Winsford, Somerset
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Winsford | |
  Winsford shown within Somerset |
|
| Population | 370 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | West Somerset |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | TA24 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Taunton |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Winsford is a village and civil parish, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north west of Dulverton, in the West Somerset district of Somerset, England.
It is within the borders of the Exmoor National Park and around 10 miles (16.1 km) south-west of the coastal town of Minehead. The village has two hotels, Karslake House Hotel[1] and the Royal Oak,[2] both of which date back to before the start of the 16th century, and a single shop that also serves as a Royal Mail post office. In addition to these amenities Winsford has a tea garden and a service station, although this station does not serve fuel for motor vehicles.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
The name comes from the ford across the Winn Brook, where it meets the River Exe. There are eight bridges, providing crossing points over the many small streams that run through the village, one of which is a packhorse bridge,[3][4][5][6][7] which is thought to be several hundred years in age.[8]
Winsford Common is situated in a hollow in the surrounding countryside (which itself is within a valley), somewhat akin in shape to that of a punchbowl, and thus has gained the common name of the Punchbowl in local parlance. It was a meeting point for the Tiverton hounds and Dulverton harriers.[9]
The subsoil of Winsford consists of rock shillet, whereas the topsoil is of more of a clay-like and loamy character. Iron ore can be found in the mineral deposits of the village, and the mining of this formerly was greatly important to Winsford's economy in ages past.[9]
[edit] History
Winsford Hill, is the location of the Wambarrows, a number of bronze age burial sites, and the Cartacus Stone, a standing stone believed to have been erected by pagan inhabitants of the village,[8] possibly as a religious memorial, bearing the inscription CARAACI NEPUS (kinsman of Caratacus) possibly from the 5th century,[10] and found for the first time in a documented reference of the year of 1219.
The village is listed in the Domesday Book of 1085, which lists presence of 34 smallholders, 41 villagers, 52 sheep and 9 slaves, the whole area being capable of supporting 64 ploughs, despite 40 acres of it being comprised of woodland.[8]
Some of the farms in the village of Winsford include Nethercote, Staddon, Bradley, Halse, Upcott and Knaplock, all of which have retained their original names since tax records of the year of 1327, in which England was under the reign of King Edward III.[8]
In the 17th century, Tom Faggus, a Highwayman and a gentleman, was said to have held up travelers near to the Inn in Winsford.
On August 20, 1907 the very first registered sale and show of the Exmoor Horn Sheep Breeders' Society, which was founded only a year earlier, in 1906, was held in the village, in which "1,200 ewes were sold by auction, at an average price per head of 42 Shillings"[11].
In 2002 Winsford hill was the location of the Winsford Murder, which cost the police £120,000 in investigation expenses.[12]
[edit] Church
The church of Winsford, which is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, was restored in part in the year of 1858. The peal of the church's tower, which is 90 feet (27.4 m) in height[13] and was constructed in three stages, is of 6 bells, the heaviest four of which were made by Thomas Bilbie in the town of Cullompton in the year of 1765.[14]
Within this church is an example of a painted panel created in 1609 during the reign of King James I, which is regarded as one of the best examples of such panels from that period in history in the whole of Great Britain[15]. The ironwork on the inner doors of Winsford church is thought to date back in time to the 13th century, originating from the priory of St Nichola in Barlynch, and the origin of the church's font is in the Norman period. The church organ was installed in around the year of 1900, being delivered to Winsford by means of horse-drawn wagon from nearby Dulverton[8]. The register of the same church dates back to 1660, six years before the Great fire of London.[9] It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.[16]
[edit] Famous inhabitants
In 1881 the village was the place of birth of the Labour politician and Lord Privy Seal, Ernest Bevin.[10][17]
[edit] References
- ^ Karslake House and mounting block. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ The Royal Oak Inn. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Edbrooke Bridge. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Packhorse bridge. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Packhorse bridge. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Packhorse bridge. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Vicarage Bridge. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ a b c d e Winsford. Everything Exmoor. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ a b c Winsford. GENUKI. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ a b Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimbourne: Dovecote press. ISBN 187433627X.
- ^ History of the breed. Exmoor Horn Sheep Breeders’ Society. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Winsford Hill Murder. Everything Exmoor. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985). Curiosities of Somerset. Bodmin: Bossiney Books, 61-63. ISBN 0906456983.
- ^ Moore, James; Roy Rice & Ernest Hucker (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0952670208.
- ^ Winsford History. Winsford on Exmoor. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Church of St Mary Magdalene. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
- ^ Bevins House. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
