Wookey

Wookey

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.2094
longitude= -2.6915
official_name= Wookey
civil_parish=
population = 1376 [cite web | title= Mendip Parish Population Estimates 2002 | work=Somerset County Council | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/030F1/mendip_02mye.pdf | accessdate=2006-11-25]
shire_district= Mendip
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Wells
post_town= Wells
postcode_district = BA5
postcode_area= BA
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= ST515455

Wookey is a village and civil parish 2 miles west of Wells, on the River Axe in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. It is perhaps best known today for the nearby Wookey Hole Caves. The parish includes the nearby hamlets of Yarley and Burcott.

The name Wookey is thought to come from the Old English "wocig", meaning an animal trap. [cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=1874336032] An alternative explanation has been offered which suggests it comes from the Celtic word "ogof" meaning cave.cite book |last=Bush |first=Robin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset: The complete guide |year=1994 |publisher=Dovecote press |location=Wimbourne |isbn=187433627X ]

The now-closed Wookey Station, once lying on Cheddar Valley line branch of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, is a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The village included a manor house built by Bishop Jocelin of Wells in the 13th century. It was rebuilt in the 16th century and is now a farmhouse and grade II* listed building. [cite web | title= Court Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=268186 | accessdate=2006-11-26]

St Matthew's church dates from the 12th century and is a grade I listed building. [cite web | title= Church of St Matthew | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=268176 | accessdate=2006-11-26] It was granted to the dean of Wells by Bishop Robert, rebuilt by Bishop Reginald and assigned to the sub dean of the cathedral in 1209. The south chancel is thought to have been built to house the memorial to Thomas Clerke in 1556. Beside the church stands the 19th century Mellifont Abbey, [cite web | title= Mellifont Abbey | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=268182 | accessdate=2007-10-12] which is named after the abbey of the same name in Ireland.

Wookey was the birthplace of the trade unonist A.J. Cook, and of Sir Arthur Pearson, the publisher and philanthropist.

The famous science fiction writer and social theorist, H. G. Wells, taught as a pupil-teacher for his uncle at the National School (a state-funded Anglican-dominated school) in Wookey between October and December 1880.

The population in 1821 was 1040, comprising 223 families, of which 147 were employed in agriculture. [cite web | title=Somersetshire delineated, by C. and J. Greenwood, 1822 | work=Google Books | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=c6sHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA210&dq=wookey&as_brr=1 | accessdate=2007-10-25]

References

External links

* [http://www.wookeyvillage.com/ Wookey Village web site]
* [http://www.wookeyparish.co.uk/ Wookey Parish website]


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