MEM24747 - Wootton Courtenay Poor House (Monument)

Summary

The building is shown on historic mapping and could accommodate 16 people in 1776. It appears to have been demolished in the mid to late 19th Century.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A building is shown on the Tithe Map for Wootton Courtenay at c. SS 9381 4338, on the western side of the churchyard. It is labelled 302, which the Apportionment describes as a poor house, owned by James Westcott and occupied by William Sage. [1] The building appears to have been demolished by the time the 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map was surveyed and the area occupied by the extreme western end of the building now occupied by the modern village store (MEM24746), with Jasmine Cottage sited to the north (MEM24772). [2] The poor house was presumably cleared from site before Jasmine Cottage was erected. It is not clear whether this was done to facilitate construction of the property, or advantage was taken of the newly available plot of land. [3] There was a workhouse in Wootton Courtenay in 1776, accommodating 16 people. [4] The poor house consisted of five cottages where Jasmine Cottage now stands. In 1864 it was listed as the "Late Poor House." An old resident of one of the cottages used to bake bread in an oven in the churchyard wall, possibly using peat. [5]

Sources/Archives (5)

  • <1> Map: 1844. Wootton Courtenay Tithe Map and Apportionment. Land parcel 302.
  • <2> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.
  • <3> Verbal communication: Various. 1999-. Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Team staff comments. Catherine Dove, 2 September 2019.
  • <4> Monograph: Savage, J.. 1830. A History of the Hundred of Carhampton. 338.
  • <5> Monograph: Ball, D.. 2007. Wootton Courtenay. Peter Ball. 38, 72.

External Links (0)

Other Statuses/References

  • Local List Status (Unassessed)

Map

Location

Grid reference SS 9381 4338 (point)
Map sheet SS94SW
Civil Parish WOOTTON COURTENAY, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Sep 17 2019 9:00AM

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