Honiton
Encyclopedia
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon
, situated close to the River Otter
, 17 miles (27.4 km) north east of Exeter
in the county of Devon
. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, ˈhʌnitən and ˈhɒnitən, each pronunciation having its adherents. Honiton has a population estimated at 11,822 (based on mid-year estimates for the two Honiton Wards in 2009).
, the ancient Roman road
linking Exeter
(Isca Dumnoniorum
) to Lincoln
(Lindum) on which it was an important stopping point. The location is mentioned in the Domesday Book
as Honetone, meaning a farm belonging to Huna. It became an important market town known for its lace
making that was introduced by Flemish
immigrants in the Elizabethan era. In the 17th century thousands of people produced lace by hand in their homes and later in the 19th Century Queen Victoria had her wedding dress
made of Honiton lace. The town also became known for its pottery
. In the mid 18th century the town was largely destroyed by fire. Georgian
houses were then built to replace some of those that had been destroyed. Honiton more than doubled in size between the 1960s and 2005 with most development taking place south of the Exeter
to Waterloo
railway line.
At noon, the Town Crier
accompanied by the Mayor
and other local dignitaries, raises a garlanded pole with gloved hand at the top, and proclaims that "no man may be arrested so long as this glove is up". Warm pennies are then thrown from a number of balconies in the High Street to crowds of local people. The pole is then kept on display for the following "fair week". The children of Honiton Community College
are allowed off campus for the duration of the Hot Pennies Ceremony itself.
(Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
) to the south and the Blackdown Hills
AONB to the north and east. AONBs have the same level of protection as National Parks of England and Wales
which restricts new developments.
. The buildings of High Street are almost all Georgian, dating from after the two fires of 1747 and 1765. Of particular interest are Marwood House, 1619, and the Manor House, which was originally a coaching inn (the added porch is 19th century). Honiton Garage dates from about 1700 and the Market Hall (which originally had arcades on the ground floor and an assembly room above) has a modest early 19th century stone front.
St Michael's Parish Church, which was rebuilt in 1911 after a fire, is situated on a small hill above the town. The old church was large and perfectly rectangular: it was built in the Perpendicular style, with two aisles, two transepts (which did not project), and the chancel and two chancel chapels equal to it in length. The west tower and the outer walls are all that remains of the old building. The cost of the original building was paid by Bishop Courtenay of Exeter, lord of the manor of Honiton (west part) and by John and Joan Takell (east part).
The mid 19th century St Paul's Church was designed by Charles Fowler
and is situated in the centre of the town. Its erection in 1835 required an act of Parliament and the demolition of half of the adjacent Allhallows Chapel. It was built in 1837-38 in a style incorporating elements of Romanesque architecture. There are pinnacles on the tower and the arcades inside have tall columns; above the nave is a clerestory which resembles those in early Christian basilicas.
Honiton is host to the annual Honiton Agricultural Show, a traditional event dating back to 1890.
, which includes a sixth form
.
The further education
college Petroc has a centre on the Heathpark Industrial Estate.
, Argos and Tesco
. Honiton has a good number of independent retailers including a bookshop,several garden centres /plant nurseries, fishing tackle shop, jeweller, clothing boutiques, cycle shop, butcher, delicatessen and a fishmonger. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, an outdoor market is held on the High Street. Honiton is also popular with antique hunters, boasting over 20 antique shops.
The local rugby team is Honiton Rugby Club. The club was founded in 1883. They are currently in the Devon and Cornwall league having been promoted during the 2009/10 season. It also has a very popular youth section.
The local football team is Honiton Town F.C. It also has an active youth football section.
, the A30
and the A373 roads. The A30 now bypasses the town to the north. Until the bypass's construction in 1966, the town was blighted by traffic congestion. The town is 10.5 miles (17 km) from Junction 28 of the M5
.
is on the West of England Main Line
that runs from London Waterloo to Exeter
.
in France, and Gronau-Leine
in Germany.
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...
, situated close to the River Otter
River Otter
Not to be confused with the animal Otter or the River Ottery in CornwallThe River Otter rises in the Blackdown Hills just inside the county of Somerset, near Otterford, then flows south for some 32 km through East Devon to the English Channel at the western end of Lyme Bay, part of...
, 17 miles (27.4 km) north east 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...
in the county 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...
. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, ˈhʌnitən and ˈhɒnitən, each pronunciation having its adherents. Honiton has a population estimated at 11,822 (based on mid-year estimates for the two Honiton Wards in 2009).
History
The town grew along the line of the Fosse WayFosse Way
The Fosse Way was a Roman road in England that linked Exeter in South West England to Lincoln in Lincolnshire, via Ilchester , Bath , Cirencester and Leicester .It joined Akeman Street and Ermin Way at Cirencester, crossed Watling Street at Venonis south...
, the ancient Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
linking 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...
(Isca Dumnoniorum
Isca Dumnoniorum
Isca Dumnoniorum was a town in the Roman province of Britannia and the capital of Dumnonia in the sub-Roman period. Today it is known as Exeter, located in the English county of Devon.-Fortress:...
) to Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
(Lindum) on which it was an important stopping point. The location is 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 Honetone, meaning a farm belonging to Huna. It became an important market town known for its lace
Bobbin lace
Bobbin lace is a lace textile made by braiding and twisting lengths of thread, which are wound on bobbins to manage them. As the work progresses, the weaving is held in place with pins set in a lace pillow, the placement of the pins usually determined by a pattern or pricking pinned on the...
making that was introduced by Flemish
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
immigrants in the Elizabethan era. In the 17th century thousands of people produced lace by hand in their homes and later in the 19th Century Queen Victoria had her wedding dress
Wedding dress of Queen Victoria
The Wedding dress of Queen Victoria was worn by Victoria of the United Kingdom in her wedding to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on February 10, 1840. She selected a simple white dress with a full-pleated skirt, then considered a very conservative choice at a time when colours had been the...
made of Honiton lace. The town also became known for its pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
. In the mid 18th century the town was largely destroyed by fire. Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
houses were then built to replace some of those that had been destroyed. Honiton more than doubled in size between the 1960s and 2005 with most development taking place south of the 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...
to Waterloo
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
railway line.
Local customs
The Hot Pennies ceremony takes place annually on the first Tuesday after 19 July in the High Street of the town, and dates back to the 13th Century. The ceremony has its roots in the practice of landed gentry taking pleasure in throwing hot pennies from windows to local peasants, a seemingly philanthropic gesture resulting in burns. The custom also had the purpose of encouraging people to travel to the town from the surrounding area to attend a subsequent fair.At noon, 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...
accompanied by the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and other local dignitaries, raises a garlanded pole with gloved hand at the top, and proclaims that "no man may be arrested so long as this glove is up". Warm pennies are then thrown from a number of balconies in the High Street to crowds of local people. The pole is then kept on display for the following "fair week". The children of Honiton Community College
Honiton Community College
Honiton Community College is a comprehensive school located in Honiton, Devon, England. The college educates around 1,050 students, of whom 125 are in the sixth form. Specialist status in science was awarded in 2005....
are allowed off campus for the duration of the Hot Pennies Ceremony itself.
Features
The size of Honiton in 2005 was approximately 3.2 sqkm. Further development will be limited as Honiton borders the East Devon AONBEast Devon AONB
East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers over of the East Devon countryside .This countryside includes eighteen miles of Heritage coastline...
(Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
) to the south and the Blackdown Hills
Blackdown Hills
The Blackdown Hills are a range of hills along the Somerset-Devon border in south-western England, which were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1991....
AONB to the north and east. AONBs have the same level of protection as National Parks of England and Wales
National parks of England and Wales
The national parks of England and Wales are areas of relatively undeveloped and scenic landscape that are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949...
which restricts new developments.
There are still indications of its history as a centre for lace making, such as places called "Lace Walk" and the "Honiton Lace Shop". Now a Chinese style restaurant, the shop’s role has been filled by the Allhallows Museum of Lace and Local Antiquities. The museum was once Allhallows Chapel, built in the 13th century, and reputed to be the oldest building in Honiton. It was once the home of Allhallows School
Allhallows College
Allhallows College, previously known as Allhallows School, was an independent boys 'public school' in Devon, England, predominantly boarding.-History:...
. The buildings of High Street are almost all Georgian, dating from after the two fires of 1747 and 1765. Of particular interest are Marwood House, 1619, and the Manor House, which was originally a coaching inn (the added porch is 19th century). Honiton Garage dates from about 1700 and the Market Hall (which originally had arcades on the ground floor and an assembly room above) has a modest early 19th century stone front.
St Michael's Parish Church, which was rebuilt in 1911 after a fire, is situated on a small hill above the town. The old church was large and perfectly rectangular: it was built in the Perpendicular style, with two aisles, two transepts (which did not project), and the chancel and two chancel chapels equal to it in length. The west tower and the outer walls are all that remains of the old building. The cost of the original building was paid by Bishop Courtenay of Exeter, lord of the manor of Honiton (west part) and by John and Joan Takell (east part).
The mid 19th century St Paul's Church was designed by Charles Fowler
Charles Fowler
Charles Fowler , English architect, was born at Cullompton, Devon.After serving an apprenticeship of seven years with John Powning of Exeter, he went to London in 1814, and entered the office of David Laing, where he remained until he commenced practice for himself...
and is situated in the centre of the town. Its erection in 1835 required an act of Parliament and the demolition of half of the adjacent Allhallows Chapel. It was built in 1837-38 in a style incorporating elements of Romanesque architecture. There are pinnacles on the tower and the arcades inside have tall columns; above the nave is a clerestory which resembles those in early Christian basilicas.
Honiton is host to the annual Honiton Agricultural Show, a traditional event dating back to 1890.
Education
Honiton has two primary schools and a secondary school Honiton Community CollegeHoniton Community College
Honiton Community College is a comprehensive school located in Honiton, Devon, England. The college educates around 1,050 students, of whom 125 are in the sixth form. Specialist status in science was awarded in 2005....
, which includes a sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
.
The further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
college Petroc has a centre on the Heathpark Industrial Estate.
Shops and leisure facilities
In Honiton there is a sports centre with swimming pool, and just outside the town centre there are shops such as HomebaseHomebase
Homebase is a British home improvement store and garden centre, with 350 stores across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is well known by its green and orange colour scheme. Together with its sister company Argos , it forms part of Home Retail Group. Homebase recorded sales figures...
, Argos and Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
. Honiton has a good number of independent retailers including a bookshop,several garden centres /plant nurseries, fishing tackle shop, jeweller, clothing boutiques, cycle shop, butcher, delicatessen and a fishmonger. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, an outdoor market is held on the High Street. Honiton is also popular with antique hunters, boasting over 20 antique shops.
The local rugby team is Honiton Rugby Club. The club was founded in 1883. They are currently in the Devon and Cornwall league having been promoted during the 2009/10 season. It also has a very popular youth section.
The local football team is Honiton Town F.C. It also has an active youth football section.
Road
Honiton is at the junction of the A35A35 road
The A35 is a trunk road in southern England, running from Honiton in Devon, that then passes through Dorset and terminates in Southampton, Hampshire...
, the A30
A30 road
The 284 miles A30 road from London to Land's End, historically known as the Great South West Road used to provide the most direct route from London to the south west; more recently the M3 motorway and A303 road performs this function for much of the route and only parts of A30 now retain trunk...
and the A373 roads. The A30 now bypasses the town to the north. Until the bypass's construction in 1966, the town was blighted by traffic congestion. The town is 10.5 miles (17 km) from Junction 28 of the M5
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
.
Rail
Honiton railway stationHoniton railway station
Honiton railway station serves the town of Honiton in East Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route.-History:...
is on the West of England Main Line
West of England Main Line
The West of England Main Line is a British railway line that runs from , Hampshire to Exeter St Davids in Devon, England. Passenger services run between London Waterloo station and Exeter...
that runs from London Waterloo to 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...
.
Twin towns
Honiton is twinned with Mézidon-CanonMézidon-Canon
-References:*...
in France, and Gronau-Leine
Gronau, Lower Saxony
Gronau is a town and a municipality in the district of Hildesheim, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Leine, approx. 15 km southwest of Hildesheim, and 35 km south of Hanover....
in Germany.
Notable residents
- Ozias Humphry – miniaturist (artist)
- Jo PaveyJo PaveyJoanne Pavey is a track and field athlete, competing internationally for Great Britain. She competes mainly in the 5000 metres distance but also on 1500 metres, 3000 metres and 10,000 metres events, and road racing. In 2006 she won silver in the 5000 m in the Commonwealth Games...
- athlete - William SalterWilliam Salter (artist)William Salter was an English portrait painter of the 19th century. His best known work was a painting of 83 people at a banquet in 1836 organised by the Duke of Wellington to celebrate their victory at the Battle of Waterloo...
– portrait painter