Milton Damerel
| Milton Damerel | |
  Milton Damerel Milton Damerel shown within Devon | |
| Population | 450 |
|---|---|
| District | Torridge |
| Shire county | Devon |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOLSWORTHY |
| Postcode district | EX22 |
| Dialling code | 01409 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Torridge and West Devon |
Milton Damerel is a village parish made up of many tiny hamlets including Whitebeare, East Wonford, and West Wonford, covering 7 square miles (18 km2) in the district of Torridge, North Devon on the river Waldon.
The parish has a population of around 450 and is about 5 miles (8.0 km) from Holsworthy and 13.081 miles (21.052 km) from Bideford. Barnstaple lies some 22.642 miles (36.439 km) miles distant. The A388 is the main road through the parish.
History
Milton Damerel's settlement dates back to Saxon times. Pre-Norman communities include:
- Giddescotta or Gidcott. This was the farm or cott of a man named Gidde.
- Mideltona or Middle Town, which became 'Milton'.
- Wonforda or West Wonford. The original name meant, simply, the ford sutiable for heavy wagons.
When William the Conqueror arrived in England in 1066 he gave Milton and Gidcott and thirteen other manors in Devon, to a man named Robert de Alba Marla. West Wonford was initially granted, along with twenty-eight other manors in Devon, to a man named Ruald Adobed, but later passed back to the Crown. The name Alba Marla changed over the years to Albemarle and then to 'Damerel'.
The manors remained in the family of the Damerels until the time of Edward II. In 1293 the second Hugh Courteney was declared heir on the death of the Countess of Albemarle; in 1335, he took the title of Earl of Devon, taking on the estates of the Damerels, including Milton Damerel. [1]
In the 1870s, Richard Baker, tenant of the main farm, built a large house next to the church; in 1896 he got permission from Lord Stanhope to enclose the village green.
Church
The parish has a Grade II* listed Holy Trinity Parish Church that dates back to, in parts, the 13th century. The tower was destroyed by lighting in 1879 and for 20 years the church was in ruins but was re-opened in 1904 and the tower partly re-erected in 1892 and rebuilt in 1910 - 11. The church holds weekly services and other events in the old school room. [2]
Buildings and facilities
The parish has no schools, though the children in the parish normally go to schools in Bradworthy, Holsworthy, and North Devon College.
Milton Damerel has many small businesses that serve the local community. Although the parish doesn't have a post office, there are ones in Bradworthy, Holsworthy and a part-time one in Shebbear. [3]
The parish has a parish hall that is used for community events. It has a skittle alley attached, with skittle league matches taking place there during the winter months. The hall and skittle alley are both available for private hire.
There is a mobile library that visits the parish every two weeks. There is a permanent library in Holsworthy.
The 'Woodford Bridge Country Club' on the A388 is a former coaching inn, with a thatched roof. It is believed to be the 'Woodford Hall' where the diatomist Frederick Mills lived in the 1930s. [4]
Public transport
There is a bus service that operates 4 times a day, in each direction, along the A388 between Holsworthy and Bideford and then on to Barnstaple. On Saturday mornings a bus used to go to Launceston, Tavistock and Plymouth with a return service later in the day. This service however no longer is in operation.
Gallery
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Chapel at Milton Damerel
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Milton Damerel's church
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Milton Damerel's playground
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Cottages at Milton Damerel
References
- ↑ History of Milton Damerel http://www.miltondamerel.com/history.htm
- ↑ British Listed Buildings http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-91596-church-of-holy-trinity-milton-damerel-dev
- ↑ Milton Damerel community website http://www.miltondamerel.com/about.htm
- ↑ David Walker: 'Notes on aspects of the life and work of Frederick William Mills (1868-1949), diatomist' http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artmay12/dw-fwmills.html
