| Where: | Tatworth, Somerset at the Poppe Inn on Axminster Road |
| When: | Tuesday after 6th April |
| Time: | 7pm |
Stowell Mead is a pasture at Tatworth in Somerset and the right to use it is contested annually at the Candle Auction. A short candle is lit on a board hung from the pub ceiling – the highest bidder before the flame goes out wins the field for the year. It takes around 20 minutes and a traditional supper follows of bread, cheese and watercress. The custom dates back to the early nineteenth century when local farmers set up the Stowell Court to regulate landuse in the area following the enclosure of common land.
Helpful Hints
This is a strictly private event open to Members of the Court only; however, interested visitors may be admitted by prior arrangement. Don’t just turn up expecting to be let in!
In 2025 it should be on Tuesday 8th April.
Click here for the venue’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YE-OLDE-POPPE-INN-384116522440067/
View this location on the map.
My local watering hole is the Poppe Inne. I’ve lived in the village all my life.
Who is allowed to be a member of the Court ?????
Hi John,
I tried finding some contact details for the Court some time ago but didn’t get anywhere so sadly I can’t help you there! I didn’t pursue it as it isn’t run as a public event.However, I’d suggest asking at the Poppe Inne as someone there must have some contact details – I’d be interested to find out more myself so if you could pass on the details of calendarcustoms to anyone who’d be kind enough to give me some info I’d be grateful. As we live way up in Northumberland it’s not very handy for me to drop by…!
Hope you’re allowed in to the next one,
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Averil,
I live in Tatworth Street in South Chard and my 97 year old neighbor told me all about the candle auction for what he called the “water meadows” and he said only certain properties were entitled to participate and that his and mine were two such properties and he had attended a few auctions through the years. I visited the pope inn and the only information i really gleaned was “stowell court” which led me to these pages, They had a book about local history which i am trying to purchase to study further. I see your post is dated 2016 we are now 2018, did you find out anymore?
Dear Arnie,
Thanks for getting in touch! Sadly I have yet to find out any more info about the auction, though to be honest I haven’t pushed it as the organisers must want to keep it low key. It seems strange that you don’t know any more about if you have one of the qualifying properties though- maybe the local estate agents or solicitors might know something about it (you’d think that new residents would be informed when moving in?!). Sorry I can’t shed any more light on it – I’d be very interested to hear more about it if you find out though I think most of the details must be kept very quiet,
Best wishes,
Averil
John(neighbor) is 97 and his hearing is not great but he seemed to be implying that the water rights to the land transferred to the property when they were developed. I would have thought the Church would be involved as it relates to a time period when the Church were dominant but I will get to the bottom of this as “this right to attend and participate in the candle auction” adds value to my property(if true) and the opportunity to have the grassing rights to 7 acres also adds value.
I will post back here when I have discovered more
Thanks Arnie,
I’m looking forward to hearing what you find out!
Best wishes,
Averil