Wookey
| Wookey | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 St Matthew, Wookey | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST515455 |
| Location: | 51°12’34"N, 2°41’29"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,311 (2011) |
| Post town: | Wells |
| Postcode: | BA5 |
| Dialling code: | 01749 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Somerset |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Wells |
Wookey is a village in the Wells Forum Hundred of Somerset, two miles west of Wells, on the River Axe. The parish includes the village of Henton and such hamlets as Yarley and Bleadney where the River Axe travels the length of the village. There used to be a port at Bleadney on the river in the 8th century which allowed goods to be brought to within three miles of Wells.
Two miles to the north, Wookey are the caves known as Wookey Hole, and the like-named village which has grown up around them.
History
The name Wookey is thought to come from the Old English wocig, meaning an animal trap.[1] An alternative explanation has been offered which suggests it comes from the Celtic word ogof meaning cave,[2][3] possibly appearing also as Woky.[4]
One mile north-west of Polsham, but within the parish of Wookey, are the earthwork remains of Fenny Castle, a motte and bailey castle sited on a natural hillock.[5]
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 sixteenth century and is now a farmhouse and Grade II* listed building.[2][6][7]
The population in 1821 was 1,040, comprising 223 families, of which 147 were employed in agriculture.[8]
The National School was founded in the village in 1844 by St Matthew's Church. From October to December 1880, H. G. Wells joined the school as a pupil-teacher aged 12, following a relative who was headteacher at that time.[9]
The school later became Wookey Primary School, a community primary for around 85 children aged 4 to 11 of Wookey and the surrounding area.
Church
St Matthew's Church dates from the twelfth century and is a Grade I listed building.[10] 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.[2] Beside the church stands the Mellifont Abbey, which was once home to Sir Jacob Wolff, 1st Baronet, where a monument to him and his wife can be seen in the church.[11] Mellifont Abbey is named after the abbey of the same name in Ireland.[2]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Wookey) |
References
- ↑ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimborne, Dorset: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1-874336-03-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 1-874336-27-X. https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush.
- ↑ Holmes, Thomas Scott. The History of the Parish and Manor of Wookey. https://archive.org/stream/historyofparishm00holmrich.
- ↑ Plea Rolls of the Court of Common Pleas. National Archives; CP40/541; year 1396; 9th entry; the defendant is William Smyth, of Woky
- ↑ "Fenny Castle". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/24455.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1058584: Court Farmhouse (Grade II* listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1013588: Bishop's Palace (Scheduled ancient monument entry)
- ↑ Greenwood, Christopher (1822). "Somersetshire delineated, by C. and J. Greenwood, 1822". Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?id=c6sHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA210&dq=wookey.
- ↑ Searle, Muriel (2002). West Country History: Somerset. Intellect Books. p. 119. ISBN 9781841508023. https://books.google.com/books?id=v3YaKvNutIsC.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1295105: Church of St Matthew (Grade I listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1180119: Mellifont Abbey (Grade II* listing)