Selworthy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Selworthy
Selworthy (Somerset)
Selworthy

Selworthy shown within Somerset
Population 518[1]
OS grid reference SS917468
District West Somerset
Shire county Somerset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Minehead
Postcode district TA24
Dialling code 01643
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

Coordinates: 51°12′37″N 3°33′04″W / 51.2104, -3.5512

Selworthy is a small village and civil parish 5 kilometres (3 mi) from Minehead in Somerset. It is located in the National Trust's Holnicote Estate on the northern fringes of Exmoor. The parish includes the hamlets of Bossington, Tivington, Lynch, Brandish Street and Allerford.

At 308 metres (1,010 ft) Selworthy Beacon, which is above the village is one of the highest points on Exmoor. It is defined as one of the Marilyns in England. Near the summit are a series of cairns, thought to be the remains of round barrows,[2] and the iron age Bury Castle.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

The name of the village means "enclosure or settlement near sallows or willows". In the Domesday Book it was recorded as Selewrda.[4] It was held by Queen Edith of Wessex in 1066 and, with Luccombe awarded to Ralph de Limesy by William the Conqueror. In 1301 Edward I awarded it to Henry de Pynkeny.[5] It passed down through the family until acquired by marriage by Sir Thomas Dyke Acland in 1802.[6]

Selworthy was rebuilt as a model village, to provide housing for the aged and infirm of the Holnicote estate, in 1828 by Sir Thomas Acland,[7] in a similar style to Blaise Hamlet, Bristol, which had been built a few years earlier.[3] One of the cottages, known as Perriwinkle cottage, is now a National Trust information centre.[8] Many of the other cottages, whose walls are painted with limewash that has been tinted creamy yellow with ochre, some of which are now rented out, are still thatched and have listed building status.[9][10][11] The village and the surrounding Holnicote estate was given to the National Trust in 1944, by Sir Richard Ackland having been passed down through the Ackland family for nearly 200 years.[6]

Few of the buildings preceding 1828 survive but those that do include the church and the Tithe Barn and tithe barn cottage.[12]

[edit] Church

On the hill above the village is the white washed 15th century church of All Saints, with a 14th century tower. The pulpit includes a 17th century hour glass and the iron-bound parish chest dates from the same time.[13] Within the church is a copy of the Chained Book of 1609 by Bishop John Jewel, entitled 'Defense of the Apologie of the Church of England'.[14]

It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.[15]

In the churchyard is a medieval cross with three octagonal steps, a square socket, and an octagonal shaft. The head is missing.[2] [16] The churchyard also provides views across the valley to Dunkery Beacon.[3]

[edit] Demography

The population of the parish of Selworthy is 518,[1] this has grown by 100 since 1801 when the population was 418.[17] It has a predominately ageing population with 80% being over 45 years old.[18]

[edit] Gallery

All Saints church

Tea room

Thatched cottage

Looking over the village in Selworthy Combe

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Selworthy. Visit Exmoor. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  2. ^ a b Adkins, Lesley; Roy Adkins (1992). A field guide to Somerset archeology. Wimbourne, Dorset: Dovecote Press, 101. ISBN 0946159947. 
  3. ^ a b c Dunning, Robert (1980). Somerset and Avon. Edinburgh: John Batholomew & Son, 125. ISBN 0702883808. 
  4. ^ Selworthy Parish. Exmoor National Park. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  5. ^ Savage, James (1830). History of the Hundred of Carhampton: In the County of Somerset. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, & Green, 182-196. 
  6. ^ a b Morgan Evans, David; Peter Salway & David Thackray, (1996). The Remains of Distant Times: Archaeology and the National Trust. Boydell & Brewer, 73-83. ISBN 0851156711. 
  7. ^ Selworthy. Tour UK. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  8. ^ Periwinkle Cottage Tea Rooms. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  9. ^ No 1 Lower Cottage and Greenbanks. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  10. ^ Cottage (National Trust Estate No 68). Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  11. ^ Selworthy Cottage and wall abutting on south front returned to road. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  12. ^ The Tithe Barn and Tithe Barn Cottage. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  13. ^ Selworthy. Pictures of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  14. ^ Selworthy. Everything Exmoor. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  15. ^ Church of All Saints. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  16. ^ Remains of churchyard cross. Images of England. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  17. ^ Selworthy AP/CP: Total Population. A vision of Britain through time. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  18. ^ Selworthy Parish housing report. Exmoor National Park. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.

[edit] Further reading

  • Haw, Graham (2001). The Book of Luccombe & Selworthy. 

[edit] External links