Drewsteignton
Encyclopedia
Drewsteignton is a village
and civil parish
within the administrative area of West Devon
, England
, also lying within the Dartmoor National Park. It is located in the Teign valley, 13 miles (20.9 km) west of Exeter
and 9 miles (14.5 km) south east of Okehampton
. It is known for its attractive scenery, for its picturesque village centre, and for the nearby attractions of Castle Drogo
and the beauty spot of Fingle Bridge.
period. Spinster's Rock at Shilston, within the parish, is a Neolithic chambered tomb dating from around 3000 BC, and there are stone circles of similar date in the area. Later, an Iron Age
hill fort
, now known as Prestonbury Castle, was developed on the end of a prominent ridge.
The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book
as "Taintone", meaning a village beside the Teign. By the 13th century it was known as "Teyngton Drue", part of the name coming from a local landowner Drogo, also known as Drewe de Teignton. In later years a myth developed, encouraged by the presence of the archaeological remains, that the "Drew" part of the name derived from the presence of druids, but there is no evidence to support this.
In mediaeval times, the village was relatively prosperous. It was important as a wool
producing area, and there were also limestone
quarries and a small tin
mine. The village was a stopping place on the old road from Exeter to Okehampton. Much of the village building is of granite, as is Fingle Bridge, over the Teign, which was built in the 16th or 17th century.
Historically the village formed part of Wonford Hundred.
The parish church of Holy Trinity dates mostly from the 15th century, with some later rebuilding. The village square adjoining the church may date from the original formation of the settlement. Census information indicates that Drewsteignton underwent prolonged depopulation through the 19th century, and many of its buildings have remained largely unchanged since then. The centre was designated as a conservation area
in 1972.
Among the village buildings is the Drewe Arms, a pub retaining many historic features. Previously known as The Druids' Arms, the name was changed in the 1920s when Julius Drewe
built Castle Drogo
, his family home. The pub was managed by Mabel Mudge, originally with her husband, from 1919 until 1994 when she retired at the age of 99, the oldest pub landlady in the country.
Sculptor Peter Randall-Page
lives nearby, and a number of his works can be viewed in the area, including the bench, table and bird bath in the village's community garden.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
within the administrative area of West Devon
West Devon
West Devon is a local government district and borough in Devon, England. Towns in the district include Chagford, Okehampton, Princetown, and Tavistock, where the council is based....
, 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...
, also lying within the Dartmoor National Park. It is located in the Teign valley, 13 miles (20.9 km) west of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
and 9 miles (14.5 km) south east of Okehampton
Okehampton
Okehampton is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 7,155.-History:...
. It is known for its attractive scenery, for its picturesque village centre, and for the nearby attractions of Castle Drogo
Castle Drogo
Castle Drogo is a country house near Drewsteignton, Devon, England. It was built in the 1910s and 1920s for Julius Drewe to designs by architect Edwin Lutyens, and is a Grade I listed building...
and the beauty spot of Fingle Bridge.
History
Settlement in the area dates back to the NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period. Spinster's Rock at Shilston, within the parish, is a Neolithic chambered tomb dating from around 3000 BC, and there are stone circles of similar date in the area. Later, an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
, now known as Prestonbury Castle, was developed on the end of a prominent ridge.
The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday 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 "Taintone", meaning a village beside the Teign. By the 13th century it was known as "Teyngton Drue", part of the name coming from a local landowner Drogo, also known as Drewe de Teignton. In later years a myth developed, encouraged by the presence of the archaeological remains, that the "Drew" part of the name derived from the presence of druids, but there is no evidence to support this.
In mediaeval times, the village was relatively prosperous. It was important as a wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
producing area, and there were also limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
quarries and a small tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
mine. The village was a stopping place on the old road from Exeter to Okehampton. Much of the village building is of granite, as is Fingle Bridge, over the Teign, which was built in the 16th or 17th century.
Historically the village formed part of Wonford Hundred.
The parish church of Holy Trinity dates mostly from the 15th century, with some later rebuilding. The village square adjoining the church may date from the original formation of the settlement. Census information indicates that Drewsteignton underwent prolonged depopulation through the 19th century, and many of its buildings have remained largely unchanged since then. The centre was designated as a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
in 1972.
Among the village buildings is the Drewe Arms, a pub retaining many historic features. Previously known as The Druids' Arms, the name was changed in the 1920s when Julius Drewe
Julius Drewe
Julius Charles Hendicott Drewe was an English businessman, retailer and entrepreneur, known for being the creator of the successful Home and Colonial Stores, as well as for the building of Castle Drogo in Devon as his family's country home.-Early life and career:Julius Charles Hendicott Drew...
built Castle Drogo
Castle Drogo
Castle Drogo is a country house near Drewsteignton, Devon, England. It was built in the 1910s and 1920s for Julius Drewe to designs by architect Edwin Lutyens, and is a Grade I listed building...
, his family home. The pub was managed by Mabel Mudge, originally with her husband, from 1919 until 1994 when she retired at the age of 99, the oldest pub landlady in the country.
Sculptor Peter Randall-Page
Peter Randall-Page
Peter Randall-Page is a British artist. He studied sculpture at Bath Academy of Art from 1973–77.- Biography :Randall-Page has undertaken numerous large scale commissions and has exhibited widely. His work is held in numerous public and private collections throughout the world including Japan,...
lives nearby, and a number of his works can be viewed in the area, including the bench, table and bird bath in the village's community garden.