About the Simonsbath Festival
The Simonsbath Festival is a not-for-profit community celebration that embraces the rich heritage of Exmoor. Taking place during the month of May, the festival offers a diverse range of events, from engaging talks to performances of classical, folk, and jazz music.
A key part of the festival’s mission is working with local schools to deliver a series of music workshops. These sessions culminate in a Midsummer Family and Community Concert, continuing our commitment to reviving and preserving the traditional music and songs of the Exmoor Forest.
Simonsbath and the Forest of Exmoor
Simonsbath and the historic St Luke’s Church lie at the heart of the ancient Exmoor Forest and are closely tied to its enclosure and development—particularly through the efforts of the pioneering Knight family.
The Exmoor Forest refers to the former Royal Forest, an untamed expanse of moorland that once belonged to the Crown. Today, it sits at the core of the Exmoor National Park, spanning over 20,000 acres and centred around Simonsbath.
The original boundary of the Forest stretches for 32 miles, much of which can still be traced along surviving boundary walls.
The Knight Family and the Shaping of Simonsbath
In 1818, industrialist John Knight, from Wolverley near Kidderminster, purchased the Exmoor Forest. Driven by ambition and vision, Knight aimed to transform the moorland into productive farmland using the latest agricultural practices of the time.
He faced significant challenges—Exmoor’s harsh climate and remote terrain being chief among them. At the time of purchase, the area was largely treeless and uninhabited, with no roads and just a single dwelling.
His son, Frederic Knight, took over in 1841 and made substantial progress. Under his stewardship, new farms were established, hedgerows planted, and infrastructure developed. A boundary wall was built around the Forest, and Simonsbath began to grow, gaining a school, a shop, and a Post Office.
By 1852, the estate supported 281 residents and 30 children were enrolled at Simonsbath School. Fourteen farmhouses and cottages had been constructed, and mining activity had brought additional settlers. Frederic also sought and received permission to build a church—St Luke’s—which now serves as the festival’s main performance venue.
For further information, see the Wikipedia article on Simonsbath.
Exmoor National Park – One of Britain’s Breathing Spaces
Exmoor National Park covers 267 square miles (692 square kilometres) of varied and striking landscapes, including moorland, wooded valleys, farmland and a dramatic coastline that plunges into the Bristol Channel. Shaped over millennia by both nature and people, Exmoor offers an inspiring mix of natural beauty and cultural heritage.
It’s a place to find peace and solitude or to rekindle a sense of adventure—whether spotting wild red deer, marvelling at the brilliance of the stars in one of the darkest skies in the UK, or wandering through villages steeped in character.
Exmoor was the first area in Europe to be designated an International Dark Sky Reserve, recognising its exceptional night skies and commitment to reducing light pollution.
National Park Centres in Dunster, Dulverton and Lynmouth are open to visitors, offering expert advice and guidance. For more details, visit the Exmoor National Park website.