Brushford, Somerset
| Brushford | |
|---|---|
 St Nicholas |
|
 Brushford
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| Brushford shown within Somerset | |
| Population | 519 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SS925255 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DULVERTON |
| Postcode district | TA22 |
| Dialling code | 01398 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | |
Brushford is a village and civil parish 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Dulverton and 12 miles (19 km) north of Tiverton in Devon, in the West Somerset district of Somerset, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 535 in 243 households, reducing to 519 at the 2011 Census. It covers an area of 1,149 hectares (11 km2) of which 3 hectares (0.030 km2) is within the Exmoor National Park.
The River Exe which forms the boundary of the parish and the border between Somerset and Devon is crossed by the 18th century Exe Bridge. The River Barle is crossed by the New Bridge dating from 1870, which led to Pixton Park, and the Weir Bridge which dates from the mid 19th century.West Somerset Polo Club play in fields below the village alongside the River Barle.
The village consists of a local garage, some housing areas, a playground with a basketball court, a village hall and a church. Its population increased at four times the rate of the UK percentage growth rate, over the years 1994 to 2004 and a need for more affordable housing has been identified.
The village was known as Brucheford or Brigeford in the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was held by Robert, Count of Mortain, and Briggeford in 1270.
In Saxon times it was a tributary manor of Dulverton, held by Ordwulf on behalf of King Edward II and paid a tax of 24 sheep. The parish of Brushford was part of the Williton and Freemanners Hundred.
It was also home to the Dulverton railway station which was the largest intermediate station on the Devon and Somerset Railway, which ran from Taunton to Barnstaple. The station served the town of Dulverton and from 1884 acted also as the junction station for the Exe Valley Railway. Exe Valley services ceased with the closure of the line on 7 October 1963. Goods services were withdrawn at Dulverton the following year and complete closure of the Devon and Somerset line came on 3 October 1966. The station buildings survived as part of the Caernarvon Arms Hotel, which was visited by the poet Tennyson in 1891, and has since been re-developed into flats.
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Wikipedia