Fyne Court
| Fyne Court | |
|---|---|
 |
|
 Location within Somerset
|
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Broomfield |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°04′50″N 3°06′52″W / 51.080563°N 3.114310°W |
| Design and construction | |
| Client | Andrew Crosse |
Fyne Court is a National Trust-owned nature reserve and visitor centre in Broomfield, Somerset, England.
The nature reserve is set in parkland which was originally the pleasure grounds of a large house belonging to pioneer 19th-century electrician, Andrew Crosse,[1] whose family had owned the house from its construction.[2] The house burnt down in 1898.[3] [4] His laboratory table on which he carried out experiments stands in the aisle of the Church of St. Mary and All Saints in Broomfield and an obelisk in his memory is in the churchyard.[5]
Fyne Court has been in the ownership of the National Trust since 1967 and was used as the headquarters of the Somerset Wildlife Trust.[6] The Quantock Hills AONB Service have their headquarters in the grounds.[7]
Much of the landscaping, including an arboretum created laid out in 1780, has become overgrown and now provides varied habitats including broadleaved woodland, ponds and meadows grazed by highland cattle.[8] The site is home to over 100 species of fungi and some rare invertebrates.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ "Fyne Court". National Trust. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-fynecourt.htm. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. p. 46. ISBN 1874336261.
- ^ "Fyne Court". About Britain. http://www.aboutbritain.com/fynecourt.htm. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ Waite, Vincent (1964). Portrait of the Quantocks. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 0709111584.
- ^ "Church of St. Mary and All Saints". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=269264. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^ a b "Broomfield". Quantock Online. http://www.quantockonline.co.uk/quantocks/villages/broomfield/broomfield1.html. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ "Fyne Court". Exmoor Online. http://exmoorencyclopedia.org.uk/contents-list/39-f/458-fyne-court.html. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ "Fyne Court". Wildlife Walks. National Trust. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-fyne_court_walk.pdf. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
