Colyton, Devon

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Colyton
Colyton-standrew.jpg
St. Andrew's church, with its octagonal lantern tower
Colyton is located in Devon
Colyton
Colyton
 Colyton shown within Devon
Population 2,105 (2011)
OS grid reference SY245937
Shire county Devon
Region South West
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town COLYTON
Postcode district EX24
Dialling code 01297
Police Devon and Cornwall
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK Parliament East Devon
List of places
UK
England
Devon

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Colyton is a small town in Devon, England. It is located within the East Devon local authority area. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) from Seaton and 6 miles (9.7 km) away from Axminster. Its population in 1991 was 2,783, reducing to 2,105 at the 2011 Census.[1] Colyton is a major part of the Coly Valley electoral ward. The ward population at the above census was 4,493.[2]

History

Colyton first appeared as an ancient village around 700 AD and features in the Domesday Book as 'Culitone'. The third code of law of King Edmund I was issued at Colyton in about 945. This helped to stabilize feudal society, by stating clearly its four pillars: kingship, lordship, family, and neighbourhood.[3] It grew into an important agricultural centre and market town with a corn mill, saw mill, iron foundry and an oak bark tannery that is still functioning. Situated 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to the north of the town was Colcombe Castle, now demolished, a former seat of the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon.

It was called the "most rebellious town in Devon" due to the number of its inhabitants who joined the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685.[citation needed]

The church

A Saxon church occupied the site of St Andrew's church until replaced by the present Norman church in the 11th century. The 14th century octagonal lantern tower is said to have been used as a beacon for ships on the once navigable River Axe, to the east, although there is doubt that the tower may be seen at all from the river. The nearby vicarage dates from 1529.

Other notable features

Colyton Grammar School dates from 1546 and once occupied the part-medieval building now known as the Old Church House. In 1927 it moved to Colyford, a small village within the Colyton parish. The school has made headlines in recent years as the first school to 'opt out' of local authority control and gain grant-maintained status and for achieving very high rankings in national examination league tables.

The Seaton Tramway terminates at nearby Kingsdon on the other side of the River Coly and the town is on the route of the East Devon Way footpath.

In Summer 2006, E4 filmed their reality show Stop Treating Me Like A Kid in the town, which was broadcast in Autumn that year.

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ODNB entry for King Edmund I: Retrieved 18 August 2011. Subscription required.

External links