Three estates had a major influence on Winsham's rural community Forde Abbey, Cricket St Thomas and Leigh House.

The same is true of Leigh House where the Henley and Davies family also played an active part in village affairs.

In the nineteenth century, the West of England Woollen Mill employed large numbers (said to be 600 at its peak).

[9] A more recent structure is the Sports and Social Club (with changing rooms), located on the larger of two recreation grounds near to the centre of the village.

The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning.

Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

Winsham is the most populous area in the ward but this stretches east to West Crewkerne and north to Dowlish Wake.

[14] It is also part of the Yeovil county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

[15] St. Stephen's is an historically important site which attracts many visitors from around the world - it contains a pre-Reformation tympanum (rood screen) of the Crucifixion, and is only one of two to survive anywhere.