Exford, Somerset

Exford
Exford
	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Bridgwater and West Somerset;
	List of places UK England Somerset 51°08′07″N 3°38′18″W / 51.135255°N 3.638213°W

Exford is a rural village at the centre of Exmoor National Park, 7 miles (11 km) north-west of Dulverton, and 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Minehead, in Somerset, England. Less than a mile away is the hamlet of Lyncombe.

Situated on the B3224, the main route across Exmoor, it is a small village on the

hunting, shooting, fishing and horse riding.^[2]

The centre of the village surrounds a traditional village green, and is home to a post office, general store, car repair shop, youth hostel and primary school as well as a children's play area.

The village is on the route of the Samaritans Way South West and the Celtic Way Exmoor Option.

History

To the east of the village are the prehistoric hillside enclosures of Road Castle and Staddon Hill Camp^[3] and to the west is Cow Castle, an Iron Age hillfort.

The Domesday Book of 1086 records eight settlements in the parish, five called Exford and the others at Almesworthy (Edmunds homestead), Stone and Downscombe.

The parish was part of the

Carhampton.^[4]

The bridge over the river was built in 1930 on a medieval site.[5]

In the mid 19th century there were several iron and copper mines in and around the village by the Exford Iron Ore Co.

The Devon and Somerset Staghounds have had their kennels, which were built by Montague Bissett, at Exford since 1875.

Governance

The

neighbourhood watch

groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

The village fell within the

crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism

.

waste disposal

and strategic planning.

As Exford falls within the

Exmoor National Park some functions normally administered by district or county councils have, since 1997, fallen under the Exmoor National Park Authority, which is known as a 'single purpose' authority, which aims to "conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks" and "promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Parks by the public",^[7] including responsibility for the conservation of the historic environment.^[8]

It is also part of the

first past the post

system of election.

Landmarks

There are two hotels: The Crown and The Exmoor White Horse Inn. 500 metres south of Exford alongside the River Exe lies the hamlet of Court.

Religious sites

The church, dedicated to St Mary Magdalene (formerly known as the Church of St Salvyn), is a stone structure with a lofty tower dating from the 15th century. The south aisle probably dates from 1542, however the nave, chancel and porch were not built until 1867.^[3] It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.^[9] It is about half a mile from the village itself.

Christopher Woodforde served as rector of the parish between 1936 and 1939.^[10] The current benefice priest is the Revd. David Wier.^[11]

References

^ "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
^ "Submission to hunting enquiry". Exford Parish Council. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
^
ISBN 1-874336-27-X
.

^ "Carhampton Hundred". Domesday Map. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
^ Historic England. "Exford bridge (1345716)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
^ "Dulverton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
^ "Living in". Exmoor National Park. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
^ "Exmoor National Park NMP". English Heritage. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
^ Historic England. "Church of St Mary Magdalene (1057319)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
^ "Christopher Woodforde". The Woodforde Family. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
^ "Exford Community Website". Retrieved 19 June 2011.

External links

Media related to Exford, Somerset at Wikimedia Commons

[popn-1] "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.

[2] "Submission to hunting enquiry". Exford Parish Council. Retrieved 12 November 2010.

[completesomerset-3] 
ISBN 1-874336-27-X
.

[4] "Carhampton Hundred". Domesday Map. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2011.

[5] Historic England. "Exford bridge (1345716)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2007.

[dulvertonrd-6] "Dulverton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

[ENPA-7] "Living in". Exmoor National Park. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

[8] "Exmoor National Park NMP". English Heritage. Retrieved 29 November 2007.

[9] Historic England. "Church of St Mary Magdalene (1057319)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2007.

[10] "Christopher Woodforde". The Woodforde Family. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2007.

[11] "Exford Community Website". Retrieved 19 June 2011.

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