South Zeal
Encyclopedia
South Zeal is a village on Dartmoor
, in Devon
, UK
. The village lies at the heart of the Beacon villages
area. It is the most highly populated area in the parish of South Tawton
. The name, Zeal, comes from the Old English
Zele meaning hall.
to Okehampton
and on to Cornwall
. With the passing of time, the hamlets of Shelley, Prospect and Ramsley became part of the village.
plots which stretch out behind the cottages in the main street. These were enclosed fields established by the Lord of the Manor, in the 13th century from the 'open' manorial fields. The tenants of the enclosed lands paid a cash rent instead of, as previously, occupying land by virtue of having given feudal service. Those to whom land grants were made were known as 'Burghers', they jointly managed the 'new town' formed by the settlement.
len manufacture was Devon's most valuable industry. Spinning and weaving of serge
was a major cottage industry in South Zeal and in adjacent villages, where many of the cottages had large ground floor rooms to accommodate the spinning wheels and looms. This now vanished industry is commemorated in the village names, 'Tucking Mill Field' and the adjacent 'Washing Place'. The Tucking Mill was a water powered mill in which the woven wool was beaten to give a felt
ed product. Another water powered mill existed at the site of what is now Okehayes Nursery.
The village, in serious economic decline at the end of the 18th century, gradually recovered during the following 100 years with the improvement of roads and other communications, the development of copper
mining and of the infant tourist industry. In the 19th century South Zeal housed miners working in the important Ramsley copper mine on the hill above. At this time the influx of migrant workers from Ireland
led the village to be known locally as Irishman's Town.
During the 19th century South Zeal supported its own baker
s, shoemakers, tailor
s and milliners In addition to a range of general shops and up to five pubs. However in the 20th century, particularly after 1945, local businesses appear to have declined to their present level of three pubs (two in Zeal and one in South Tawton
), one village store and Post Office
, a haulage business, web design company, yoga studio and motor repair garage. However, there are still farming businesses conducted in both villages together with a host of small service providers and internet based home businesses.
chapel and a Methodist chapel. The church is situated in the smaller South Tawton
village, down the road, for which the parish is named. The differences have their basis in history when South Tawton was a manor
and South Zeal was a village in that manor, where the manor hall
was situated.
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
, in 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...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The village lies at the heart of the Beacon villages
Beacon Villages
The Beacon Villages are a group of four English villages in the area of Dartmoor, Devon. The villages are South Zeal, South Tawton, Belstone and Sticklepath. They are named for their location near to the hill known as Cosdon Beacon.- History :...
area. It is the most highly populated area in the parish of South Tawton
South Tawton
South Tawton, a village on the North edge of Dartmoor, Devon, England is an ancient demesne , going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus.-History:...
. The name, Zeal, comes from the Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
Zele meaning hall.
Growth
South Zeal developed into the larger settlement when it was granted a charter to hold a weekly market and two annual fairs in 1299 AD. This, in turn, led to the development of trade routes and the 13th century village lay either side of the early road from ExeterExeter
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 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:...
and on to 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...
. With the passing of time, the hamlets of Shelley, Prospect and Ramsley became part of the village.
Geography
The village lies in a hollow and the surrounding roads look down on the medieval burgageBurgage
Burgage is a medieval land term used in England and Scotland, well established by the 13th century. A burgage was a town rental property , owned by a king or lord. The property usually, and distinctly, consisted of a house on a long and narrow plot of land, with the narrow end facing the street...
plots which stretch out behind the cottages in the main street. These were enclosed fields established by the Lord of the Manor, in the 13th century from the 'open' manorial fields. The tenants of the enclosed lands paid a cash rent instead of, as previously, occupying land by virtue of having given feudal service. Those to whom land grants were made were known as 'Burghers', they jointly managed the 'new town' formed by the settlement.
Industry and economy
For much of the Middle Ages and until late in the 18th century woolWool
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....
len manufacture was Devon's most valuable industry. Spinning and weaving of serge
Serge
Serge is a type of twill fabric that has diagonal lines or ridges on both sides, made with a two-up, two-down weave. The worsted variety is used in making military uniforms, suits, great coats and trench coats. Its counterpart, silk serge, is used for linings. French serge is a softer, finer variety...
was a major cottage industry in South Zeal and in adjacent villages, where many of the cottages had large ground floor rooms to accommodate the spinning wheels and looms. This now vanished industry is commemorated in the village names, 'Tucking Mill Field' and the adjacent 'Washing Place'. The Tucking Mill was a water powered mill in which the woven wool was beaten to give a felt
Felt
Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing woollen fibres. While some types of felt are very soft, some are tough enough to form construction materials. Felt can be of any colour, and made into any shape or size....
ed product. Another water powered mill existed at the site of what is now Okehayes Nursery.
The village, in serious economic decline at the end of the 18th century, gradually recovered during the following 100 years with the improvement of roads and other communications, the development of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mining and of the infant tourist industry. In the 19th century South Zeal housed miners working in the important Ramsley copper mine on the hill above. At this time the influx of migrant workers from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
led the village to be known locally as Irishman's Town.
During the 19th century South Zeal supported its own baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
s, shoemakers, tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
s and milliners In addition to a range of general shops and up to five pubs. However in the 20th century, particularly after 1945, local businesses appear to have declined to their present level of three pubs (two in Zeal and one in South Tawton
South Tawton
South Tawton, a village on the North edge of Dartmoor, Devon, England is an ancient demesne , going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus.-History:...
), one village store and Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, a haulage business, web design company, yoga studio and motor repair garage. However, there are still farming businesses conducted in both villages together with a host of small service providers and internet based home businesses.
Churches
It has a Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
chapel and a Methodist chapel. The church is situated in the smaller South Tawton
South Tawton
South Tawton, a village on the North edge of Dartmoor, Devon, England is an ancient demesne , going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus.-History:...
village, down the road, for which the parish is named. The differences have their basis in history when South Tawton was a manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
and South Zeal was a village in that manor, where the manor hall
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was situated.