Withypool

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.107125
longitude= -3.651191
official_name= Withypool
population = 230.ref|population
shire_district= Taunton Deane
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster=
post_town= TAUNTON
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= SS845355

Withypool (formerly Withypoole) is a small village in Somerset, England, near the center of Exmoor National Park. It is located at coord|51|6|0|N|3|38|60|W|, and has a population around 230.ref|population Withypool lies on both the River Barle and the Two Moors Way. To the southwest of the village lie Withypool Common and Withypool Hill.

History

The area around Withypool has been inhabited since the Bronze Age—a stone circle can still be seen on top of Withypool Hill. The Brightworthy Barrows lie on the Common; of three original, two survive.

Withypool is mentioned in the Domesday Book as the place tended by three foresters: Dodo, Almer and Godric.

In the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer was in charge of the village in his duties as forrester of North Petherton.

The Royal Oak Inn

The town's "Royal Oak Inn" has seen its share of history since its construction in the late 17th century. R. D. Blackmore wrote part of Lorna Doone in the bar, and artist Alfred Munnings had a studio in the loft. In the 1930s, the Inn was owned by Gwladys and Maxwell Knight–a spy-ring leader and radio broadcaster upon whom Ian Fleming based the character of James Bond's boss, "M". During World War II, the nearby Woolacombe beach was used to simulate the invasion of Normandy, and General Dwight Eisenhower planned some of the operation from the "Royal Oak". In the Summer of 2006 Prince William dined at the Royal Oak with friends from the area, after attending a famous hunting meet at Hawkridge village, a few miles from Withypool.

References

# Somerset County Council, 2002. [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics/contents/population/estimates/2002mye/ Population estimates] .

External links

* http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/7436
* http://www.fallingrain.com/world/UK/0/Withypool.html
* [http://www.somerset3d.co.uk/logos%20&%20pictures/town%20&%20village%20pages/withypool.htm Photos of Withypool in 3d (Anaglyphs)]