Selworthy, Somerset

Description
Selworthy, a village and a parish in Somerset. The village stands in a deep dell among hills, 1 1/4 mile from the coast, 4 1/2 miles W of Minehead station on the G.W.R., and is a picturesque place. It has a post and money order office under Tannton; telegraph office, Porlock. The parish contains also six hamlets, Blackford manor, and Allerford tithing. Acreage, 2959; population of the civil parish, 517; of the ecclesiastical, 403. There is a parish council consisting of five members and a chairman. The manor, with Holnicote House (the ancient seat of the Steyning family), belongs to the Acland family. Holnicote House was twice destroyed by fire, but has been rebuilt and was considerably enlarged in 1874. An ancient camp, called Bury Castle, crowns a hill overlooking the village. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Bath and Wells; tithe commuted at £270 with residence. The church is mostly Perpendicular, and contains some delicate 15th century carvings, and also some good modern carvings. The rectory is a building for the most part of great antiquity; an interesting 15th century tithe barn adjoins it. There are chapels in the hamlets of Tivington and Lynch, the former being Perpendicular in style, and the latter of an earlier period, but it has been restored. The churchyard contains an ancient stone cross.