MEM24762 - Dunkery Beacon Hotel, Wootton Courtenay (Building)

The site is shown as a clear area within a field on the 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. [1] The 25 inch 2nd Edition map depicts two large buildings at SS 9361 4344 (west) and SS 9363 4343 (east). They are together labelled "Dunkery Hotel". [2] The site is shown on the 2018 MasterMap data with some extensions to the rear of the westernmost building. The buildings are now labelled "Dunkery Beacon Hotel". [3] There were no inns on the Acland Estate in this area of Exmoor and so some of the villagers from here would travel to Wootton Courtenay or Porlock on a weekend, but only on a Saturday or Sunday, not both. The Dunkery was "a large and rather superior-looking hotel", set back from the road up a gravel drive and with a large garden. The building was white and had a verandah with a "public bar, like most country bars… small, with two tables, two benches, and not enough chairs." Last orders were at 10pm. [4] Wootton Courtenay is described as having "an hotel, much patronised by visitors for riding and walking". [5]