Publow

Publow is a small village and civil parish in Bath and North East Somerset, England. It lies beside the River Chew in the Chew Valley. It is 7 miles from Bristol, 9 miles from Bath, and 4 miles from Keynsham. The principal settlement in the parish is Pensford. The parish also includes the village of Belluton and part of the village of Woollard. At the 2011 census it had a population of 1,119. History Publow anciently belonged to the St Loes of Newton, and later came into the hands of the Hungerfords along with Compton Dando. The manor having many owners Henry Hastings (Third Earl Becher (c1517-1570)), Sir John Popham, Sir Francis Popham. It is close to the route of the ancient Wansdyke. The name Publow is believed to mean 'The public meadow' or 'The people's meadow', from the Latin publicus and the Old English leah. An alternative explanation is that the name is directly from West Country Brythonic corresponding to "pobel" (people), corresponding to Modern Cornish "poble n.f, poblow n.pl (people)", giving rise to the local surname of Pople or, was that it was originally Publo or Publoe meaning Priests Hill, the nearest hill still bearing that name.