Cullompton is a town and civil parish in the district of Mid Devon and the county of Devon, England, locally known as Cully. It is 13 miles north-east of Exeter and lies on the River Culm. The earliest evidence of occupation is from the Roman period – there was a fort on the hill above the town and occupation in the current town centre. Columtune was mentioned in Alfred the Great's will which left it to his youngest son Aethelweard (c.880-922). In the past the town's economy had a large component of wool and cloth manufacture, then later leather working and paper manufacture.
A large proportion of town's inhabitants are commuters but there is some local manufacturing, including flour and paper mills. It has a monthly farmers' market held on the second Saturday of every month which is the oldest event of its kind in the South West. It is home to two grade I listed buildings: the fifteenth-century St Andrew's parish church and the seventeenth-century house known as The Walronds. The centre of the town is the only conservation area in Mid Devon and there are seven grade II* listed buildings and ninety grade II listed buildings in the parish.
The derivation of the name Cullompton is disputed. One derivation is that the town's name means Farmstead on the River Culm with Culm probably meaning knot or tie (referring to the river's twists and loops). In 1805 or 1806 the last bull-baiting in the town took place. On 7 July 1839, a severe fire destroyed many houses in Cullompton.
Cullompton is 4 miles (6.4 km) south-east of Tiverton, 13 miles (21 km) north-north-east of Exeter and 149 miles (240 km) west-south-west of London. It is at about 70 m above sea level. The parish covers nearly 8,000 acres (32 km2) and stretches for 7 miles (11 km) along the Culm valley.
The street plan of the town still reflects the medieval layout of the town. Most shops lie along Fore Street with courts behind them linked by alleyways. The length of the high street reflects the prosperity of the town from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century when it was a centre of the cloth trade. The street plan is still fundamentally the same as shown on a map of 1663, with a wider area at the North end where markets were held, roads to Tiverton and Ponsford and a small lane leading down to a mill (now known as Lower Mill). This map has only two buildings with roofs coloured blue (conventionally meaning they were of slate) – St Andrew's church and the Walronds. There are two grade I listed buildings in Cullompton: the fifteenth century parish church (St Andrew's) and the Walronds at 6 Fore Street. There are also seven grade II* listed buildings and ninety grade II listed buildings. The centre of the town is a conservation area – the only one in the Mid Devon area. Hillersdon House, a Victorian manor house is near to the town centre and within the parish.
The Walronds was probably built in 1605 which is the date over the hall fireplace. St Andrew's church dates from the fifteenth century. Cullompton Manor House is a grade II* listed building with sections built in 1603 (dated panel and initials TT for Thomas Trock on the top corner of the front of the house) and 1718 (on a lead cistern head of a drainpipe, are the letters (L) S/WT (R) and the date 1718). Running parallel to the main high street is a leat with a public footpath running along it. The leat runs from Head Weir, north of Cullompton.
Junction 28 of the M5 lies within the parish of Cullompton and a short distance from the town centre. The Bristol and Exeter Railway opened Cullompton railway station when the railway opened on 1 May 1844. Devon County Council's Travel Transport Plan includes the reopening of Cullompton Railway Station.
( Cullompton - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Cullompton . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Cullompton - UK
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SPRINGFIELD MEADOWS, HALWILL JUNCTION, BEAWORTHY, DEVON
Paul Hamilton visits Springfield Meadows, Halwill Junction, Beaworthy, Devon (tel: 01409 221657 springfieldmeadows.co.uk Sat Nav. EX21 5UF) for the Angler's Mail Where to Fish series.
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Stonerush Lakes
Set seven miles from the renowned fishing villages of Polperro and Fowey, Stonerush Lakes is situated in the agricultural heartland of Cornwall.
Hidden within the landscape, this twenty-eight acre estate offers a wide variety of lodges each with individual character, either alongside or with a stunning view of the lakes, beside a babbling brook or set back into a sun drenched hillside.