The small village of Regil also falls within the parish, although it has its own small church dedicated to St James, one pub, a village hall and several farms.
Winford village lies on the route of the Monarch's Way long-distance footpath and has one pub, a village post office and several farms in the surrounding area.
History
Winford was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Wenfre, meaning 'The carriage journey' from the Old Englishwoenfaru. The term journey can also mean route.[2]
Community store and post office in Winford.The Prince of Waterloo pub in Winford.
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, such as the village hall or community centre, playing fields and playgrounds, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also of interest to the council.
An electoral ward exists with the same name. The ward starts in the south in Winford, visits Felton and ends in the north at Dundry. The total population of the ward taken at the 2011 census was 2,982.[6]
Primarily an orthopaedic Hospital, Winford Hospital was built in 1930.
Winford hospital was a part-military and part-civilian hospital. Wards A to D were for civilian use, while wards E to K, added to the hospital in 1940, were for treatment of war casualties (both service and civilian).[9]
In 1964 a physiotherapy department was opened, including several treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy pool.[10]
Winford Hospital was closed in 1996. The land has since been redeveloped as a small housing estate, known locally as Winford Heights.
Demographics
According to the 2001 Census the Winford Ward, had 1,316 residents, living in 527 households, with an average age of 41.9 years. Of these 73% of residents describing their health as 'good', 26% of 16- to 74-year-olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.8% of all economically active people aged 16–74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 22,024 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived.[11]
Church
The Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary and St Peter in Winford dates from the 15th century.[12] The 4-stage west tower has set back buttresses, moulded string courses and the north-east corner has a polygonal stair turret. Trefoil-headed open panel parapet with corner crocketted pinnacles and fine gargoyles. Top 3 stages have 2-light openings with hoodmoulds and lozenge stops, those below bell stage blind, those to bell stage louvred. First stage of west facade has deeply moulded pointed-arched doorway with 2-leaf doors and applied Gothick mouldings; light with intersecting tracery above. Atop this is a 3-light Gothic window.[12] An unidentified and Shire Monuments in churchyard are also listed (Historic England. "Unidentified and Shire Monuments (1129215)". National Heritage List for England.)
