Roadwater is a village 3 miles (5 km) south-west ofWilliton, on the northern edge of theExmoor National Park, inSomerset, England.
The village was formerly known asRode and had a mill by 1243.[1] During the 18th and 19th centuries there were a large number of mills set beside theWashford River. Manor Mills survives and has been designated byEnglish Heritage as a Grade IIlisted building.[2]
An Ebenezer Chapel was built in 1842, which was succeeded by the currentMethodist chapel in 1907 as part of a strong temperance movement which began in 1868 under the influence of the Trevelyans ofNettlecombe. The mission church and school of St Luke were opened in the 1880s.[1]
It has links via its ownrailway station, with theWest Somerset Mineral Railway, which transportediron ore in the 19th century from theBrendon Hills toWatchet on the coast.
More recent history is demonstrated in the restoration of aWorld War IIpillbox.[3]
Administratively, Roadwater forms part of thecivil parish ofOld Cleeve, a village situated 3 miles (5 km) to the north.[4]
Forlocal government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under theunitary authority ofSomerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of thenon-metropolitan district ofSomerset West and Taunton (formed on 1 April 2019) and, before this, the district ofWest Somerset (established under theLocal Government Act 1972).
It falls within theTiverton and Mineheadcounty constituency represented in theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom. It elects oneMember of Parliament (MP) by thefirst past the post system of election. The current MP isRachel Gilmour, a member of theLiberal Democrats.[5]
Roadwater is a linear village, the northern section of which follows the course of theWashford River, in a deep wooded valley. In the centre of the village is a general store with Post Office. Adjacent to the store is the Village Hall and public recreation ground with Children's play area and cricket pitch.
The village is on theColeridge Wayfootpath which opened in April 2005, and follows the walks taken by poetSamuel Taylor Coleridge, over theQuantock andBrendon Hills toPorlock, starting fromColeridge Cottage atNether Stowey, where he once lived.
An annual Village Fete takes place every summer on the recreation ground, to raise money for the upkeep of the Village Hall. The Village Hall hosts annualpantomimes, and usually a play, put on by the amateur dramatics society the Roadwater Players. The village also hosts regular music events at the Hall.
The Village Shop is next door to the Village Hall. Roadwater Village Community Shop is owned and run by Roadwater Residents. It's about 100 m from the Coleridge Way route across Exmoor.
The Valiant Soldier public house is a few hundred yards upriver from the Village Shop and provides meals and accommodation.
St Luke's Church (at the Methodist Chapel) is situated between the shop and the Valiant Soldier next to the old telephone-box which has been converted into the Roadwater Book Exchange.
