
2436-653: The Winter Gardens and the Blakehay Theatre . The Bristol Channel has a large tidal range ; the low tide mark in Weston Bay is about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the seafront. The beach is sandy but low tide reveals areas of thick mud which are dangerous to walk on. The mouth of the River Axe is at the south end of the beach. To the north of the town is Sand Point which marks the upper limit of
2523-486: The cumulative voting system gave electors a number of votes equal to the number of seats in the division in which they were voting. The elector could use up as many of their votes on a single candidate as they wished, which meant that minority interests often found representation. The LSB, at the time of its creation had one of the broadest mandates of any elected body in Britain. Unusually, women were permitted to vote on
2610-717: The "Sally Army". Many in Worthing approved of these confrontational activities, but the Salvation Army continued unabated. Captain Ada Smith led those who faced the "Skeletons" in Worthing. General Booth requested police protection for the Salvation Army in that town and ordered Captain Smith and her soldiers to remain in their barracks until they got it. However, the Home Secretary , Sir William Harcourt , said it
2697-487: The 1970s, Weston has suffered a decline in popularity as a holiday destination, as have most British seaside resorts, due to the advent of cheap foreign holidays and the demise of the traditional "works holidays" of heavy and manufacturing industries elsewhere in UK. The town had become a centre of industries such as helicopter production, and maintenance at the GKN Westland factory until its closure in 2002, however
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2784-554: The Bristol Channel and the lower limit of the Severn Estuary . In the centre of the town is Ellenborough Park , which is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the range of plant species found there. Weston comes from the Anglo-Saxon for the west tun or settlement; super mare is Latin for "above the sea" and was added to distinguish it from the many other settlements named Weston in
2871-477: The Bristol Channel in the spring of 1897, from Penarth (near Cardiff) to Brean Down (just south west of Weston, on the other side of the River Axe ). A second railway, the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Light Railway , opened on 1 December 1897, connecting Weston to Clevedon . The terminus station was at Ashcombe Road. The railway was extended to Portishead on 7 August 1907 but was closed in 1940. Much of
2958-547: The Flag', Major Nigel Bovey identifies 21 towns and cities that are north of London -- three in Scotland -- in which the Skeleton Army opposed The Salvation Army. The "Skeletons" recognised each other by various insignia used to distinguish themselves. Skeletons used banners with skulls and crossbones; sometimes there were two coffins and a statement like, "Blood and Thunder" (mocking the Salvation Army's war cry "Blood and Fire") or
3045-581: The Grand Pier in the top ten free attractions in England. However, as of 2014, the pier charges for admission. On the Beach Lawns was a miniature railway operated by steam and diesel locomotives, which closed in 2012. The Paddle Steamer Waverley and MV Balmoral offer day trips from Knightstone Island to various destinations along the Bristol Channel and Severn estuary . Since the 1970s
3132-709: The Helicopter Museum, are staged at the beach lawns over a long weekend around the end of July, when up to 75 helicopters from Europe fly in for a static display. There are frequent Helicopter Air Experience flights from the Museum heliport. There is also an annual display by the Red Arrows . Weston Bike Nights are motorcycle meetings on the Promenade each Thursday during the summer. They are organised by The Royal British Legion Riders Branch to raise money for
3219-503: The LSB's importance can be seen in the number of notable figures who stood for election to the board. The board attracted a number of the leading figures of the day, including the scientist Thomas Huxley , Helen Taylor, stepdaughter of John Stuart Mill , and Lord Lawrence , who served as the LSB's first chairman. The board was also responsible for launching a number of political careers, including those of Charles Reed , Benjamin Waugh , and
3306-708: The Salvation Army, claimed the Skeleton Army first started in Weston-super-Mare in 1881, contemporary press reports show that it first appeared in Exeter in October 1881. In Weston-super-Mare, in March 1882 Captain William Beatty, Thomas Bowden and William Mullins were given a three-month prison sentence by the magistrates for a breach of the peace when they broke a local ban on processions. This led to
3393-499: The Skeleton Army if necessary. Skeletons attacked many Salvationists. Salvationists considered it incompatible with Christian principles to defend themselves but thought the police should protect them. Charles Jeffries was a 'lieutenant' in the Skeleton Army in Whitechapel in 1881, and was well known for disrupting Salvation Army public meetings and on occasion had assaulted Salvation Army Soldiers and Officers . Then Jeffries
3480-896: The Skeletons tried to burn it down. The landlord of the barracks, George Head, a Salvation Army supporter, defended his property and the people there with a revolver, wounding several Skeletons. Head was later brought before the magistrates on a charge of feloniously and maliciously wounding a young man named Olliver. The Metropolitan Police were at first unhelpful. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner , Sir Edmund Henderson denied what happened. The public eventually demanded action and Skeleton riots in London were belatedly put down. Skeleton riots continued elsewhere until 1893 when they faded out. In 1889, at least 669 Salvation Army members were assaulted, including 251 women. On one occasion, while defending themselves, 86 Salvation Army members were arrested and imprisoned on disorderly conduct charges. When
3567-484: The administration of Somerset County Council . When Avon was split up in 1996, it became the administrative headquarters of the unitary authority of North Somerset , one of the successor authorities, which remains part of the ceremonial county of Somerset. There are 11 electoral wards in Weston. The MP for the Weston-super-Mare parliamentary constituency is Dan Aldridge of the Labour Party , who won
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3654-531: The borough. In the later part of the war, United States Army troops were billeted in the area, but they were relocated in the run-up to D-Day . RAF Weston-super-Mare was opened in 1936 by No. 24 Group, with a single tarmac runway. It served as a flying candidates selection and initial training facility, and as a relief airport during World War II , latterly as the Polish Air Force Staff College from April 1944 to April 1946. After
3741-402: The case of Beatty v Gillbanks (1882), which held that the Salvation Army was acting lawfully when marching, despite knowing that their assembly could well lead to riots. As their intentions were ultimately peaceful and unrelated to the cause of inciting riot, the court found their actions to be within the limits of the law. That it was known that their marching may cause riots was not found to be
3828-496: The centre of the town, built a new pier closer to the main streets. Opened in 1904, and known as the Grand Pier , it was designed to be 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. Further development occurred after World War I , with the Winter Gardens Pavilion in 1927, the open air pool , with its arched concrete diving board, and an airfield dating from the inter-war period. Art Deco influences can be seen in much of
3915-735: The character of the buildings in the town derives from the use of local stone, much of it from the Town Quarry. Notable among the architects working in the 19th century was Hans Price (1835–1912). Many examples of his work are still to be seen: the Town Hall , the Mercury Office, the Constitutional Club (originally the Lodge of St Kew), villas and numerous other domestic dwellings. The Odeon Cinema by Thomas Cecil Howitt
4002-543: The company still retains a design office under the name GKN Aerospace Engineering Services at the Winterstoke Road site. Road transport links were improved with the M5 motorway running close by, and the town now supports light industries and distribution depots, including Lidl 's distribution centre for its southern based stores, and is also a dormitory town for Bristol . Vutrix, one of the largest semiconductor and video/audio distribution equipment companies in
4089-557: The deposition of natural mud in bays such as Weston. There has been concern about pollution levels from industrial areas in Wales and at the eastern end of the Bristol Channel; however this tends to be diluted by the Atlantic waters. There are measurable levels of chemical pollutants, and little is known about their effects. Of particular concern are the levels of cadmium and to a lesser degree residual pesticides and hydrocarbons. Just to
4176-468: The developers about their plans for Locking Parklands as the site is now known. It was planned to include a 40-metre (130 ft) climbing wall , a vertical wind tunnel for indoor skydiving , indoor surfing, a BMX track, a health and fitness club , and a number of shops and restaurants. The ski slope will be the longest in the United Kingdom. 'International HeliDays', in association with
4263-604: The established villages of Worle , Uphill , and West Wick, as well as new areas such as Locking Parklands and Haywood Village. Municipal history began in 1842 when a Local Act was obtained for "paving, lighting, watching, cleansing and otherwise improving the Town of Weston-super-Mare in the County of Somerset and for establishing a Market therein" under the jurisdiction of eighteen appointed Commissioners. Town Commissioners gave way to an Urban District Council in 1894, and then in 1937
4350-460: The general appearance of the districts in which they were constructed. Although school board architecture drew a considerable amount of criticism at the time, the schools were often sturdy and practical structures, and many schools constructed during this period are still in use. Although the school boards had been largely successful in increasing the number of children attending school in Britain, they were perceived as bureaucratic and expensive. As
4437-564: The houses built in the Victorian era are built from stone and feature details made from Bath Stone , influenced by local architect Hans Price . In 1885, the first transatlantic telegraph cable of the Commercial Cable Company was brought ashore and the company started a long association with the town, ending in 1962. Guglielmo Marconi , the inventor of wireless telegraphy, successfully transmitted radio signals across
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#17327719908804524-561: The lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west. According to the United Kingdom Census 2011 , the population of Weston-super-Mare is 76,143. This makes it the largest settlement in North Somerset, which has a total population of 188,564. 20.1% of the town's population are aged 65 or over, compared with the national average of 16.5%. By 2017 the population was estimated at 88,000. 96.5% of
4611-468: The local trains between Taunton, Bristol and Cardiff, but during the peak periods London trains call at both stations. Weston Milton station is on the single track loop and therefore has only one platform, while Worle is on the main line and has two side platforms. The Weston loop diverges just to the southwest of Worle station, and the junction is therefore known as Worle Junction. London School Board The School Board for London , commonly known as
4698-486: The locality. Over a three-year period the Heritage Action Zone aimed to boost economic growth and researched Weston's heritage and urban development, by reviewing Weston's listed buildings, using aerial photographs , undertaking a historic characterisation of Weston-super-Mare, its land and sea environs and a report on the architecture of the town, which culminated with the publication of a new book Weston-super-Mare The town and its seaside heritage . In November 2021, it
4785-418: The north end of Trevelyan road), while he was supervising the construction of the Bristol and Exeter Railway in the area. With the opening of the railway in 1841, thousands of visitors came to the town from Bristol, the Midlands and further afield, on works outings and bank holidays . Mining families also came across the Bristol Channel from South Wales by paddle steamer . To cater for them, Birnbeck Pier
4872-490: The north of the town is Sand Point which marks the lower limit of the Severn Estuary and the start of the Bristol Channel . It is also the site of the Middle Hope 84.1-hectare (208-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest . The town's suburbs include Ashcombe, Bournville, Coronation, Ebdon, Haywood Village, Hutton , Locking , Locking Parklands, Mead Vale, Milton, Oldmixon, St. Georges , Uphill , West Wick, Worle and Worlebury . Along with
4959-497: The number of visitors staying for several nights in the town has decreased, but the numbers of day visitors has increased. In 1995 there were 4 million visitors but by 2005 this had risen to 5.3 million. In 2007 69% of visitors to the resort were day visitors, compared to 58% in 2005. The 2005 survey showed that day visitors stay in Weston-super-Mare for an average of six hours whilst overnight visitors stay for an average of five nights. The largest percentage of visitors (22%) were from
5046-459: The owner of an alcohol shop in Worthing objected to Salvation Army criticism concerning the selling of alcoholic beverages, 4,000 "Skeletons" joined in that town in direct opposition to the Salvationists . Black, sticky tar was painted onto the wall of the alley which the entrance to the Salvation Army barracks shared with the alcohol shop. This damaged Salvation Army uniforms as they marched through it. Also eggs filled with blue paint were thrown at
5133-427: The pavilion at the end of the Grand Pier was completely destroyed by a fire. Eleven fire engines and 80 firefighters could not contain the blaze, which is believed to have started in the north-east tower of the Pavilion. A competition was held to design a new pavilion, and the project was awarded to the winning architect Angus Meek Architects of Bristol. Construction work began on the pier and new pavilion in 2009, and it
5220-437: The population are white, compared with 86% nationally. In 1831 the town population was 1,310, and in 1801 just 138. In 2001, the town comprised 34,441 households, while in 1829 it comprised just 250. The vast majority (96.5%) of the population described themselves as white in the 2011 census. 58.2% are Christian, with 32.4% describing themselves as having no religion. No other religious groups achieved as much as 0.5%. Since
5307-473: The quality of school premises, which were often far superior to those of private or charity schools. The board was responsible for constructing over four hundred schools across London. An important figure in this process was Edward Robert Robson , the board's first chief architect. Robson was responsible for designing many of the school buildings erected by the board. The board's policy was to construct schools which would be attractive, and would serve to improve
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#17327719908805394-416: The rainfall in autumn and winter is caused by the Atlantic depressions, which is when they are most active. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around 900 mm (35 in). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have
5481-530: The rest of South West England , Weston has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country. The annual mean temperature is approximately 11 °C (52 °F ). Seasonal temperature variation is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the warmest with mean daily maxima of approximately 22 °C (72 °F). In winter mean minimum temperatures of 2–3 °C (36–37 °F) are common. In
5568-505: The same terms as men for the school boards and also to stand for election. Three women stood in the first board election in 1870: Elizabeth Garrett , who topped the poll, Emily Davies , who also won election, and Maria Georgina Grey . When the second elections were held, in 1873, Garrett and Davies stood down, to be replaced by Jane Agnes Chessar and Alice Cowell, while in 1876, Florence Fenwick Miller , Elizabeth Surr , Helen Taylor and Alice Westlake all won election. One measure of
5655-402: The school boards were based on borough districts or civil parishes , but in London the board covered the whole area of the Metropolitan Board of Works – the area today known as Inner London . Between 1870 and 1904, the LSB was the single largest educational provider in London and the infrastructure and policies it developed were an important influence on London schooling long after the body
5742-410: The sea front. It has direct services to London Paddington operated by Great Western Railway , and also trains to stations such as Bristol Temple Meads , Taunton , Severn Beach and Cardiff Central . CrossCountry services run to Birmingham and the North. The station has two platforms . Other stations are located at Weston Milton and Worle . During the middle of the day they are served by
5829-404: The seat from John Penrose of the Conservative Party in the 2024 general election . The mainly flat landscape of Weston is dominated by Worlebury Hill , 109 metres (357 ft), which borders the entire northern edge of the town, and Bleadon Hill , 176 metres (577 ft) which together with the River Axe , and Brean Down at Uphill form its southern border. In the centre of the town
5916-427: The summer the Azores high pressure affects the south-west of England, however convective cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours. In December 1998 there were 20 days without sun recorded at Yeovilton. Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused by Atlantic depressions or by convection . Most of
6003-464: The surviving portion of a summer cottage built by the Revd. William Leeves of Wrington . Early in the 19th century, Weston was a small village of about 30 houses, located behind a line of sand dunes fronting the sea, which had been created as an early sea wall after the Bristol Channel floods of 1607 . The Pigott family of Brockley , who were the local Lords of the Manor, had a summer residence at Grove House. Weston owes its growth and prosperity to
6090-440: The television broadcasting industry, is based in the town. Two of the town's largest employers are the local council and Weston College , which has recently begun to offer university degrees as a secondary campus of Bath Spa University . Weston-super-Mare is a tourist destination, with its long sandy beach, Helicopter Museum , Weston Museum , Grand Pier and seasonal Wheel of Weston. A 2009 survey by Visit England placed
6177-627: The three Bs: "Beef", "Beer" and " Bacca " – again mocking the Salvation Army's three S's – "Soup", "Soap" and "Salvation". Banners also had pictures of monkeys, rats and the devil . Skeletons further published so-called "gazettes" considered libellous as well as obscene and blasphemous . Several techniques were employed by the "Skeletons" to disrupt Salvation Army meetings and marches; these included throwing rocks and dead rats, marching while loudly playing musical instruments or shouting, and physically assaulting Salvation Army members at their meetings. Although George Scott Railton , second in command of
6264-633: The town received its Royal Charter as a municipal borough . In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972 , it was merged into the Woodspring district of the Avon County Council , and became a Charter trustees town. Weston-super-Mare regained its town council in 2000, becoming a civil parish . The island of Steep Holm is part of the civil parish of Weston-super-Mare. Before 1 April 1974, Weston-super-Mare came under
6351-407: The town's architecture from this period. During World War II over 10,000 official evacuees were accommodated in the town, however only 130 spent four or more years in the town. The area was also home to war industries, such as aircraft and pump manufacture, and a Royal Air Force station at RAF Locking . The town was also on the return route of bombers targeting Bristol and was itself bombed by
6438-492: The war it served as a logistics supply station, with helicopter makers Westland Helicopters on site until closure in 1987. Today there is an operational heliport on site used occasionally by the RAF Search and Rescue service. The former Westland site, which closed in 2002, houses the Helicopter Museum featuring examples of Westland aircraft. Pride of place is given to an immaculate Westland Wessex HCC Mk.4, formerly of
6525-551: The whole Skeleton force, uniformed, beating a drum, playing flutes, whirling rattles and screaming through trumpets. One of their chosen leaders was carried shoulder high, ringing a bell and attired in an untrimmed coal-scuttle bonnet. I noticed that the publicans looked pleased to see this array and several waved their hats. But we were good friends of the skeletons, twelve of whom sat at our tea table... Their leaders were very courteous and sincerely desirous of keeping their somewhat rabble followers within bounds. Almost implicit obedience
6612-431: The work, a scour protection apron and splash wall were added as part of flood prevention measures. In March 2017 Weston-super-Mare was chosen as one of the 10 successful bids for the first phase of the creation of Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) a scheme where Historic England works with local partners in places with significant historic environment to use that heritage to help build economic growth and other opportunities in
6699-879: Was abolished. The entire board was elected every three years, with the first elections held in November 1870. The LSB originally consisted of forty-nine members elected from ten divisions, based around London's constituencies or the Districts formed under the Metropolis Management Act 1855 . Four divisions, representing the City , Southwark, Chelsea and Greenwich returned four members each. The divisions of Lambeth, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Westminster returned five members each. Finally, Finsbury and Marylebone returned six and seven members respectively. The membership increased over time: to 50 in 1876 when Lambeth
6786-610: Was announced that North Somerset Council had agreed to purchase Birnbeck Pier from its owners and planned to restore it with additional funding from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Historic England , and others. Newer housing has since been built towards the east of the town in North Worle, Milton, Locking Parklands, Weston Village, Haywood Village and West Wick, nearer to the M5 motorway . Weston-super-Mare has expanded to include
6873-462: Was completed in 1867, offering in its heyday amusement arcades , tea rooms, amusement rides and a photographic studio. It is now in a derelict state and has been added to English Heritage 's Buildings at Risk Register , but visitors can still admire its structure from behind barbed wire. It was designed by Eugenius Birch with ironwork by the Isca Foundry of Newport , Monmouthshire . It
6960-494: Was constructed in 1866 to replace this, when planning permission was gained to create a loop station from the main line. After legal action was taken by residents along the proposed new route through issues of planning blight, the station on the current site was constructed in 1881. Today, the station, which is on a short loop off the Bristol to Exeter line , is situated close to the town centre and less than ten minutes walk from
7047-498: Was founded in Weston-super-Mare . Of an attack in Bethnal Green in November 1882 the Bethnal Green Eastern Post stated: A genuine rabble of 'roughs' pure and unadulterated has been infesting the district for several weeks past. These vagabonds style themselves the 'Skeleton Army'.... The 'skeletons' have their collectors and their collecting sheets and one of them was thrust into my hands... it contained
7134-462: Was given an extra member, to 51 in 1882 when the representation of Chelsea increased to five members and to 55 in 1885 when Lambeth was sub-divided into two smaller divisions: Lambeth East and Lambeth West with four and six members respectively. The electoral system of the LSB contained several innovations. Firstly, the board's election of 1870 was polled by secret ballot , being the first large-scale election to use this approach in Britain. Secondly,
7221-673: Was given them. Their skeleton War Cry was freely sold, but doesn't quite beat the original. In 'Blood on the Flag', Major Nigel Bovey states that there is no contemporary evidence for a Salvationist being killed directly by a member of the Skeleton Army. He records that Captain Sarah Jane Broadhurst was hit during an attack by the Skeletons in Shoreham on Sunday 12 October 1884. The captain died on 6 February 1892, some eight years later. The mayor of Eastbourne stated he would, "put down this Salvation Army business" with help from
7308-508: Was in August 1880 in Whitechapel , when The Unconverted Salvation Army was founded with its flag and motto of "Be just and fear not". In 1881, Skeleton Armies were raised in Whitechapel , Exeter and Weston-super-Mare , and the name was quickly taken up elsewhere as other groups were formed in the south of England; there are no records of Skeleton Armies north of London. Membership was predominantly lower to middle working-class. In 'Blood on
7395-463: Was outside his jurisdiction to offer such protection. Finally General Booth ordered Captain Smith and her group to march on Sundays unprotected by the authorities. On Sunday, 17 August 1884, the police, the Salvation Army and the Skeletons confronted each other in Worthing. For an hour the police kept the peace, then the Skeletons rioted. The area was filled with screaming men, brick dust and broken glass. The Salvationists returned to their "barracks" and
7482-745: Was proselytised and started to attend a Salvation Army corps , soon becoming an active Soldier, and then after attending training college, became an Officer. He served in many countries including China and Australia and eventually rose to the rank of Commissioner , serving as the head of corps work as British Commissioner in the 1930s. A two-person off-Broadway musical created by Neil Leduke was written in 2019 by John Copeland and Len Ballantine about Charles Jeffries' dramatic transformation. Weston-super-Mare 51°20′46″N 2°58′37″W / 51.346°N 2.977°W / 51.346; -2.977 Weston-super-Mare ( / ... ˈ m ɛər / ... MAIR ), also known simply as Weston ,
7569-519: Was scheduled to reopen in July 2010, after a £39 million rebuilding programme. After continuing problems and setbacks, with the pier not opening until a formal opening ceremony on 23 October 2010, the overall costs reached £51 million. During the same period there was a £34 million redevelopment of the promenade, including refurbishment of the Marine Lake and pedestrianisation of Pier Square. As part of
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