English Heritage sites near West Coker Parish
SHERBORNE OLD CASTLE
8 miles from West Coker Parish
Built on a grand scale in the 12th century by the Bishop of Salisbury, Sherborne was coveted by churchmen and noblemen alike giving it a long, chequered history. Picnic, shop, light refreshments.
MUCHELNEY ABBEY
9 miles from West Coker Parish
Once a wealthy Benedictine house, Muchelney’s main buildings were demolished by Henry VIII in 1538. See the richly decorated cloister walk and thatched monks’ lavatory – the only one in Britain.
WINTERBOURNE POOR LOT BARROWS
15 miles from West Coker Parish
A 'cemetery' of 44 Bronze Age burial mounds of varying types and sizes, straddling the A35 main road.
GLASTONBURY TRIBUNAL
16 miles from West Coker Parish
Fine, late 15th century stone townhouse, early Tudor façade and panelled interiors. Home to Glastonbury Lake Village Museum: discover life 2000 years ago when much of Somerset consisted of marshy sea.
THE NINE STONES
16 miles from West Coker Parish
Now in a wooded glade, this small prehistoric circle of nine standing stones was constructed around 4,000 years ago and is surrounded by a mysterious air. Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows are nearby.
KINGSTON RUSSELL STONE CIRCLE
17 miles from West Coker Parish
A late Neolithic or early Bronze Age circle of 18 fallen stones, on a hilltop overlooking Abbotsbury and the sea.
Churches in West Coker Parish
St Martin of Tours
Church Street
West Coker
Wells
http://www.7churches.org.uk
There has been a Church on the site since the 11th century. Most of the building of today was erected in 1863 to 1864 when there was a general rebuilding and enlargement of the Church. The parish was at that time expanding at a rapid rate due to the production of rope and sail cloth from the hemp grown in the area but the rebuild was also needed as the chancel arch was falling down due to mistakes made during building work carried out some thrity years before.
The Lady Chapel and the turret to the tower date froma much earlier time. There are two windows made from horn in the tower turret.
The two reredos were given by the Cotter family. There were two Rev Cotters in this parish, William Laurence to whom a window was erected in memory and his son Laurence Rutledge to who the screen between the tower ringing chamber and the nave was erected in memory.
A lych gate in memory of Rev W L Cotter leads into the churchyard and a garvelled path takes you to the south porch and main entrance. The font can be found to the left of the door as you enter. There are three aisles, the main central aisle and north and south aisles. The pews in the centre aisle are of Jacobean origin and it is thought the pulpit dates from a similar time. The lectern is in the form of an eagle. A fine organ can be found in what is known as the organ vestry. The organ does however hide a memorial on the wall behind it dedicated to William Ruddock a prominent villager from the past. There are some fine stained glass windows mostly dating from the rebuilr time but the tower window was installed circa 1750 and there is a new window installed in memory of Mrs Blackmore.
The Benefice website can be found at www.7churches.org.uk
Pubs in West Coker Parish
Castle
The Castle Inn reopened March 2020 by Christian and Christopher but then co-vid hit and hasn't reopened again. Reported as apprears to have been 'gutted' as a pub and car park full of building materials!
New Inn
Attractive pub in village surroundings just off the A30 in the middle of West Coker.
Parking can be a challenge at busy times.
Formerly 'Skittles restaurant, then 'Inn the Square' and closed for a couple of years. Recently reopened and re...
Royal George Inn
11 High Street, West Coker, BA22 9AN
(01935) 862334
royal-george.co.uk