East Coker

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 50.9101
longitude= -2.6485
official_name= East Coker
population = 1,781.cite web |url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics/contents/population/estimates/2002mye/ |title=2002 population estimates |accessdate=2008-02-02 |format= |work=Somerset County Council ]
shire_district= South Somerset
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Yeovil
post_town= YEOVIL
postcode_district =BA22
postcode_area= BA
dial_code= 01935
os_grid_reference= ST545125

East Coker is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated two miles south of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 1,781. The parish includes the village of Sutton Bingham and the hamlet of Vole.

The church of St Michael dates from the 12th century and has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building. [cite web | title=Church of Saint Michael | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263649 | accessdate=2008-02-02] The churchyard is the final resting place of the ashes of T. S. Eliot, whose ancestors came from the village. [cite book |title=Somerset & Avon |last=Dunning |first=Robert |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1980 |publisher=Bartholomew |location=Edinburgh |isbn=0702883808 |pages=78 ] . Eliot wrote 'East Coker', the second of his "Four Quartets" poems, in 1940.

Coker Court was built as a 15th century manor house, and is now divided into several properties. The 18th century portion was built by Sir William Chambers. It was used as Clare School at one time. [cite web | title=Coker Court | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263665 | accessdate=2008-02-02] Hymerford House is of a similar vintage. [cite web | title=Hymerford House | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=263719 | accessdate=2008-02-02]

Notable residents

* Trevor Peacock, actor (who plays Jim Trott in the BBC sitcom "The Vicar of Dibley").
* William Dampier, buccaneer, sea captain, explorer author and scientific observer.

Notable trees

A superb specimen of the Narrow-leafed (yclept Smooth-leafed) Elm "Ulmus minor" subsp. "minor" survives, unscathed by Dutch elm disease, in a pasture near the railway line south-east of the village. Measured in 2008, it was > 30 m in height, with a d.b.h. of 85 cm.

References

External links

* [http://www.eastcoker.com/ www.eastcoker.com] - The East Coker Society