Winsford village, on Exmoor is one of the prettiest and unspoilt of settlements, This charming village tucked away in the Exe Valley at the junction of the River Exe and Winn Brook and was largely owned by the Acland family until it was sold in 1926. Steeped in history and mentioned in the Domesday book which was finished in 1085. Recorded details show that there were 41 villagers, smallholders numbered 34 and even 9 slaves, this lush valley could support 64 ploughs, a mill, a large meadow & pasture for 52 sheep and 40 acres of woodland.
Many aspects of this ancient village are still present, for instance in 1327 under the reign of Edward III, the tax records show that many names of farms in the village parish have remained almost unchanged, for instance; Nethercote, Staddon, Bradley, Halse, Upcott and Knaplock.
Ernest Bevin (1851 - 1951), trade union leader and Foreign Secretary, lived for the first eight years of his life in Winsford in a house near the present post office and village store. He attended the local school, now a Community Centre.
'Little ford in pretty Exmoor village setting. Ford signs, concrete base
Separate from the obvious one in Winsford, and tucked away in a back lane
is this incredibly cute little ford, which is blocked off to anything
wider than about 3 feet. Stone setted bottom with steep entry and exit,
but passable by bike, and with a dinky little packhorse bridge alongside
just in case
Winsford
The Royal Oak Winsford
Blue Bell Woods Winsford
Winsford - Punchbowl
Lying in a valley to the
north of Dulverton, Winsford is one
of Exmoor's most attractive villages with no less than eight bridges
over the many small streams. Two of these are scheduled packhorse bridges. The thatched Royal Oak Inn has been restored
after a disastrous fire. Close by is a 19th century cottage where the
famous Labour Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, was born in 1881. Up
on Winsford Hill can be found the Wambarrows and
an ancient monument - the Cartacus
Stone.
The church tower holds a total of six bells. Cullompton is where the four heaviest were created in 1765. The inner doors iron-work dates from the thirteenth century, and thought to have originated at St Nichola's Priory, Barlynch.
Records show that in 1310 a blind vicar was given two assistants, but that they were removed from office due to the fact that they starved him. The font is of Norman origin,. The church has a list of past vicars from 1280 and churchwardens from 1551. A very fine painted panel created during the reign of James I, dates from 1609.
The church organ circa 1900, was delivered by horse drawn wagon from Dulverton.
Winsford looking toward the Royal Oak on the left
The Smithy Brdige Winsford - old photo
Winsford (pop 270) is a pretty village with several bridges and a ford over the Winn Brook and River Exe. There is a garage, shop, toilets, tea garden and a popular thatched pub.
The Royal Oak Winsford
Winsford: very pretty little River Exe valley village with shop, church and famous pub. Above it rises heather-covered Winsford Hill. Lovely walk, via The Punchbowl (dramatic), to its top, 2 miles, and on to prehistoric (restored) Tarr Steps on the beautiful River Barle, 4 miles in all. Dunkery (Exmoor’s highest hill, fantastic views), about 6 miles; the sea/beach at Minehead (small traditional resort town with harbour, bandstand and Butlins), about 13 miles.
Winsford Ford - picture taken in 1966 - photo supplied by Sheila Bishop
Winsford has been said to be the prettiest village on Exmoor. It has a number of attractive thatched cottages and a thatched Inn with a packhorse bridge opposite, spanning the River Winn. There is a much
older packhorse bridge, believed to be
several hundreds' of years old, further to
the north of the village past the school.This
spans the River Exe.
The
church was renovated in the
15* century and has a 90 foot
tower.
The Royal Oak Inn was a sixteenth century farmhouse. Karslake House House now a hotel was a 15th centuary farmhouse and once housed the Winsford village shop
OS Grid Reference: SS9034
Winsford Church St.
Mary Magdalene
www.winsfordexmoor.co.uk
Winsford Church
Winsford Hill
Winsford
Winsford Murder |
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