700 Westport holds a special place in the history of English folk songs. For it was, for many years, the home of Louie Hooper, one of the inspirations of the folk songs revival movement of the early 20th century. In 1903 Cecil Sharp, a music teacher and composer, had been staying with the vicar of the neighbouring village of Hambridge when he heard a gardener singing a traditional Somerset folk song, and was immediately captivated. He began to collect folk songs, hearing them sung by villagers who had learnt them by heart, making notes which eventually enabled him to publish five series of Folk Songs of Somerset between 1904 and 1907. He went on to become the acknowledged expert on folk songs, principally of Somerset but also from other parts of England and later from the USA. Louie Hooper, with her sister Lucy White, were among the first to sing to Sharp when he first started song-collecting, and eventually sang him over 100 folk songs, all from memory. She had learnt many of her songs as a child while helping the older women of the village with glove- and shirt-making. In 1941 the BBC came to visit Louie in her home, and recorded her songs.

A beautiful cottage with a fascinating past. 700 Westport is a two bedroom cottage set in the heart of the Somerset Levels. Sleeping 4-6 people, the cottage is situated in an idyllic location with far ranging views across the Somerset Levels,close to Ilminster and Langport. Grade II listed, 700 Westport has been recently fully renovated and provides comfortable accommodation from which to explore the surrounding countryside. Accommodation; 1 x Kingsize bedroom 1 x Twin bedroom with 2x 3ft beds 1 x study/Snug with sofa bed on ground level Downstairs bathroom Upstairs toilet Lounge Facilities Wifi Welcome Pack provided Fully Equipped Kitchen Dishwasher Washing Machine Bath with Shower Gas central heating Outside BBQ Parking for 2 x cars The nearest village to the cottage, is Hambridge,under 2 miles away, Hambridge has a lovely pub – The Lamb and Lion, a village post office and shop and on the outskirts you will find the Brown and Forest Smokery shop and restaurant. Barrington The village of Barrington is just over a mile away, with the National Trust’s Barrington Court with gift shop and Barrington Pottery Curry Rivel The village of Curry Rivel has a petrol station, small shop, Living Pretty Tea Shop and an award winning pub The Firehouse Somerset – all just 4 miles from 700 Westport Langport is a small town in the heart of the Somerset Levels. With many shops, including butchers, bakers, clothes shops, cafes, craft shops and a fantastic Fish and Chip Shop – Pendra’s. There is also a Tesco supermarket for stocking up! During the summer months The Duchess of Cocklemoor – a community boat offers trips up and down the river. There is also a bicycle hire business Parrett Trail Bikes – so you can explore the area on two wheels! Illminster is a pretty little market town and hosts a number of shops, cafes,Tesco and banks. Due to the canal forming part of the garden children must be supervised at all times.