Winsford Archive
The foundation of Winsford took place in Saxon times, at the junction of the River Exe and Winn Brook. Over time, converging lanes from larger settlements like Dulverton and on to Cutcombe developed a scattered settlement. The village name came from the ford across the Winn Brook. The village has had different ‘versions’ of the name such as Winesford in the Domesday Book, and Wynesford in the 1251 Assize Rolls. The Parish Church with its tall 15th Century tower indicates that Winsford has been an important community since at least medieval times. Some other buildings, Edbrook and Karslake have equally early origins. The Parish Church, St Mary Magdalene, has Norman carving on the font, the chancel is 13th Century and there is a remnant of 14th Century-stained glass in the east window.
The village was once part of the Acland Estate and had a large sheep fair. The Acland family were alleged to be able to ride from their home near Exeter to another of their estates at Holnicote, near Minehead without leaving their land. The Acland family commissioned building throughout the 19th Century including Winsford school. Much of the estate at Winsford was sold in 1926. At that time there were under 100 houses in the Parish, but the population was over 500. Several routes converging on the village, especially that leading south towards Tarr Steps, are of considerable antiquity. A few cottages bear evidence of early origins, with external stone stacks, some in the front lateral position, which typifies the local vernacular style and remain largely unaltered for over 200 years. In 1929 Maxwell Grenfell gave the land and the Old Village Hall (by the ford) to a group of Trustees who subsequently passed the trusteeship to the Parish Council in the 1960s. The Old Village Hall was used as a Guide Hut and later housed a local artist. It became untenable and was sold by the Parish Council in 20 ? and the interest from money invested pays for the maintenance and upkeep of the Village Green.
Some buildings reveal evidence of a previous use, for example the village school, two former chapels, police house, a shop at Karslake House, the Old Forge and the former Pitcott Corn Mill. There are examples too of the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement in the early 20th Century. In c.1920-30, the village had a Post Office, general store, blacksmith, tailor, shoe repairer and bakery. J Steer and Sons (general builders) employed 20 or more skilled workers (wheelwright, carpenters, joiners, masons, sawyers, carters and general labourers). The firm quarried local stone for building and hauled bricks, slates, and timber. They also made coffins. There was also a horse hiring business. In 1921 the War Memorial, erected by public subscription was unveiled. Two separate doctors’ practices in Dulverton served the village and gradually weekly village surgeries were established, in the shops or postmaster’s house. In the 1920s Winsford had its own water supply piped to houses from a ring of little reservoirs and tanks situated in the fields surrounding the village. The supply was controlled by a village committee. Later in the 1930s the supply was taken over by Dulverton Rural District Council and eventually by a water authority. Outlying houses and farms relied on spring water. Winsford has been on mains water supply since the construction of Wimbleball Reservoir. In 1927 a telephone switchboard was installed in the post office- at the time in Winn Cottage. A sewerage system was installed in the village in 1968. Several houses had diesel generators to produce their own electricity but the rest of Winsford (including the Church and Chapel) relied on lamps and candles. Mains electricity was available in the village from the 1950s.
Winsford was designated as conservation area in 2023.
Much more historical information about Winsford and its people is available in Winsford Archive including a family tree with over 3,000 people on it and over 1,900 photographs.
Please contact Mel Mileham for further information on winsfordarchive@btinternet.com
© Winsford Archive and Parish Council
