Clyst St Mary
Encyclopedia
Clyst St Mary is a small village and civil parish
5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Exeter
on the main roads to Exmouth
and Sidmouth
in East Devon
. The name comes from the Celtic
word clyst meaning 'clear stream'.
The population
has risen steadily, it was 97 in 1801, 157 in 1901, and 642 in 2004. This figure for the parish excludes all residents living on the north side of the main village street, who are counted within the parish of Sowton
, a hamlet 1.5 km to the north. Both parishes are now administered collectively as Bishop's Clyst
, named after the Bishop's Court former palace of the Bishop of Exeter
, situated between them.
The village of Clyst St Mary itself has three main areas:
Additionally the parish includes various outlying farms and hamlets.
Historically, the village was recorded in the Domesday Book
as 'Bishop's Cliste' and is best known for its late 12th century bridge across the River Clyst
, long the main route between Exeter and London. Rebuilt in 1310, it is the oldest bridge in Devon and for over seven hundred years constituted part of the main road connection between Exeter and London.
, when West Country resistance to the Protestant Reformation was quashed. After the Battle of Woodbury Common
on 4 August 1549, the rebels under the control of Humphrey Arundell
had re-grouped with the main contingent of 6,000 at Clyst St Mary, but on 5 August were attacked by a central force led by Sir William Francis, under the control of John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford
. After a ferocious battle Russell's troops gained the advantage leaving a thousand Cornish and Devonians dead and many more taken prisoner, 900 of whom were massacred later that day at Clyst Heath
. The village was burned and many of the combatants and villagers drowned in the river.
Older children from Clyst St Mary attend senior school at either Exmouth School or Clyst Vale Community College in Broadclyst. Many undertake 'A'-levels at Exeter College.
There is also a large office complex in Winslade Park, the site of the original manor house and, subsequently, a boarding school. The complex was initially developed by the London & Manchester group, later this site was taken over by the Friends Provident
group. Apart from the refubishment of the old school (Winslade House) in the 1980s there was a development of newer buildings on the adjacent land of Grindle House. These buildings house the Devon region DEFRA offices (in Clyst House). Winslade Park is the name for the grounds containing Winslade House, Clyst House and the other facilities here. Much of the original estate was redeveloped in the 1960s as the Winslade Park Estate.
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...
5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
on the main roads to Exmouth
Exmouth
Exmouth is a town in Devon. It may also refer to:Places*Exmouth Peninsula in Southern Chile*Exmouth, Western AustraliaPeople*Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth , a British naval officerShips...
and Sidmouth
Sidmouth
Sidmouth is a small town on the English Channel coast in Devon, South West England. The town lies at the mouth of the River Sid in the East Devon district, south east of Exeter. It has a population of about 15,000, of whom 40% are over 65....
in East Devon
East Devon
East Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Sidmouth, and the largest town is Exmouth.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Honiton with the urban districts of Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Ottery St. Mary, Seaton, Sidmouth...
. The name comes from the Celtic
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
word clyst meaning 'clear stream'.
Description
Clyst St Mary contains the West of England Showground, the Crealy Adventure Park, the Cat and Fiddle Training Ground for Exeter City FC and has a small industrial estate, Langdons Business Park and a major office development.The population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
has risen steadily, it was 97 in 1801, 157 in 1901, and 642 in 2004. This figure for the parish excludes all residents living on the north side of the main village street, who are counted within the parish of Sowton
Sowton
Sowton is a village and civil parish east of Exeter in East Devon, England. It has a population of 639.Its parish council merged with that of nearby Clyst St Mary in 1976 to form Bishop's Clyst.Sowton is also the name of an industrial estate at...
, a hamlet 1.5 km to the north. Both parishes are now administered collectively as Bishop's Clyst
Bishop's Clyst
Bishop's Clyst is the name adopted by the council representing two civil parishes that form part of the East Devon district in the English county of Devon....
, named after the Bishop's Court former palace of the Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
, situated between them.
The village of Clyst St Mary itself has three main areas:
- the old village, site of the school, village hall, shop/post office and pubs;
- the Winslade Park estate - in the grounds of the old Manor house, across the A3052, home to the majority of the population and the old church
- the Cat and Fiddle mobile home park, 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) east of the old village.
Additionally the parish includes various outlying farms and hamlets.
Historically, the village was recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday 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...
as 'Bishop's Cliste' and is best known for its late 12th century bridge across the River Clyst
River Clyst
The River Clyst is a river of England. The river runs through the county of Devon.Rising near the village of Clyst William near Cullompton, the river runs west and southwest, flowing through the settlements of Norman's Green, Plymtree, Clyst Hydon, Clyst St...
, long the main route between Exeter and London. Rebuilt in 1310, it is the oldest bridge in Devon and for over seven hundred years constituted part of the main road connection between Exeter and London.
Battle of Clyst St Mary
Clyst St Mary was the site of one of the decisive battles in the 1549 Prayer Book RebellionPrayer Book Rebellion
The Prayer Book Rebellion, Prayer Book Revolt, Prayer Book Rising, Western Rising or Western Rebellion was a popular revolt in Cornwall and Devon, in 1549. In 1549 the Book of Common Prayer, presenting the theology of the English Reformation, was introduced...
, when West Country resistance to the Protestant Reformation was quashed. After the Battle of Woodbury Common
Woodbury Common, Devon
Woodbury Common in East Devon is an area of common land that is predominantly heathland adjacent to the village of Woodbury, Devon.Within the common is Woodbury Castle, an Iron Age hill fort situated on a viewpoint overlooking westwards the villages of Woodbury and Woodbury Salterton and across the...
on 4 August 1549, the rebels under the control of Humphrey Arundell
Humphrey Arundell
Sir Humphrey Arundell was the leader of Cornish forces in the Prayer Book Rebellion early in the reign of King Edward VI. He was executed at Tyburn, London after the rebellion had been defeated.-Life:...
had re-grouped with the main contingent of 6,000 at Clyst St Mary, but on 5 August were attacked by a central force led by Sir William Francis, under the control of John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, KG, PC, JP was an English royal minister in the Tudor era. He served variously as Lord High Admiral and Lord Privy Seal....
. After a ferocious battle Russell's troops gained the advantage leaving a thousand Cornish and Devonians dead and many more taken prisoner, 900 of whom were massacred later that day at Clyst Heath
Clyst Heath
Clyst Heath is a suburb to the south east of Exeter, Devon, to the east of Rydon Lane.On 5 August 1549 Clyst Heath was the site of one of the worst atrocities in British history during the Prayer Book Rebellion when troops loyal to the King under the command of John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford...
. The village was burned and many of the combatants and villagers drowned in the river.
Education
Clyst St Mary has its own Primary School, Clyst St Mary Primary School, established in the 1830s. The school catchment area now includes the hamlets of Sowton and Farringdon as well as some neighbouring villages and many of the families of Exeter City FC players, who train nearby.Older children from Clyst St Mary attend senior school at either Exmouth School or Clyst Vale Community College in Broadclyst. Many undertake 'A'-levels at Exeter College.
Business, Commerce & Employment Prospects
Langdons Business Park is the only industrialised area within Clyst St. Mary.There is also a large office complex in Winslade Park, the site of the original manor house and, subsequently, a boarding school. The complex was initially developed by the London & Manchester group, later this site was taken over by the Friends Provident
Friends Provident
Friends Provident was an organisation offering life insurance based in the United Kingdom. It was founded as a mutual Friendly Society for Quakers, although it was demutualised in 2001 and became a publicly listed company, no longer linked with the Religious Society of Friends...
group. Apart from the refubishment of the old school (Winslade House) in the 1980s there was a development of newer buildings on the adjacent land of Grindle House. These buildings house the Devon region DEFRA offices (in Clyst House). Winslade Park is the name for the grounds containing Winslade House, Clyst House and the other facilities here. Much of the original estate was redeveloped in the 1960s as the Winslade Park Estate.
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