Exford is a rural village at the centre of Exmoor National Park, 7 miles (11 km) north-west of Dulverton, and 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Minehead, in Somerset, England. Less than a mile away is the hamlet of Lyncombe.
Situated on the B3224, the main route across Exmoor, it is a small village on the River Exe with activities including hunting, shooting, fishing and horse riding.[2]
The centre of the village surrounds a traditional village green, and is home to a post office, general store, car repair shop, youth hostel and primary school as well as a children's play area.
To the east of the village are the prehistoric hillside enclosures of Road Castle and Staddon Hill Camp[3] and to the west is Cow Castle, an Iron Agehillfort.
The Domesday Book of 1086 records eight settlements in the parish, five called Exford and the others at Almesworthy (Edmunds homestead), Stone and Downscombe.
The bridge over the river was built in 1930 on a medieval site.[5]
In the mid 19th century there were several iron and copper mines in and around the village by the Exford Iron Ore Co.
The Devon and Somerset Staghounds have had their kennels, which were built by Montague Bissett, at Exford since 1875.
Governance
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.
As Exford falls within the Exmoor National Park some functions normally administered by district or county councils have, since 1997, fallen under the Exmoor National Park Authority, which is known as a 'single purpose' authority, which aims to "conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks" and "promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Parks by the public",[7] including responsibility for the conservation of the historic environment.[8]
