Atherington
Encyclopedia
Atherington is a village and civil parish
in the North Devon
district of Devon
, England
, about 8 miles south of Barnstaple
. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 391.
The church of St Mary is Perpendicular and was restored
by J. L. Pearson in 1884. The church has a screen and gallery dating back 400 years, as well as a roodloft stairway of the same age. In the loft are Elizabethan heraldic
panels.
There is also a 15th century screen across the chancel
, and a font
of the same period. The north aisle part of the screen retains the original canopy and as such is unique in Devon (it was carved by two craftsmen from Chittlehampton ca. 1540). The chancel section was brought here from Umberleign ca. 1800. The benches have elaborate carved ends, and there is some very old stained glass
.
Umberleigh railway station
is located in the nearby village of Umberleigh
which is a couple of miles away.
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 the North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
district of 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
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, about 8 miles south of Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 391.
The church of St Mary is Perpendicular and was restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
by J. L. Pearson in 1884. The church has a screen and gallery dating back 400 years, as well as a roodloft stairway of the same age. In the loft are Elizabethan heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
panels.
There is also a 15th century screen across the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, and a font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
of the same period. The north aisle part of the screen retains the original canopy and as such is unique in Devon (it was carved by two craftsmen from Chittlehampton ca. 1540). The chancel section was brought here from Umberleign ca. 1800. The benches have elaborate carved ends, and there is some very old stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
.
Umberleigh railway station
Umberleigh railway station
Umberleigh railway station serves the village of Umberleigh in Devon, England. It is on the Tarka Line north west of Exeter St David's station on the way to Barnstaple.-Services:...
is located in the nearby village of Umberleigh
Umberleigh
Umberleigh is a small village in North Devon in England. It shares an ecclesiastical parish with nearby Atherington, but is part of the civil parish of Chittlehampton.-Rail transport:...
which is a couple of miles away.