Dulverton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dulverton | |
Dulverton shown within Somerset |
|
Population | 1630 |
---|---|
OS grid reference | |
District | West Somerset |
Shire county | Somerset |
Region | South West |
Constituent country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Postcode district | TA22 |
Police | Avon and Somerset |
Fire | Devon and Somerset |
Ambulance | South Western |
European Parliament | South West England |
UK Parliament | Bridgwater |
List of places: UK • England • Somerset |
Dulverton is a village and civil parish in the heart of West Somerset, England, near the border with Devon. The town has a population of 1,630 (2002 estimate). The parish includes the hamlet of Battleton.
Dulverton has several small industries based upon the traditions of upland farming and the wool trade. These include related works such such as laundrying: originally used for the washing of sheep fleeces in the leats feeding the wide and fast-flowing River Barle, the surviving 19th century industrial laundries continue to provide a service to surrounding businesses. Private housing stock generally ranges from medium-size to substantial Georgian to late Victorian family houses, with a small estate of post-war modern houses and bungalows towards the north of town. Dulverton is a popular tourist destination for exploring Exmoor, and is home to the Exmoor National Park Authority headquarters. In between the village centre and the river is a large recreation meadow which recently underwent renovation by locals (including the pupils of Dulverton Middle school) supported by a Barclays Bank New Futures Scheme. 2 miles from Dulverton is the smaller village of Brushford where the Dulverton railway station on the Taunton to Barnstaple line used to be. The station buildings are still visible and it is clear where the lines used to run as the railway embankment is still visible and worn in places although the rails have been lifted.
[edit] Notable Dulvertonians
- John Nelder, statistician
- Auberon Waugh, writer and journalist, was born in 1939 at Pixton Park, Dulverton.
- George Williams founder of the YMCA was born in Dulverton in 1821.
- The Wills family hold the title of Lord Dulverton
[edit] External links
- The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey: Dulverton, by Clare Gathercole
- Exmoor National Park Authority