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The Rookery

Wood, Forest in Somerset South Somerset

England

The Rookery

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

The Rookery, Somerset is a pristine woodland area located in the southwestern region of England. Spread over an area of approximately 100 hectares, this enchanting forest is a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The Rookery is situated near the village of Somerset, providing easy access to visitors from nearby towns and cities.

The woodland boasts a diverse range of trees, including oak, beech, and pine, which create a stunning canopy and provide a habitat for various wildlife species. The forest floor is adorned with a rich carpet of ferns, wildflowers, and mosses, adding to the natural beauty of the surroundings. The Rookery is also home to a plethora of bird species, making it an ideal spot for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Visitors to The Rookery can explore the forest through a network of well-maintained walking trails, offering opportunities for leisurely strolls or more challenging hikes. The trails wind their way through the woodland, revealing hidden streams, small waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints along the way. Nature lovers can immerse themselves in the tranquil atmosphere, listening to the soothing sounds of birdsong and the rustling of leaves.

The Rookery also provides recreational facilities such as picnic areas and designated camping spots, allowing visitors to extend their stay and fully experience the serenity of the forest. The forest management team ensures that the area remains clean and well-preserved, promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Overall, The Rookery in Somerset is a remarkable woodland destination that offers a rejuvenating escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Its natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and well-maintained trails make it a must-visit for anyone seeking a tranquil and immersive outdoor experience.

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The Rookery Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.92887/-2.6766559 or Grid Reference ST5214. 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)
Stone Stile, West Coker On Somerset footpath Y 29/13 at the junction of Ridge and Chur Lanes, looking South. The view looking towards the road is <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7250710">ST5113 : Stone Stile, West Coker</a>.
Stone Stile, West Coker
On Somerset footpath Y 29/13 at the junction of Ridge and Chur Lanes, looking South. The view looking towards the road is ST5113 : Stone Stile, West Coker.
Stone Stile, West Coker On Somerset footpath Y 29/13 at the junction of Ridge and Chur Lanes, looking North. The view looking from the road is <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7250709">ST5113 : Stone Stile, West Coker</a>.
Stone Stile, West Coker
On Somerset footpath Y 29/13 at the junction of Ridge and Chur Lanes, looking North. The view looking from the road is ST5113 : Stone Stile, West Coker.
Modern church window - West Coker The window was designed and created by Stewart Bowman (1936-2019) of Buckinghamshire and installed in 2001. It depicts St Christina of Markyate (1096-1115). She was born in Huntingdonshire and after a colourful life became an anchoress experiencing many visions and eventually founded the Priory at Markyate in Hertfordshire where Cell House is situated today. She was also a skilled embroiderer and made several mitres for Pope Adrian IV. The other is St Martin of Tours, the patron of this church. Born in about AD 336, he had become a Roman soldier who shared his halved cloak with a freezing beggar, which led the way to his becoming a Christian. He performed miracles and in AD 371 became the Bishop of Tours founding a monastery at Marmoutier in France. He became the patron saint of the Third Republic.
Modern church window - West Coker
The window was designed and created by Stewart Bowman (1936-2019) of Buckinghamshire and installed in 2001. It depicts St Christina of Markyate (1096-1115). She was born in Huntingdonshire and after a colourful life became an anchoress experiencing many visions and eventually founded the Priory at Markyate in Hertfordshire where Cell House is situated today. She was also a skilled embroiderer and made several mitres for Pope Adrian IV. The other is St Martin of Tours, the patron of this church. Born in about AD 336, he had become a Roman soldier who shared his halved cloak with a freezing beggar, which led the way to his becoming a Christian. He performed miracles and in AD 371 became the Bishop of Tours founding a monastery at Marmoutier in France. He became the patron saint of the Third Republic.
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.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the office This is at one end of the covered 'walk' below the powered end of the twisting walk.
Dawe's Twineworks, West Coker - the office
This is at one end of the covered 'walk' below the powered end of the twisting walk.
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The Rookery is located at Grid Ref: ST5214 (Lat: 50.92887, Lng: -2.6766559)

Administrative County: Somerset

District: South Somerset

Police Authority: Avon and Somerset

What 3 Words

///educates.arose.saunas. Near West Coker, Somerset

Nearby Locations

West Coker Camp Hill Leaze Plantation Dry Copse The Rookery

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Located within 500m of 50.92887,-2.6766559
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