It has a wide main street lined with hamstone cottages, some thatched. The village has a thriving shop. The village does not lie on a major road, and has a few holiday cottages and second homes.
Much of the development of the village occurred under the lords Poulett extending their large house and estate (Hinton House). By the 1560s the three open arable fields had been enclosed and two large estates of 74 and 68 acres (280,000 m2) created, based on the now disappeared hamlet of Craft. The park contained deer and orchards, with cherry trees[4]
The village cross is an 8 feet 2 inches (2.49 m) high cross with a tapering octagonal shaft on stepped octagonal base. It is a scheduled monument and Grade II* listed building.[5][6]
Governance
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.
In Hinton St George is the Church of St George. It includes 13th century work by masons of Wells Cathedral. The vestry and north chapel of 1814 are said to be by James Wyatt, however it is more likely to be by Jeffry Wyatt, (later Sir Jeffry Wyattville). The four-stage tower is dated to 1485–95. It is supported by full-height offset corner buttresses, and has battlemented parapets with quatrefoil panels below merlons on the corner and intermediate pinnacles. The weathervane was added in 1756 by Thomas Bagley of Bridgwater. There is a hexagonal south-east corner stair turret. Stage 2 has small light on the north side and a statue niche on the south. All the faces on the two upper stages 2-light mullioned, transomed and traceried window under pointed arched labels, with pierced stone baffles. The clockface is under the east window.[8] During restoration work the parapet of the tower was examined and a stone was discovered with a carved date of 1731 which suggests that the decorative parapet may have been added then. The tracery on the north side has been marked out but never cut. In general there is little sign of more than one phase of construction although repairs are evident.[9]
Almshouses
The Almshouses on Gas Lane were founded in 1872 by Lady Augusta Poulett, youngest daughter of the 4th Earl Poulett. She died in 1888, bequeathing funds to support the residents.[10]
Culture
Punkie Night is celebrated in the village each October.
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