Wookey (St. Matthew)
WOOKEY (St. Matthew), a parish, in the union of Wells, hundred of Wells-Forum, E. division of Somerset, 1¾ mile (W.) from Wells; containing, with the tything of Yarley, and part of Wookey-Hole, 1187 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the Subdean of Wells, valued in the king's books at £12. 15. 10.: the great tithes have been commuted for £212, and the vicarial for £299. 5.; the glebe comprises 5 acres. At Henton is a second church, dedicated to Christ. In the side of the Mendip hills, about a mile and a half from the village, is the curious cavern termed Wookey-Hole, the approach to which is surrounded by scenery extremely picturesque. The entrance is very narrow, but within are several spacious apartments, one of them resembling the interior of a church, the roof and sides of which are encrusted with concretions of most fantastic form, while on the floor are other large petrifactions, formed by the water dropping from above. Beyond is a smaller cavity, and this leads to a third, the diameter of which is about 120 feet, its roof cylindrical, and its bottom composed of a fine sand. On one side of the last cave runs a very cold and pure stream of water, the primary source of the river Axe.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.