Aveton Gifford
Encyclopedia
Aveton Gifford is a small rural village in the south of the English
county of Devon
. It lies at the head of the estuary of the River Avon or Aune
, at the point where it is crossed by the A379 road
. It receives its name from this river and also from the family of Giffard who held the manor. Walter Giffard came across with William the Conqueror and helped with the Domesday Book.
The correct pronunciation of the name is a source of continuing and fruitless debate in the area: the alternatives are 'Awton Jifford', 'Averton Gifford' or varying combinations of the two. Today, it is frequently known locally as 'AG', a simple solution to the problem.
The village is located in the South Hams
district of Devon and is bounded by Modbury
, Bigbury
, Thurlestone
, Churchstow and Loddiswell
.
In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 772. There is currently a pub, a community village shop/post office, a primary school, a pre-school and a selection of parish organisations.
as 'one of the oldest and most interesting churches in Devon'. It was largely a cruciform building with a central tower and was completed in around 1250. In 1942 it was said to be 'well cared for' in the church log: the following year it was almost destroyed in a raid by a group of German fighter bombers. The church was rebuilt by 1957 but subsequent structural problems led to the tower being reduced to two thirds of its original height. However the two-story porch survived, along with its richly moulded thirteenth-century doorways.
in 1086 (Avetone, Heathfield and Stadbury). The bridge across the River Avon is believed to have been completed in around 1440; there have been a number of quays on the river and these have been used for the products of the local lime kilns, to bring goods from Plymouth and later for bringing coal to the village.
During its history the Avon has seen much fishing and not a little poaching and has provided a source of power to various mills.
Aveton Gifford is currently a family friendly and quite quaint and small village. The primary school even has its own swimming pool, and regular buses come through along with the school bus to the local Kingsbridge community college every morning and evening.
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...
county 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...
. It lies at the head of the estuary of the River Avon or Aune
River Avon, Devon
The River Avon, also known as the River Aune, is a river in the county of Devon in the south of England. It rises in the southern half of Dartmoor National Park in an area of bog to the west of Ryder's Hill. Close to where the river leaves Dartmoor a dam was built in 1957 to form the Avon reservoir...
, at the point where it is crossed by the A379 road
A379 road
The A379 is a road in the English county of Devon. It links points on the edges of that county's two principal cities, Exeter and Plymouth, by an indirect and largely coastal route....
. It receives its name from this river and also from the family of Giffard who held the manor. Walter Giffard came across with William the Conqueror and helped with the Domesday Book.
The correct pronunciation of the name is a source of continuing and fruitless debate in the area: the alternatives are 'Awton Jifford', 'Averton Gifford' or varying combinations of the two. Today, it is frequently known locally as 'AG', a simple solution to the problem.
The village is located in the South Hams
South Hams
South Hams is a local government district on the south coast of Devon, England with its headquarters in the town of Totnes. It contains the towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, Salcombe — the largest of which is Ivybridge with a population of 16,056....
district of Devon and is bounded by Modbury
Modbury
Modbury is a town and parish in the South Hams region of the English county of Devon. It is situated on the A379 road, which links it to Plymouth and Kingsbridge...
, Bigbury
Bigbury
Bigbury is a village and civil parish in the South Hams district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 582.The parish council meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm in Bigbury Memorial Hall...
, Thurlestone
Thurlestone
Thurlestone is a village 5 miles west of Kingsbridge in the South Hams district in south Devon, England.The village takes its name from Thurlestone Rock, the so-called "thirled stone", an arch-shaped rock formation just offshore in Thurlestone Bay.The village's All Saints church is built of the...
, Churchstow and Loddiswell
Loddiswell
Loddiswell is a parish and village in the South Hams district of Devon, England. It lies on the west side of the River Avon or Aune and is three miles NNW from Kingsbridge. There is evidence of occupation going back to Roman times...
.
In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 772. There is currently a pub, a community village shop/post office, a primary school, a pre-school and a selection of parish organisations.
Geography
The parish comprises an area of hills and valleys and in addition to the River Avon there are numerous smaller watercourses which have shaped the land. In common with the surrounding parishes Aveton Gifford contains a wide variety of plant and animal life and there is much to see for the visitor with an interest in wildlife. Within the area there are a number of footpaths and bridleways and for nature lovers a walk or ride along them is usually well rewarded at any time of year.Church
The parish church of St Andrew was described by W. G. HoskinsW. G. Hoskins
William George Hoskins CBE FSA was a British local historian who founded the first university department of English Local History. His great contribution to the study of history was in the field of landscape history...
as 'one of the oldest and most interesting churches in Devon'. It was largely a cruciform building with a central tower and was completed in around 1250. In 1942 it was said to be 'well cared for' in the church log: the following year it was almost destroyed in a raid by a group of German fighter bombers. The church was rebuilt by 1957 but subsequent structural problems led to the tower being reduced to two thirds of its original height. However the two-story porch survived, along with its richly moulded thirteenth-century doorways.
Village shop
The last privately-owned shop in the village closed in 2003. Shortly afterwards, with the support of the Parish Council the Aveton Gifford Village Shop Association was formed and a community-owned shop subsequently opened in temporary premises. Following extensive fund raising efforts the store was transferred to a purpose built timber-framed building which opened for business in August 2009.History
The area has a long history. There are indications that it was occupied in Neolithic times. At least three manors within the parish were recorded in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
in 1086 (Avetone, Heathfield and Stadbury). The bridge across the River Avon is believed to have been completed in around 1440; there have been a number of quays on the river and these have been used for the products of the local lime kilns, to bring goods from Plymouth and later for bringing coal to the village.
During its history the Avon has seen much fishing and not a little poaching and has provided a source of power to various mills.
Aveton Gifford is currently a family friendly and quite quaint and small village. The primary school even has its own swimming pool, and regular buses come through along with the school bus to the local Kingsbridge community college every morning and evening.