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Winsford
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Winsford
Winsford, often regarded as southern Exmoor's prettiest village, has many whitewashed and thatched buildings dating from the 16th century onwards. The village stands on the west bank of the river Exe opposite a stretch of woodland. The village has the benefit of several small woods about 1/2 mile in each direction and the mass of heath-covered Winsford Hill to the south-west. There are several attractive bridges, at least two with medieval origins, and a functioning ford on the road to Withypool. Winsford village lies at a meeting of five or six routes and of the Winn Brook and the Exe river. There were probably several fords but these have been replaced by bridges except where the road from Withypool crosses the Winn Brook. This ford is in regular use by vehicles and the occasional horse. Pedestrians have a small footbridge.
View over Winsford
© 2010 Mike Watson www.mike-watson.co.uk
A tea garden and pub cater for visitors and there are other local businesses. Artists have been drawn here for over a century. There is a very attractive church on the western side of the village. Artists are still drawn to southern Exmoor, notably Winsford including Sandy Lines (1922 to 2002) who produced watercolours of Exmoor after moving to Winsford in 1961 and Annle Bas RA (b. 1923) who grew up in Winsford. 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.
The Royal Oak Winsford
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. Winsford, situated in a wooded valley where the River Winn joins the infant River Exe, is a delightful village nestling below the flank of Exmoor. Opposite a cobblestoned packhorse bridge, facing the village green, stands the handsome Royal Oak Inn.
'Little ford in pretty Exmoor village setting. Ford signs, concrete base
Winsford packbridge
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 Church of St Mary Magdalene is of Norman origin with a 13th-century chancel whose restored roof contains the original wallplate and some bosses. The rest of the church is late medieval. The church was restored in the19th century by J D Sedding who died here in 1891 while carrying out the work. The screen was installed in 1890--1. The south doorway may be Norman work and the door is medieval with probable 13th-century ironwork. The church is unusual in Exmoor in having a taller tower than its neighbours, nave and aisles under one roof, and especially in having two windows above the chancel arch. The main east and west windows are 19th-century but the east window contains a small 14th-century stained glass image of the Virgin. Among the fittings of interest is the Norman font decorated with twisted columns and a frieze of saltire crosses. There are a Royal coat of arms dated 1609, a Jacobean pulpit, and 18th-century altar rails.
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.
The Old Smithy Bridge Winsford
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 Winsford Royal Oak is a picturesque building with 16th or 17th- century origins but has been heavily altered and extended in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Winsford Steep is an appropriately named street climbs up from Ash Lane (the road to Withypool) to the church. There are several traditional whitewashed cottages on the eastern side.
OS Grid Reference: SS9034
Contributed by: Bob Jones, Nick Mountford
