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Allicombe Plantation

Wood, Forest in Somerset South Somerset

England

Allicombe Plantation

Dawe's Twineworks West Coker Rescued from near collapse by grant money, the twineworks, established in the mid 19th C, is the only one in Britain with its original Victorian machinery. Not to be confused with the West of England Twine Works which was also situated in West Coker. Open on the 4th Saturday of the month.
Dawe's Twineworks West Coker Credit: Sarah Smith

Allicombe Plantation is a historic woodland located in Somerset, England. Situated near the village of Allicombe, the plantation covers an area of approximately 200 acres. The woodland is predominantly composed of various species of trees, including oak, beech, and ash, creating a diverse and picturesque forest environment.

The plantation has a rich history dating back to the medieval period when it was established as a hunting ground for local nobility. Over the centuries, it has changed ownership several times and was eventually acquired by the Somerset County Council in the early 20th century. Today, it is managed by the council's forestry department, ensuring its preservation and accessibility to the public.

Allicombe Plantation offers visitors a range of recreational activities and amenities. It features a network of well-maintained footpaths and trails, allowing hikers and nature enthusiasts to explore the woodland's beauty. The plantation is also home to an abundance of wildlife, including various bird species, deer, and small mammals, providing ample opportunities for wildlife observation and photography.

In addition to its natural beauty, Allicombe Plantation offers a picnic area and a children's play area, making it a popular destination for families and outdoor gatherings. The site is also regularly used for educational purposes, with schools and environmental groups organizing field trips to learn about the local flora and fauna.

Overall, Allicombe Plantation is a cherished natural asset in Somerset, providing a tranquil escape for visitors to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of the woodlands.

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Allicombe Plantation Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.92146/-2.7188594 or Grid Reference ST4913. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Dawe's Twineworks West Coker Rescued from near collapse by grant money, the twineworks, established in the mid 19th C, is the only one in Britain with its original Victorian machinery. Not to be confused with the West of England Twine Works which was also situated in West Coker. Open on the 4th Saturday of the month.
Dawe's Twineworks West Coker
Rescued from near collapse by grant money, the twineworks, established in the mid 19th C, is the only one in Britain with its original Victorian machinery. Not to be confused with the West of England Twine Works which was also situated in West Coker. Open on the 4th Saturday of the month.
Dawe's Twineworks West Coker (2)
Dawe's Twineworks West Coker (2)
Old Fingerpost, West Coker Hill / A30 At the junction of Collarway Lane, West Coker Hill and the A30 slip road and the bridge over the A30. An image of the makers' Inscription is <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7259440">ST5013 : Old Fingerpost, West Coker Hill / above A30</a>. The context view is <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1180072">ST5013 : Near Coker Hill Bridge</a>. Inscription: 1 West Coker // 1 Hardington // (on post) Somerset // Sheldon Wells Milestone Society National ID: SO_ST5013A
Old Fingerpost, West Coker Hill / A30
At the junction of Collarway Lane, West Coker Hill and the A30 slip road and the bridge over the A30. An image of the makers' Inscription is ST5013 : Old Fingerpost, West Coker Hill / above A30. The context view is ST5013 : Near Coker Hill Bridge. Inscription: 1 West Coker // 1 Hardington // (on post) Somerset // Sheldon Wells Milestone Society National ID: SO_ST5013A
Old Milestone, West Coker / A30 On the NW side of the A30 in a cutting. Near the bridge carrying the West Coker Hill / Collarway Lane road. It is difficult to get to on foot, the verges are slight and the cutting long, under the bridge non-existent verges. This image was taken from a slow moving vehicle. Inscription: IV / Yeovil Grade II listed see <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1417785" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1417785">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Milestone Society National ID: SO_YVCW04
Old Milestone, West Coker / A30
On the NW side of the A30 in a cutting. Near the bridge carrying the West Coker Hill / Collarway Lane road. It is difficult to get to on foot, the verges are slight and the cutting long, under the bridge non-existent verges. This image was taken from a slow moving vehicle. Inscription: IV / Yeovil Grade II listed see LinkExternal link Milestone Society National ID: SO_YVCW04
Old Boundary Stone, West Coker / East Chinnock A curious broken stone. This was lying exactly at the position of a boundary stone (on maps up to 1962). The inscription could be interpreted signifying a "county" stone, marking the extent of responsibility for the bridge if it was C / YHD (Yeovil Hundred Division). Inscription: C / YHI Milestone Society National ID: SO_WCOECH01pb
Old Boundary Stone, West Coker / East Chinnock
A curious broken stone. This was lying exactly at the position of a boundary stone (on maps up to 1962). The inscription could be interpreted signifying a "county" stone, marking the extent of responsibility for the bridge if it was C / YHD (Yeovil Hundred Division). Inscription: C / YHI Milestone Society National ID: SO_WCOECH01pb
Old Fingerpost, West Coker Hill / above A30 At the junction of Collarway Lane, West Coker Hill and the A30 slip road and the bridge over the A30. The view of the fingers is <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7253471">ST5013 : Old Fingerpost, West Coker Hill / A30</a>.
Old Fingerpost, West Coker Hill / above A30
At the junction of Collarway Lane, West Coker Hill and the A30 slip road and the bridge over the A30. The view of the fingers is ST5013 : Old Fingerpost, West Coker Hill / A30.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker This was used to make twine from flax. This had a variety of uses but one major use was sewing the sails of sailing vessels, including those of naval vessels. The long 'walk' is about 100 yards long and the twine was twisted on the first floor under the roof and then finished by washing, drying and coating with size on the ground floor.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker
This was used to make twine from flax. This had a variety of uses but one major use was sewing the sails of sailing vessels, including those of naval vessels. The long 'walk' is about 100 yards long and the twine was twisted on the first floor under the roof and then finished by washing, drying and coating with size on the ground floor.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - size boiler This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the size boiler where the gelatinous size used to coat the twine was prepared by boiling up rabbit pelts. Apparently it smelt appalling.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - size boiler
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the size boiler where the gelatinous size used to coat the twine was prepared by boiling up rabbit pelts. Apparently it smelt appalling.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - oil engine This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. The site is believed to have originally had a steam engine and then later gas and oil engines. The final engine was a Ruston & Hornsby 30 horsepower oil engine that was removed after closure. The current engine was installed during restoration and is a 23 horsepower Shanks of Arbroath built in 1927 and used in Scotland. The cylinder is 9" x 16" amounting to 16 litres. It is seen here running.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - oil engine
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. The site is believed to have originally had a steam engine and then later gas and oil engines. The final engine was a Ruston & Hornsby 30 horsepower oil engine that was removed after closure. The current engine was installed during restoration and is a 23 horsepower Shanks of Arbroath built in 1927 and used in Scotland. The cylinder is 9" x 16" amounting to 16 litres. It is seen here running.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the twisting walk This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This is the top floor of the 'walk' that is 300' long. The twine is made in 600' lengths and twisted from several pieces of yarn by the twisting heads behind the fence. These are driven by the oil engine and those on the right are set up with yarn. The fast and loose drives on the right were set up to drive the heads in either direction to produce S or Z yarn. It means the demonstrators can now put twist in and then take it out again. The drives on the left of the aisle only produce S yarn and are not set up.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the twisting walk
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This is the top floor of the 'walk' that is 300' long. The twine is made in 600' lengths and twisted from several pieces of yarn by the twisting heads behind the fence. These are driven by the oil engine and those on the right are set up with yarn. The fast and loose drives on the right were set up to drive the heads in either direction to produce S or Z yarn. It means the demonstrators can now put twist in and then take it out again. The drives on the left of the aisle only produce S yarn and are not set up.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - twisting head This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the driving end of the twist walk with the twisting head driven by an oil engine via fast and loose pulleys. Several strands of yarn are twisted to produce twine and although the walk is 300' long each length is 600' because it does a double journey to and from hooks on the twisting head. This was briefly demonstrated.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - twisting head
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the driving end of the twist walk with the twisting head driven by an oil engine via fast and loose pulleys. Several strands of yarn are twisted to produce twine and although the walk is 300' long each length is 600' because it does a double journey to and from hooks on the twisting head. This was briefly demonstrated.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - twisting heads This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the driving end of the twist walk with the twisting heads driven by an oil engine via fast and loose pulleys. Several strands of yarn are twisted to produce twine and although the walk is 300' long each length is 600' because it does a double journey to and from hooks on the twisting head. This was briefly demonstrated. Each of the two sets of hooks produces 6 lengths.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - twisting heads
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the driving end of the twist walk with the twisting heads driven by an oil engine via fast and loose pulleys. Several strands of yarn are twisted to produce twine and although the walk is 300' long each length is 600' because it does a double journey to and from hooks on the twisting head. This was briefly demonstrated. Each of the two sets of hooks produces 6 lengths.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the twisting walk This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the top floor of the 'walk' and is the twisting floor. Only one side has been rigged with yarn. The photographer is near the far end and looking back towards the twisting heads nearly 300' away. Behind the photographer is the 'cross' that hold the ends of the yarn as it loops back and the pulley system that provides the tension.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the twisting walk
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the top floor of the 'walk' and is the twisting floor. Only one side has been rigged with yarn. The photographer is near the far end and looking back towards the twisting heads nearly 300' away. Behind the photographer is the 'cross' that hold the ends of the yarn as it loops back and the pulley system that provides the tension.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the end of the twisting walk This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the top floor of the 'walk' and is the twisting floor. Only one side has been rigged with yarn. The photographer is near the far end and looking at the end of the walk where the 'cross' is attached to the tensioning pulley system. The cross has the yarn threaded at the other end of the walk and is then walked the 300' while pulling the yarn off the creel. When the twine is twisted it shortens and pulls the cross back towards the twisting heads. The operator knows from how far it is pulled when the right moment is to disconnect the drive and stop twisting.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the end of the twisting walk
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the top floor of the 'walk' and is the twisting floor. Only one side has been rigged with yarn. The photographer is near the far end and looking at the end of the walk where the 'cross' is attached to the tensioning pulley system. The cross has the yarn threaded at the other end of the walk and is then walked the 300' while pulling the yarn off the creel. When the twine is twisted it shortens and pulls the cross back towards the twisting heads. The operator knows from how far it is pulled when the right moment is to disconnect the drive and stop twisting.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the finishing walk This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the ground floor of the open sided finishing walk with two of the tensioning idlers. The twine is formed into continuous loops 600' long and driven by the oil engine. At the far end the twine is first washed in a water trough. Then it is dried by just being run in a loop. It is then treated with size to preserve it and finally polished to remove any projecting pieces. It was a sunny day and the lighting was a problem that got worse as the sun dropped lower.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the finishing walk
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the ground floor of the open sided finishing walk with two of the tensioning idlers. The twine is formed into continuous loops 600' long and driven by the oil engine. At the far end the twine is first washed in a water trough. Then it is dried by just being run in a loop. It is then treated with size to preserve it and finally polished to remove any projecting pieces. It was a sunny day and the lighting was a problem that got worse as the sun dropped lower.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the finishing walk This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the ground floor of the open sided finishing walk with two of the driven rollers carrying up 25 loops of twine up to about 600' in length. The drive is by fast and loose pulleys from the oil engine. At this end the twine is first washed in a water trough. Then it is dried by just being run in a loop. It is then treated with size to preserve it and finally polished to remove any projecting pieces. It was a sunny day and the lighting was a problem that got worse as the sun dropped lower.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the finishing walk
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the ground floor of the open sided finishing walk with two of the driven rollers carrying up 25 loops of twine up to about 600' in length. The drive is by fast and loose pulleys from the oil engine. At this end the twine is first washed in a water trough. Then it is dried by just being run in a loop. It is then treated with size to preserve it and finally polished to remove any projecting pieces. It was a sunny day and the lighting was a problem that got worse as the sun dropped lower.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the finishing walk This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the ground floor of the open sided finishing walk with several of the tensioning idlers. The twine is formed into continuous loops 600' long and driven by the oil engine. At the far end the twine is first washed in a water trough. Then it is dried by just being run in a loop. It is then treated with size to preserve it and finally polished to remove any projecting pieces. It was a sunny day and the lighting was a problem that got worse as the sun dropped lower.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the finishing walk
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows the ground floor of the open sided finishing walk with several of the tensioning idlers. The twine is formed into continuous loops 600' long and driven by the oil engine. At the far end the twine is first washed in a water trough. Then it is dried by just being run in a loop. It is then treated with size to preserve it and finally polished to remove any projecting pieces. It was a sunny day and the lighting was a problem that got worse as the sun dropped lower.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the finishing walk This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows he driven end of the finishing floor where a system of belts and fast and loose pulley drove grooved pulleys that could carry up to 25 loops of twine in 600' lengths. As the twine moved around the loops it was first washed, then allowed to air dry, then coated with a gelatinous size and finally polished to remove any surface irregularities. Some metal washing troughs are seen in the centre.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the finishing walk
This works made twine from flax yarn and closed in 1968. It has more recently been restored and a visitor centre has been built alongside. This shows he driven end of the finishing floor where a system of belts and fast and loose pulley drove grooved pulleys that could carry up to 25 loops of twine in 600' lengths. As the twine moved around the loops it was first washed, then allowed to air dry, then coated with a gelatinous size and finally polished to remove any surface irregularities. Some metal washing troughs are seen in the centre.
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Allicombe Plantation is located at Grid Ref: ST4913 (Lat: 50.92146, Lng: -2.7188594)

Administrative County: Somerset

District: South Somerset

Police Authority: Avon and Somerset

What 3 Words

///gates.rescue.configure. Near West Coker, Somerset

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 50.92146,-2.7188594
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 50.9185599/-2.7238021
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 50.921037/-2.7130142
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 50.9213211/-2.7129954
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 50.9210641/-2.7118716
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 50.9218604/-2.7141193
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 50.9206413/-2.7168283
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 50.9186731/-2.7231771
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East Chinnock Hill
Ele: 130
Natural: peak
Lat/Long: 50.9248966/-2.7185247
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Barrier: stile
Foot: yes
Material: metal
Stile: chain
Lat/Long: 50.917893/-2.7191206
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The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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