LATEST Information
Tuesday September 8th
National Tile Day
Today in the village
Gardening Club, Bowls, Bells, Moor Movies
If you have any news or other contributions you think the village would be interested in please let me know via email or the Contact Website button at the bottom of this page.
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Hear and See the Bells at St Mary Magdalene Church
Come and Join Us on Saturday 19 September at 2pm
The bells of St Mary Magdalene Church have a fascinating history stretching back more than 260 years — and the Exmoor Ringers are inviting more local people to become part of their future.
The present six-bell ring at Winsford has its origins in 1765, when the bell metal from the original church bells was cast into five new bells by Thomas Bilbie of Cullompton.
In 1897, Harry Stokes of Woodbury in Devon re-hung the bells in a new oak frame (still there today) and the ring was increased to six bells with a new treble bell cast by Mears & Stainbank of London. The bells have continued to be maintained over the years and one of the bells was recast in 1938 and a major overhaul took place in 1994 when a crack in another bell was welded.
If you live in the village you will know that the bells are still rung regularly, continuing a tradition that has connected generations of people with the church and local residents.
You could become one of the next generation of Exmoor Bell Ringers. You don't need any previous experience. Bell ringing is a traditional skill as well as an enjoyable physical and mental activity, and our friendly group of bell ringers welcomes people of all ages.
Come along to our Open Event at Winsford Church on Saturday 19 September at 2pm.
You can meet the team, have some tea and biscuits, see the bells and ringing chamber, find out how ringing works and, most importantly, have a go yourself.
All ages welcome – no experience needed.
Carol Cottle, Tower Captain
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- This Week's Diary -
Mon 7th
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9:00am Circuit Training, Village Hall
Tues 8th
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11:00am Gardening Club, Village Hall
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2.30pm Bowls, Village Hall
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7:30pm Bellringing
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7:30pm Moor Movies - Midwinter Break
Wed 9th
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10:30am Coffee Morning with the Village Agent
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2:00pm Pickleball, Village Hall
Thurs 10th
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9:00am Core Strength exercises, Village Hall
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9:30am Winn Club Trip - Sidmouth & the Donkey Sanctuary
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6:00pm Table Tennis, Village Hall
Fri 11th
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6:00pm Exford Community Youth Club, Exford Pavilion
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7:30pm Dulverton Cinema - Tuner
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Sunday Motoring Section
These are this week's proposed local road closures and other significant works affecting main routes to Minehead, Tiverton, Taunton and South Molton:
This week:
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Monday-Wednesday Withypool-North Molton Rd, patching and drainage
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Lanacre Bridge closed until November.
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Taunton disruption continues as the Minehead Road from the Nuffield Hospital junction to Silk Mills Roundabout in Taunton - just beyond the new housing development, is closed westbound until October 9th for "development site diversionary works".
And in coming weeks
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September 14th-16th Exton Lane 8:00am-6:00pm, Openreach
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September 29th-October 3rd A396 south of the Dulverton turn, overnight 7pm-5am, surface dressing
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October 26th-28th Stone Lane, Openreach
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October 26th-28th B3222 Battleton-Brushford, Openreach
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October 26th-30th A396 Timberscombe-Dunster, Openreach
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Nov 2nd-6th B3222 Station Rd, Battleton, Openreach
Dunster By Traffic Light website confirms live traffic conditions coming in and out of Minehead
Avon & Somerset police publish a weekly list of where their traffic enforcement cameras will be. It can be viewed here
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Winsford's cricketers have been relegated to Division 3 after Cannington escaped the drop by just 2 points
Our season's synopsis will follow shortly.
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The theme for today's Gardening Club in the Village Hall is Plant Spring Now.
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From Sue Hayes
A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported our Skittles and Duck Race evenings on Saturday August 29th and Sunday August 30th on the village green. We had some good fun. We raised a grand total of £282.50 for Winsford Recreation Association.
The new skittle alley played well even in the rain. Thanks to Malcolm and the team for building our new alley. Thanks also to all our helpers in the evenings.
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Today sees the return of Moor Movies with Midwinter Break, starring Ciarán Hinds and Lesley Manville, a drama based on the 2017 novel by Polly Findlay.
Gerry and Stella, a Northern Irish couple in their late 60s who moved to Scotland in the 1970s to get away from the Troubles decide to take a restorative midwinter break in Amsterdam. Despite appearing perfectly happy and affectionate, Gerry has a drinking problem and does not share lonely Stella's Catholicism.
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From Beccy Brown:
Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the 2026 fete such a great success!
We’re holding a little “fete wash‑up” meeting on Monday 14th at 7.00pm in the Royal Oak. It’s as a chance to chat, laugh and share any thoughts or bright ideas for future fetes (or simply to enjoy a pint/glass of wine while pretending you have some).
Everyone’s welcome — the more the merrier. We’d love to hear what you enjoyed, what you’d tweak, or what wild new attractions you think the village absolutely needs next year.
See you there!
Many thanks from the Village Hall Committee
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Winsford's new skittles pitch in action on the weekend's Skittles and Ducks event.
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Tom Dearing's funeral service is to be held at St Mary Magdalane's on Monday 21st September 2026 at 12:00pm.
Ros has said "I would like to thank everybody who has sent cards, flowers and been quietly there in the background. Tom was very much loved by all who knew him over his 79 years.
No flowers please, but any kind donations to The British Heart Foundation.
Colourful clothes is a given as we hope you will join us to raise a glass to Tom in The Royal Oak, Winsford, and, after all, who wears black to the pub?"
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Looking for somewhere for your friends to stay? Our Village accommodation page has just been updated, with a couple of new places added and a couple that no longer offer rental taken off.
If you have accommodation available for rental, or are offering B&B, and would like a free listing, please contact us via the form at the bottom.
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