Broadwoodwidger
Encyclopedia
Broadwoodwidger is a village and civil parish
in the Torridge
district of Devon
, England
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 548. The village is just off the A30 road
, and is about eight miles east of Launceston in Cornwall
, and 13 miles west of Okehampton
. Roadford Reservoir, which is also called Roadford Lake
, is to the north-east of the village, and the River Wolf
passes at the bottom of the hillside on which the village stands.
Broadwoodwidger has a church on top of the hill, with views to Brentor
and surrounding countryside. There is a village green, phone box, bus shelter and post box. The parish has a small primary school three miles north of the village at Ivyhouse Cross. The church is 15th century, with some 13th century features such as the tower and chancel
. There is also a Norman font, and benches with carvings of curious animals. Broadwoodwidger was from 1876 to 1922 in the Diocese of Truro
but was then returned to the Diocese of Exeter
.
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 Torridge
Torridge
Torridge is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Bideford. Other towns and villages in the district include Holsworthy, Great Torrington, Hartland and Westward Ho!. The Island of Lundy is administratively part of the District...
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...
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 548. The village is just off the A30 road
A30 road
The 284 miles A30 road from London to Land's End, historically known as the Great South West Road used to provide the most direct route from London to the south west; more recently the M3 motorway and A303 road performs this function for much of the route and only parts of A30 now retain trunk...
, and is about eight miles east of Launceston in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, and 13 miles west of Okehampton
Okehampton
Okehampton is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 7,155.-History:...
. Roadford Reservoir, which is also called Roadford Lake
Roadford Lake
Roadford Lake, also known as Roadford Reservoir is a man-made reservoir fed by the River Wolf. It is located to the north-east of Broadwoodwidger in West Devon, eight miles east of Launceston. It is the largest area of fresh water in the southwest of England. Operated by South West Water, it...
, is to the north-east of the village, and the River Wolf
River Wolf
The River Wolf is a minor river in the west of the county of Devon in England. Its name may come from a Celtic or earlier name recorded by the Roman map-maker Ptolemy as Ουολιβα as a town of the Dumnonii ; rather than referring to the wolf animal.The river runs from Broadbury through the valley...
passes at the bottom of the hillside on which the village stands.
Broadwoodwidger has a church on top of the hill, with views to Brentor
Brentor
Brentor is a village in West Devon, England. Its population in 2001 was 423. The village is dominated by the hill of Brent Tor, topped by the village's church....
and surrounding countryside. There is a village green, phone box, bus shelter and post box. The parish has a small primary school three miles north of the village at Ivyhouse Cross. The church is 15th century, with some 13th century features such as the tower and 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...
. There is also a Norman font, and benches with carvings of curious animals. Broadwoodwidger was from 1876 to 1922 in the Diocese of Truro
Diocese of Truro
The Diocese of Truro is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury.-Geography and history:The diocese's area is that of the county of Cornwall including the Isles of Scilly. It was formed on 15 December 1876 from the Archdeaconry of Cornwall in the Diocese of Exeter, it is thus one...
but was then returned to the Diocese of Exeter
Diocese of Exeter
The Diocese of Exeter is a Church of England diocese covering the county of Devon. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter is the seat of the diocesan bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter. It is part of the Province of...
.