- Selworthy
infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.2104
longitude= -3.5512
official_name= Selworthy
population= 518cite web |url=http://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/site/selworthy-p467973 |title=Selworthy |accessdate=2008-01-26 |format= |work=Visit Exmoor ]
shire_district=West Somerset
shire_county =Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Bridgwater
post_town= Minehead
postcode_district = TA24
postcode_area= TA
dial_code= 01643
os_grid_reference=SS917468Selworthy is a small village and
civil parish convert|5|km|mi|0|lk=on fromMinehead inSomerset . It is located in the National Trust'sHolnicote Estate on the northern fringes ofExmoor . The parish includes the hamlets of Bossington, Tivington, Lynch, Brandish Street andAllerford .At convert|308|m|ft|0|lk=on
Selworthy Beacon , which is above the village is one of the highest points on Exmoor. It is defined as one of the Marilyns in England. Near the summit are a series of cairns, thought to be the remains of round barrows, and theiron age Bury Castle.History
The name of the village means "enclosure or settlement near sallows or willows". In the
Domesday Book it was recorded as "Selewrda". [cite web |url=http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/index/looking_after/living_in_communities/exmoor_parishes/selworthy_parish.htm |title=Selworthy Parish |accessdate=2008-01-26 |format= |work=Exmoor National Park ] It was held by Queen Edith of Wessex in 1066 and, with Luccombe awarded toRalph de Limesy by William the Conqueror. In 1301 Edward I awarded it toHenry de Pynkeny . [cite book |title=History of the Hundred of Carhampton: In the County of Somerset |last=Savage |first=James |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1830 |publisher=Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, & Green |location= |isbn= |pages=182-196 ] It passed down through the family until acquired by marriage by Sir Thomas Dyke Acland in 1802.Selworthy was rebuilt as a
model village , to provide housing for the aged and infirm of the Holnicote estate, in 1828 by SirThomas Acland , [cite web |url=http://www.touruk.co.uk/houses/housesomer_selworthy.htm |title=Selworthy |accessdate=2008-01-26 |format= |work=Tour UK ] in a similar style toBlaise Hamlet, Bristol , which had been built a few years earlier. One of the cottages, known as Perriwinkle cottage, is now a National Trust information centre. [cite web | title=Periwinkle Cottage Tea Rooms | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=265522 | accessdate=2008-01-26] Many of the other cottages, whose walls are painted with limewash that has been tinted creamy yellow withochre , some of which are now rented out, are stillthatched and have listed building status. [cite web | title= No 1 Lower Cottage and Greenbanks | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=265529 | accessdate=2008-01-26] [cite web | title= Cottage (National Trust Estate No 68) | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=265520 | accessdate=2008-01-26] [cite web | title= Selworthy Cottage and wall abutting on south front returned to road | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=265531 | accessdate=2008-01-26] The village and the surrounding Holnicote estate was given to the National Trust in 1944, by Sir Richard Ackland having been passed down through the Ackland family for nearly 200 years.cite book |title=The Remains of Distant Times: Archaeology and the National Trust |last=Morgan Evans |first=David |authorlink= |coauthors=Peter Salway & David Thackray, |year=1996 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |location= |isbn=0851156711 |pages=73-83 ]Few of the buildings preceding 1828 survive but those that do include the church and the
Tithe Barn and tithe barn cottage. [cite web | title=The Tithe Barn and Tithe Barn Cottage | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=265532 | accessdate=2008-01-26]Church
On the hill above the village is the white washed 15th century church of All Saints, with a 14th century tower. The pulpit includes a 17th century hour glass and the iron-bound parish chest dates from the same time. [cite web |url=http://www.picturesofengland.com/England/Somerset/Selworthy_Green |title=Selworthy |accessdate=2008-01-26 |format= |work=Pictures of England ] Within the church is a copy of the Chained Book of 1609 by Bishop
John Jewel , entitled 'Defense of the Apologie of the Church of England'. [cite web |url=http://www.everythingexmoor.org.uk/_S/Selworthy.php |title=Selworthy |accessdate=2008-01-26 |format= |work=Everything Exmoor ]It has been designated by
English Heritage as a grade Ilisted building . [cite web | title=Church of All Saints | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=265524 | accessdate=2008-01-26]In the churchyard is a medieval cross with three octagonal steps, a square socket, and an octagonal shaft. The head is missing.cite book |title=A field guide to Somerset archeology |last=Adkins |first=Lesley |authorlink= |coauthors=Roy Adkins |year=1992 |publisher=Dovecote Press |location=Wimbourne, Dorset |isbn=0946159947 |pages=101 ] [cite web | title=Remains of churchyard cross | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=265525 | accessdate=2008-01-26] The churchyard also provides views across the valley to
Dunkery Beacon .cite book |title=Somerset and Avon |last=Dunning |first=Robert |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1980 |publisher=John Batholomew & Son |location=Edinburgh |isbn=0702883808 |pages=125 ]Demography
The population of the parish of Selworthy is 518, this has grown by 100 since 1801 when the population was 418. [cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10441134&c_id=10001043&add=N |title=Selworthy AP/CP: Total Population |accessdate=2008-01-26 |format= |work=A vision of Britain through time ] It has a predominately ageing population with 80% being over 45 years old. [cite web |url=http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/selworthy_parish_housing_report.pdf |title=Selworthy Parish housing report |accessdate=2008-01-26 |format= |work=Exmoor National Park ]
Gallery
References
Further reading
*
External links
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/panoramas/selworthy_beacon_360.shtml 360 degree panorama from Selworthy Beacon by the BBC]
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