In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Wookey like this:
WOOKEY, or Wokey, a parish, with W. village, and W.-Hole and Henton hamlets, in Wells district, Somerset; 2 miles W by N of Wells r. station. It has a post-office under Wells, Somerset. Acres, 3,420. Rated property, £5,037. Pop., 1,129. Houses, 253. The property is much subdivided. An ancient Episcopal palace stood on a site now occupied by a modern residence, called Mellefont Abbey. ...
W.-Hole cavern penetrates a limestone rock to the extent of 120 feet; was noticed by some very early writers, and described by Dr. Harring-ton of Bath; was the legendary haunt of the "Witch of Wookey,'' who figures in a ballad in Percy's "Reliques;'' is much visited by tourists; and emits a rapid streamlet which, within a short distance, drives several paper and flour mills. Interesting fossils and Roman relics have been found in and near the cave. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Bath and Wells. Value, £309.* Patron, the Bishop of B. and W. The church is good. The vicarage of Henton is a separate benefice. There are a national school and charities £46.
Wookey through time
Wookey is now part of Mendip district. Click here for graphs and data of how Mendip has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Wookey itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Wookey, in Mendip and Somerset | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/13422
Date accessed: 31st October 2024
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