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Places in Somerset "E"
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| The scanty ruins, of Richmont Castle are about 1/4 mile south—east
of the village church. The castle was besieged in 1138 when King Stephen
captured it from Sir William de Harptree a supporter of Queen Matilda's
cause in the civil war between the king and queen. The castle was
demolished by its owner, Sir John Newton, in the reign of Henry VIII;
Sir John's huge, canopied tomb stands in the Norman porch of the church,
which also contains a display of Roman coins found at East Harptree in
1887. |
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A mile of lane from the Minehead road leads to this idyllic corner of
Somerset
a cluster of cottages by a duck pond. Beyond the pond is the Court
House, built of local stone and unaltered since the east front was added
in 1610. It is a seat of the Luttrell family, owners of Dunster Castle,
who have lived in the
district for 800 years. |
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The stone bridge in the centre of the village is now used instead of
the ancient
ford that gave the place its name. Exford is a noted centre for stag
hunting and fishing, and an annual horse show is held on the second
Wednesday in August. A footpath, about 5 miles long, leads north to
Exford Common and so to Dunkery Beacon, the highest point of Exmoor
(1705 ft). |
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