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Porlock in Somerset County England History and GeographyPORLOCK, a parish (formerly a market town) and small port, in the hundred of CARHAMPTON, county of SOMERSET, 6 miles (W.) from Minehead, containing 769 inhabitants. The name is derived from the Saxon Portlocan, an enclosed harbour. The place is of considerable antiquity, having been a residence of the West Saxon kings, who also had an extensive chase here. About the year 918, a band of pirates entered this harbour, but the greater number were slain by the inhabitants, and the rest having escaped to the island of Steep-holmes, died of hunger. In 1052, Harold, the son of Earl Godwin, having sailed from Ireland with nine ships, entered Porlock bay, and having been unsuccessfully opposed by the inhabitants, he slew great numbers, set fire to the town, and carried off much booty. The town is romantically situated near the Bristol channel, being surrounded on all sides, except the sea, by lofty hills, winding valleys, and deep glens: it consists of two streets, composed of straggling houses of the meanest order. At the western corner of Porlock bay is a small harbour, to which three sloops and several fishing-boats belong, but they have little employment: the inhabitants were formerly occupied in spinning yarn of excellent quality, and which was carried to Dunster market, at that time the resort of dealers in that commodity: the trade at present consists in the importation of coal and lime from Wales. The market, which was held on Thursday, has been discontinued. Fairs are held on the Thursday before the 13th of September, October 11th, and November 12th, for cattle, and a small breed of sheep, called Porlocks. A manorial court is held annually. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Taunton, and diocese of Bath and Wells, rated in the king's books at £18. 11. 8., and in the patronage of the Crown. The church, dedicated to St. Dubritius, is a fine structure in the ancient English style, and contains some old monumental effigies, supposed to be in memory of the early feudal lords. Eight poor persons living within the manor are maintained from the rents and profits of lands purchased with a bequest assigned, for the benefit of this and other places, by Henry Rogers, Esq., about 1672, who also bequeathed £600 towards a workhouse and a fund, for the maintenance of those poor inhabitants of the parish whose ancestors were born in it. In an adjacent wood are the remains of an imperfect oval encampment, supposed to have been constructed at the time of Harold's invasion, within the area of which swords and other warlike implements have been dug up. John Bridgewater, a controversial divine, and Matthew Hales, D.D., the companion and friend of Dr. Stukeley, and author of 'Vegetable Staticks,' were once rectors of this parish; the former subsequently resigned all his preferment, and embraced the tenets of the church of Rome. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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