Chilton Polden
Chilton Polden is a small rural village and civil parish in Somerset, England, near Edington. It sits on the Somerset Levels, north of the Polden Hills, and had a population of 698 in 2011.
The village name is thought to come from its limestone ground and the nearby hill. The form Chelton upon Poledowne was recorded in 1664. The Polden estate was given to Glastonbury Abbey in 729 by Æthelheard of Wessex.
Chilton Priory, also known as Stradling’s Folly, began as a decorative tower and later became a country house. The tower and rear wing were built in 1838 for William Stradling. He reused pieces from other buildings around the county, including parts from a Roman Villa at Chedzoy, a demolished castle at Enmore, a church tower from Langport, a church in Shepton Mallet, and a chapel at Slapeland.
Katherine Maltwood, an artist who helped inspire the Glastonbury Zodiac, lived at the Priory. The Temple of the Stars, another folly tower connected with the area, was built in the early 19th century using reused features.
The village is associated with The Way to Polden, a piano piece by British composer York Bowen.
Local government is run by a parish council, and since 1 April 2023 Chilton Polden is under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Before that, it was part of Sedgemoor district and Bridgwater Rural District.
The nearby Catcott, Edington and Chilton Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest covers about 1,083 hectares south of the River Brue. It is managed by Somerset Wildlife Trust and includes Catcott Lows National Nature Reserve. The area floods in winter and provides habitat for wintering waterfowl, Bewick’s swans, deer, and other wildlife, along with Catcott Heath and Catcott North.
The parish church is St Edward, with origins in the 15th century. It was rebuilt in 1889, and the parish room in the churchyard dates from the 14th century.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:08 (CET).