There is a 3rd millennium BC woodhenge west of the village. Its 19 post holes were discovered by aerial photography in 1984. It is believed to have been a centre of pagan worship for a large area of surrounding countryside. The name "Nymet" means "Sacred Grove" in Celtic and is associated in Roman terms with the Druids. The word Nymet is preserved in many surrounding place names (e.g. Nymet Barton, Nymet Rowland, Broad Nymet). The River Yeo, which used to be called the Nymet, flows through the "arched bridge" at the bottom of the village.