Feniton
Encyclopedia
Feniton is a village
and civil parish
in East Devon
the English
county of Devon
. It lies approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Honiton
, 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Ottery St Mary
, and 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Talaton
. The parish of Feniton also incorporates the hamlets of Colesworthy, Higher Cheriton and Curscombe, and covers an area of 644 hectares (1591 acres). At the 2001 census it had a population of 1,796, which was estimated to have risen to 1,916 by 2005.
, runs through this part of the village and is generally believed to have given the village its name.
Feniton new village lies approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km) west of the original village. This area was formerly known as Sidmouth Junction and for many years consisted of just a few houses, a public house
and a chapel
, which were associated with the building and operation of the railway station
of the same name. From the mid 1960s onwards, this area was transformed into Feniton new village by various medium-scale housing developments. These were accompanied by the building of a primary school, 2 village shops, and a playing field. More recently, a sports and social club, dental surgery, hairdresser and fast food takeaway have also opened in this part of the village.
In 1967, when the new village was taking shape, the original Sidmouth Junction railway station
and its associated branch line were closed, as part of the Beeching rail network cuts
. Pressure from the newly-arrived residents, however, caused the authorities to re-open the station
in 1971 with the new name of Feniton
and restore the direct train services to Exeter
and London
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish
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 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 English
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 approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Honiton
Honiton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
, 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Ottery St Mary
Ottery St Mary
Ottery St Mary, known as "Ottery" , is a town in the East Devon district of Devon, England, on the River Otter, about ten miles east of Exeter on the B3174. It is part of a large civil parish of the same name, which also covers the villages of West Hill, Metcombe, Fairmile, Alfington, Tipton St...
, and 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Talaton
Talaton
Talaton is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Devon. It lies approximately 6 miles to the west of Honiton, 3 miles to the north of Ottery St Mary, 2 miles to the west of Feniton and 2 miles to the east of Whimple. The parish of Talaton covers an area of 965 hectares...
. The parish of Feniton also incorporates the hamlets of Colesworthy, Higher Cheriton and Curscombe, and covers an area of 644 hectares (1591 acres). At the 2001 census it had a population of 1,796, which was estimated to have risen to 1,916 by 2005.
The Village
The original village of Feniton contains the 13th-century church, Feniton Court, the former village school, the post office, and most of the older buildings in the village, including a number of thatched cottages. The Vine Water, a tributary of the River OtterRiver Otter
Not to be confused with the animal Otter or the River Ottery in CornwallThe River Otter rises in the Blackdown Hills just inside the county of Somerset, near Otterford, then flows south for some 32 km through East Devon to the English Channel at the western end of Lyme Bay, part of...
, runs through this part of the village and is generally believed to have given the village its name.
Feniton new village lies approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km) west of the original village. This area was formerly known as Sidmouth Junction and for many years consisted of just a few houses, a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
and a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, which were associated with the building and operation of the railway station
Feniton railway station
Feniton railway station serves the village of Feniton in Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route....
of the same name. From the mid 1960s onwards, this area was transformed into Feniton new village by various medium-scale housing developments. These were accompanied by the building of a primary school, 2 village shops, and a playing field. More recently, a sports and social club, dental surgery, hairdresser and fast food takeaway have also opened in this part of the village.
In 1967, when the new village was taking shape, the original Sidmouth Junction railway station
Feniton railway station
Feniton railway station serves the village of Feniton in Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route....
and its associated branch line were closed, as part of the Beeching rail network cuts
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. Pressure from the newly-arrived residents, however, caused the authorities to re-open the station
Feniton railway station
Feniton railway station serves the village of Feniton in Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route....
in 1971 with the new name of Feniton
Feniton railway station
Feniton railway station serves the village of Feniton in Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route....
and restore the direct train services to 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...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.