Kingsteignton
Encyclopedia
Kingsteignton is a town and civil parish
in South Devon
, England. It lies at the head of the Teign Estuary to the west of Teignmouth
in the Teignbridge
district. It is bypassed by the A380
and is also on the A383, B3193 and B3195.
Kingsteignton was, until recently, purported to be the largest village in England
, with a population of over 11,000. The threat of being incorporated into the nearby town of Newton Abbot
prompted the parish council to change the village's status to a town itself: the change took effect from 1 January 2009.
to Manaton
, Kingsteignton was a key settlement in Saxon times and gave its name to the Saxon hundred of Teignton. The hundred moot or court was held in the village but it appears that by the time of the Domesday Survey the name of the hundred had been changed to Teignbridge, possibly indicating that the site of the court had been moved. As a royal vill Kingsteignton provided rich pickings for Danish raiders who plundered it in 1001.
Medieval prosperity funded the rebuilding of the parish church (St Michaels) in the 15th century, its 85-foot tower being constructed in the 1480s. From the medieval period to the mid-19th century the parish church held an important position as the mother church of Highweek
and Newton Bushell.
The Fairwater Leat, fed by the springs at Rydon, superseded the Honeywell Spring as the established water supply in the Middle Ages and also supplied the power for three mills. A drought is said to have given rise to the annual Ram Roasting fair. According to legend there was insufficient water to baptise a child so a ram was sacrificed to the gods of the local spring. Water sprang forth and a ram has been roasted ever since at the fair, held nowadays on the late May bank holiday. Whit Tuesday was the traditional day for the fair but it was switched to Whit Monday in the early 1950s to fit in with school holidays and the later switch to the late May bank holiday was made for the same reason when the bank holiday was fixed as the last Monday in May.
Until the 13th century the Manor of Kingsteignton was a crown demesne
. In 1509 the manor passed to the Clifford family
who still hold the title of Lord of the Manor
today.
, which also includes a 6th form college and recently obtained specialist Science status. Primary schools are St Michaels and Rydon. The town is twinned with Orbec
, France.
beds created some 30–40 million years ago during the Oligocene Period lie on the eastern edge of the Bovey Basin near Kingsteignton. The exploitation of these clays began in the late 17th century when it was discovered that their properties made them eminently suitable for pipe making. Their white firing properties attracted interest from potters looking for materials to improve their wares and their exploitation was boosted in 1791 when Josiah Wedgwood
first purchased Kingsteignton clay. Over the past 200 years clay mining has brought continued employment and prosperity to Kingsteignton.
Limestone has been extensively quarried at various times on either side of Golvers Hill at Rydon, Coombesend and Gildons. Kingsteignton Quarry at Rydon (now infilled) supplied stone for the building of Buckfast Abbey
. Numerous limekilns, some still in existence, were found along the dry valley that extends from Rydon to Lindridge and along the Coombesend valley. The kiln at Kiln Forehead was demolished during the extension of Calvados Park whilst the kiln beside Rydon school was partly demolished and buried under an earth bank when the lane to Rydon Quarry was widened.
Sand and gravel has also been extensively quarried at Babcombe Copse, Sands Copse and Heathfield, the latter becoming a large landfill site.
Lysons' Magna Britannia
mentions that the ancient Britons extracted alluvial tin from the gravels deposited by the river Teign.
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...
in South 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. It lies at the head of the Teign Estuary to the west of Teignmouth
Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
in the Teignbridge
Teignbridge
Teignbridge is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Newton Abbot.Other towns in the district include Ashburton, Dawlish and Teignmouth...
district. It is bypassed by the A380
A380 road
The A380 is a road in South West England, connecting the Torbay area to the A38, and hence to the rest of Great Britain's main road network.-Route:...
and is also on the A383, B3193 and B3195.
Kingsteignton was, until recently, purported to be the largest village in England
Largest village in England
Several places claim to be the largest village in England. This title is disputed as there is no standard definition of a village and size might be determined by population or area....
, with a population of over 11,000. The threat of being incorporated into the nearby town of Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
prompted the parish council to change the village's status to a town itself: the change took effect from 1 January 2009.
History
Founded in the early 8th century by the kings of Wessex as the centre of a vast Saxon estate that extended from TeignmouthTeignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
to Manaton
Manaton
The village of Manaton is situated on the south-eastern side of Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England.The 15th century church, in a prominent spot to the north of the village green, is dedicated to St Winifred. Three of the six bells in its tower are medieval - markings on the oldest indicate a...
, Kingsteignton was a key settlement in Saxon times and gave its name to the Saxon hundred of Teignton. The hundred moot or court was held in the village but it appears that by the time of the Domesday Survey the name of the hundred had been changed to Teignbridge, possibly indicating that the site of the court had been moved. As a royal vill Kingsteignton provided rich pickings for Danish raiders who plundered it in 1001.
Medieval prosperity funded the rebuilding of the parish church (St Michaels) in the 15th century, its 85-foot tower being constructed in the 1480s. From the medieval period to the mid-19th century the parish church held an important position as the mother church of Highweek
Highweek
Highweek, less commonly called Highweek Village, is a former village, now administratively part of the market town of Newton Abbot in South Devon, England. It is prominent and recognisable due to its high location on a ridge on the north edge of the town...
and Newton Bushell.
The Fairwater Leat, fed by the springs at Rydon, superseded the Honeywell Spring as the established water supply in the Middle Ages and also supplied the power for three mills. A drought is said to have given rise to the annual Ram Roasting fair. According to legend there was insufficient water to baptise a child so a ram was sacrificed to the gods of the local spring. Water sprang forth and a ram has been roasted ever since at the fair, held nowadays on the late May bank holiday. Whit Tuesday was the traditional day for the fair but it was switched to Whit Monday in the early 1950s to fit in with school holidays and the later switch to the late May bank holiday was made for the same reason when the bank holiday was fixed as the last Monday in May.
Until the 13th century the Manor of Kingsteignton was a crown demesne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
. In 1509 the manor passed to the Clifford family
Baron Clifford of Chudleigh
Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, of Chudleigh in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1672 for Thomas Clifford...
who still hold the title of Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
today.
Culture
The local secondary school is Teign SchoolTeign School
Teign School is an 11–18 foundation comprehensive located in Kingsteignton, a small town to the north of Newton Abbot. The original 1936 building has been expanded upon substantially and numerous additional buildings have been constructed within the grounds. The school has entry level at Year...
, which also includes a 6th form college and recently obtained specialist Science status. Primary schools are St Michaels and Rydon. The town is twinned with Orbec
Orbec
Orbec is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:...
, France.
Geology
Fine quality ball clayBall clay
Ball clays are kaolinitic sedimentary clays, that commonly consist of 20-80% kaolinite, 10-25% mica, 6-65% quartz. Localized seams in the same deposit have variations in composition, including the quantity of the major minerals, accessory minerals and carbonaceous materials such as lignite...
beds created some 30–40 million years ago during the Oligocene Period lie on the eastern edge of the Bovey Basin near Kingsteignton. The exploitation of these clays began in the late 17th century when it was discovered that their properties made them eminently suitable for pipe making. Their white firing properties attracted interest from potters looking for materials to improve their wares and their exploitation was boosted in 1791 when Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood was an English potter, founder of the Wedgwood company, credited with the industrialization of the manufacture of pottery. A prominent abolitionist, Wedgwood is remembered for his "Am I Not A Man And A Brother?" anti-slavery medallion. He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family...
first purchased Kingsteignton clay. Over the past 200 years clay mining has brought continued employment and prosperity to Kingsteignton.
Limestone has been extensively quarried at various times on either side of Golvers Hill at Rydon, Coombesend and Gildons. Kingsteignton Quarry at Rydon (now infilled) supplied stone for the building of Buckfast Abbey
Buckfast Abbey
Buckfast Abbey forms part of an active Benedictine monastery at Buckfast, near Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. Dedicated to Saint Mary, it was founded in 1018 and run by the Cistercian order from 1147 until it was destroyed under the Dissolution of the Monasteries...
. Numerous limekilns, some still in existence, were found along the dry valley that extends from Rydon to Lindridge and along the Coombesend valley. The kiln at Kiln Forehead was demolished during the extension of Calvados Park whilst the kiln beside Rydon school was partly demolished and buried under an earth bank when the lane to Rydon Quarry was widened.
Sand and gravel has also been extensively quarried at Babcombe Copse, Sands Copse and Heathfield, the latter becoming a large landfill site.
Lysons' Magna Britannia
Magna Britannia
Magna Britannia, being a concise topographical account of the several counties of Great Britain was an ambitious topographical and historical survey published by the antiquarians Daniel Lysons and his brother Samuel Lysons in several volumes between 1806 and 1822...
mentions that the ancient Britons extracted alluvial tin from the gravels deposited by the river Teign.