Holsworthy, Devon
Encyclopedia
Holsworthy is a market town
in the north west of Devon
, England
. It is situated near the county border with Cornwall
, and is 9 miles from the coastal resort of Bude
. It is on the intersection of the A388 and A3072 roads, and lies on the River Deer, a tributary of the Tamar
. The population increased by 15% from 1981 to 1999 and was estimated at 2,116: the census figure for 2001 is 2,256.
Holsworthy is a historic market town with hundreds of years of history and is mentioned in the Domesday Book
, as being part of the estate of Harold Godwinson
. The town has occupied a hill top site since Saxon times, and in 1154 became a safe trading centre (known as a port town). The date of the original charter for the Market and Charter fair
is between 1154 and 1185.
At that time, the spokesman for the inhabitants was known as the Portreeve
and the ruling council as the Court Leet
. The Court Leet used to hold their tribunals beneath the Great Tree, and a metal disc set in the road on Stanhope Street marks the site.
A second charter was granted by James I of England
in 1614 and this is proclaimed by the Town crier
on Wednesday of St Peter’s Fair. Holsworthy is twinned with Aunay-sur-Odon
, Calvados
, France
.
Holsworthy was the birthplace in 1886 of the prominent Methodist
minister and ecumenist
Robert Newton Flew
.
The Church of St Peter and St Paul is the parish church, and there has been a church on the site since around 1130 . Carvings from the original church were incorporated into the porch of the present church, and the church is famous for being one of the few in the country with the Devil in stained glass. It also gained fame for S. S. Wesley's music, Holsworthy Church Bells--composed for the chiming drum. The tower was built around 1450.
It has a thriving outdoor Pannier Market every Wednesday, along with one of the largest livestock
markets in South West England
. The livestock market has been held on the same site since 1905.
During Fair week, the annual presentation of the Pretty Maid takes place. This ceremony, which dates back to 1841, was created when a legacy left by the Reverend Thomas Meyrick was established that stipulated that the annual income of the legacy was to be paid to a young maid from Holsworthy.
Reflecting the changing fortunes of farming and the local community, a one day Agricultural Show
, which began in 1886, is held annually at the end of July. It used to be held in May and was Devon’s first agricultural show of the season.
Holsworthy Carnival is held every November. This is Devon’s last carnival of the season.
During World War II
, POW Camp No. 42 (Exhibition Field Camp) was situated at what is now Stanhope Close. The Church of St Peter now displays a crucifix
, carved by a German POW, and also two hand painted stained glass
windows made by Italian POWs, used in a hut which served as their Roman Catholic church
.
facility in the UK. Turning dairy farm slurry
into biogas
, the plant has an installed capacity of 2.1 MW. There are proposals to provide low cost heat to the householders of the town from the plant.
The railway arrived in 1879, and was operated by the Devon & Cornwall Railway Company. Holsworthy railway station
was closed in 1966, but the viaducts, built either side of Holsworthy, still exist.
Now, Holsworthy has two main bus services:
, Derriton and Bridgerule
.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in the north west of Devon
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 situated near the county border with Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, and is 9 miles from the coastal resort of Bude
Bude
Bude is a small seaside resort town in North Cornwall, England, at the mouth of the River Neet . It lies just south of Flexbury, north of Widemouth Bay and west of Stratton and is located along the A3073 road off the A39. Bude is twinned with Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, France...
. It is on the intersection of the A388 and A3072 roads, and lies on the River Deer, a tributary of the Tamar
River Tamar
The Tamar is a river in South West England, that forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall . It is one of several British rivers whose ancient name is assumed to be derived from a prehistoric river word apparently meaning "dark flowing" and which it shares with the River Thames.The...
. The population increased by 15% from 1981 to 1999 and was estimated at 2,116: the census figure for 2001 is 2,256.
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 being part of the estate of Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...
. The town has occupied a hill top site since Saxon times, and in 1154 became a safe trading centre (known as a port town). The date of the original charter for the Market and Charter fair
Charter fair
A charter fair in England is a street fair or market which was established by Royal Charter. Many charter fairs date back to the Middle Ages, with their heyday occurring during the 13th century...
is between 1154 and 1185.
At that time, the spokesman for the inhabitants was known as the Portreeve
Portreeve
A portreeve, or 'port warden' is a historical British political appointment with a fluctuating role which evolved over time.The origins of the position are in the reign of Edward the Elder, who, in order to ensure that taxes were correctly exacted, forbade the conducting of trades outside of a...
and the ruling council as the Court Leet
Court leet
The court leet was a historical court baron of England and Wales and Ireland that exercised the "view of frankpledge" and its attendant police jurisdiction, which was normally restricted to the hundred courts.-History:...
. The Court Leet used to hold their tribunals beneath the Great Tree, and a metal disc set in the road on Stanhope Street marks the site.
A second charter was granted by James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
in 1614 and this is proclaimed by the Town crier
Town crier
A town crier, or bellman, is an officer of the court who makes public pronouncements as required by the court . The crier can also be used to make public announcements in the streets...
on Wednesday of St Peter’s Fair. Holsworthy is twinned with Aunay-sur-Odon
Aunay-sur-Odon
Aunay-sur-Odon is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Twin towns:* Holsworthy since 1976....
, Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Holsworthy was the birthplace in 1886 of the prominent Methodist
Methodist Church of Great Britain
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is the largest Wesleyan Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations across Great Britain . It is the United Kingdom's fourth largest Christian denomination, with around 300,000 members and 6,000 churches...
minister and ecumenist
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
Robert Newton Flew
Robert Newton Flew
Robert Newton Flew Robert Newton Flew Robert Newton Flew ((1886–1962) was an English Methodist minister and theologian, and an advocate of ecumenism among the Christian churches.-Family and education:...
.
The Church of St Peter and St Paul
Festivals and events
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
markets in South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
. The livestock market has been held on the same site since 1905.
- CraftCraftA craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
Fairs held 4 times a year in the Memorial Hall. - Farmers Market held every Wednesday.
- A Vintage carVintage carA vintage car is commonly defined as a car built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930 known as the "Vintage era". There is little debate about the start date of the vintage period—the end of World War I is a nicely defined marker there—but the end date is a matter of a little...
Rally is held every June. - St Peter’s Fair is held every July, lasts for one week, and there is live entertainment / music. The Fair was originally held in what is now the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul's Church. Over time, it became the custom to hold the Fair on the feast day of the Saint that the church was dedicated to, so the Fair was named after St. Peter. It had to relocate in 1285 due to the Statute of Winchester, and because the Gregorian calendarGregorian calendarThe Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
was altered in 1752 by the omission of 11 days, the fair has been held 11 days after the feast day of St. Peter (29 June).
During Fair week, the annual presentation of the Pretty Maid takes place. This ceremony, which dates back to 1841, was created when a legacy left by the Reverend Thomas Meyrick was established that stipulated that the annual income of the legacy was to be paid to a young maid from Holsworthy.
Reflecting the changing fortunes of farming and the local community, a one day Agricultural Show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
, which began in 1886, is held annually at the end of July. It used to be held in May and was Devon’s first agricultural show of the season.
Holsworthy Carnival is held every November. This is Devon’s last carnival of the season.
World War two
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, POW Camp No. 42 (Exhibition Field Camp) was situated at what is now Stanhope Close. The Church of St Peter now displays a crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
, carved by a German POW, and also two hand painted stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows made by Italian POWs, used in a hut which served as their Roman Catholic church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Industry
Holsworthy is home to the only centralised Anaerobic DigestionAnaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. It is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste and/or to release energy....
facility in the UK. Turning dairy farm slurry
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
into biogas
Biogas
Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...
, the plant has an installed capacity of 2.1 MW. There are proposals to provide low cost heat to the householders of the town from the plant.
Railway
Holsworthy railway station
Holsworthy was a railway station on the now closed railway line from Okehampton to Bude. It opened in 1879 to serve the market town of Holsworthy in Devon and closed in 1966, a victim of the Beeching Axe.- History :...
was closed in 1966, but the viaducts, built either side of Holsworthy, still exist.
Now, Holsworthy has two main bus services:
- X9 - Exeter to Bude - Operated by First
- 85 - Holsworthy to Barnstaple - operated by Stagecoach
Villages nearby
Nearby settlements include the villages of Milton Damerel, Clawton, PyworthyPyworthy
Pyworthy is a village in Devon.-St. Swithin's Church:There is a 13th century church dedicated to Saint Swithin in Pyworthy, and is one of the few old Devon churches having a clerestory, the others being North Molton, South Molton, Cullompton, Tiverton and Poltimore.-References:**...
, Derriton and Bridgerule
Bridgerule
Bridgerule is a village and civil parish in Devon, England, a mile from the border with Cornwall. The parish is divided by the River Tamar, which no longer forms the border between Devon and Cornwall there. The river frequently floods the High Street....
.