Colyton, Devon
Encyclopedia
Colyton is a small town in Devon
, England
. It is located within the East Devon
local authority area. It is 3 miles away from Seaton
and 6 miles away from Axminster
. Its population in 1991 was 2,783.
as 'Culitone'. The third code of law of King Edmund I was issued at Colyton in about 945. This helped to stabilize feudal society, by stating clearly its four pillars: kingship, lordship, family, and neighbourhood. It grew into an important agricultural centre and market town with a corn mill, saw mill, iron
foundry
and an oak
bark tannery
that is still functioning.
It was called the "most rebellious town in Devon" due to the number of its inhabitants who joined the Monmouth Rebellion
in 1685.
church occupied the site of St Andrew's church until replaced by the present Norman
church in the 11th century. The 14th century octagonal lantern tower is said to have been used as a beacon for ships on the once navigable River Axe
, to the east, although there is doubt that the tower may be seen at all from the river. The nearby vicarage dates from 1529.
dates from 1546 and once occupied the part-medieval building now known as the Old Church House. In 1927 it moved to Colyford
, a small town within the Colyton parish. The school has made headlines in recent years as the first school to 'opt out' of local authority control and gain grant-maintained
status and for achieving very high rankings in national examination league tables.
The Seaton Tramway
terminates at nearby Kingsdon on the other side of the River Coly and the town is on the route of the East Devon Way
footpath.
In Summer 2006, E4 filmed their reality show Stop Treating Me Like A Kid in the town, which was broadcast in Autumn that year.
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located within the East Devon
East Devon
East Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Sidmouth, and the largest town is Exmouth.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Honiton with the urban districts of Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Ottery St. Mary, Seaton, Sidmouth...
local authority area. It is 3 miles away from Seaton
Seaton, Devon
Seaton is a seaside town in East Devon on the south coast of England. It faces onto Lyme Bay, to the west of the mouth of the River Axe with red cliffs to one side and white cliffs on the other. Axmouth and Beer are nearby...
and 6 miles away from Axminster
Axminster
Axminster is a market town and civil parish on the eastern border of Devon in England. The town is built on a hill overlooking the River Axe which heads towards the English Channel at Axmouth, and is in the East Devon local government district. It has a population of 5,626. The market is still...
. Its population in 1991 was 2,783.
History
Colyton first appeared as an ancient village around 700 AD and features in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as 'Culitone'. The third code of law of King Edmund I was issued at Colyton in about 945. This helped to stabilize feudal society, by stating clearly its four pillars: kingship, lordship, family, and neighbourhood. It grew into an important agricultural centre and market town with a corn mill, saw mill, iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
and an oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
bark tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
that is still functioning.
It was called the "most rebellious town in Devon" due to the number of its inhabitants who joined the Monmouth Rebellion
Monmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
in 1685.
The church
A SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
church occupied the site of St Andrew's church until replaced by the present Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
church in the 11th century. The 14th century octagonal lantern tower is said to have been used as a beacon for ships on the once navigable River Axe
River Axe, Devon
The River Axe is a river in Dorset, Somerset and Devon, in the south-west of England.It rises near Beaminster in Dorset, flows west then south by Axminster and joins the English Channel at Axmouth near Seaton in Lyme Bay...
, to the east, although there is doubt that the tower may be seen at all from the river. The nearby vicarage dates from 1529.
Other notable features
Colyton Grammar SchoolColyton Grammar School
Colyton Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school located in the village of Colyford in East Devon and teaches students from years 7 to 13 ....
dates from 1546 and once occupied the part-medieval building now known as the Old Church House. In 1927 it moved to Colyford
Colyford
Colyford is a village in East Devon, England. It is adjacent to the town of Colyton to the north and lies within its civil parish boundaries.-Features:...
, a small town within the Colyton parish. The school has made headlines in recent years as the first school to 'opt out' of local authority control and gain grant-maintained
Grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained schools were state schools in England and Wales between 1988 and 1998 that had opted out of local government control, being funded directly by a grant from central government...
status and for achieving very high rankings in national examination league tables.
The Seaton Tramway
Seaton Tramway
The Seaton Tramway is an narrow gauge electric tramway which operates over the route of a a former British Railways branch line in Seaton, Devon...
terminates at nearby Kingsdon on the other side of the River Coly and the town is on the route of the East Devon Way
East Devon Way
The East Devon Way is a long distance footpath in England. It runs for 38 miles between Exmouth in East Devon and Lyme Regis in Dorset.Landscapes seen on the path include; estuary, high open commons, woodlands and river valleys. The route includes some fairly steep climbs but is generally not...
footpath.
In Summer 2006, E4 filmed their reality show Stop Treating Me Like A Kid in the town, which was broadcast in Autumn that year.