of Camerton Court, owners of the Camerton Collieries which employed many Peasedown men. As well as providing the land and much of the capital for the construction of the church of St John the Baptist and the adjacent vicarage, they were also responsible for building the first school buildings which stood on Jarrett land in what became Church Road. The current church building dates from 1893, and was designed by George Frederick Bodley and Thomas Garner, replacing an earlier iron structure. The Church is home to a growing congregation, and with an emphasis on Bible teaching and a belief in the work of the Holy Spirit. Today St John's Church forms part of 'the St J's' Benefice, which also includes St Julian's Church in Wellow, St James the Less Church in Foxcote and St Julian's Chapel in Shoscombe. Peasedown St John Methodist Church was also founded in 1874. The church congregation is active in the community, hosting youth work, lunches for the elderly, drug intervention schemes, and children's clubs. Peasedown Christadelphian Hall is on Huddox Hill. Cultural references Peasedown St John was one of several local villages where in the 1930s budding children's author Roald Dahl used to sell kerosene. As he described in his autobiographical work Boy: Tales of Childhood (published 1984): Notable people Peter Alexander, (born 1952), actor who played Phil Pearce in Emmerdale and appeared in EastEnders, Hollyoaks, Brookside and Coronation Street, spent the first seven years of his life in Peasedown. Sir Frank Beauchamp (1866–1950), owner of coalmines in the Somerset coalfield, lived in Woodborough House just south of the village. Alec Stock (1917–2001), footballer and manager. Played for Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Yeovil Town. Managed Leyton Orient, A.S. Roma, QPR, Luton Town, Fulham and AFC Bournemouth. Also assistant manager of Arsenal and a director of QPR. References External links Somerset coalfield Civil parishes in Somerset Villages in Bath and North East Somerset