Halberton
Encyclopedia
Halberton is a village in Devon
, England
. The Grand Western Canal
runs through the village. The village is situated between the historic market towns of Tiverton and Cullompton
.
Halberton is a large parish in Devon, stretching from Tiverton, almost up to the Somerset
border, and from Sampford Peverell
to Butterleigh, an area of about 7520 acres (30.4 km²). Its name is derived from ‘Haligbeort’ (Albert), the name of the Saxon Chief, and ‘tun’, a farm settlement.
Halberton was once important enough to be a Hundred, an administrative division of a shire. The hundred of Halberton
included the parishes of Halberton, Sampford Peverell
and Willand, as well as parts of Uplowman and Burlescombe. Many of the farms date back to Doomesday or shortly after and Halberton is still largely a farming community.
Halberton village is divided into two parts, Higher Town and Lower Town, separated by the mill stream and pond. The pond is fed by warm springs and never freezes.
The Great Western Railway
once had a branch line running through Halberton to Tiverton, but this has now gone. However, the Grand Western Canal
still runs through the village and this is now a country park. It is 11 miles (17.7 km) long running from Tiverton to Loudwells. Rock Bridge was constructed to carry the road (formerly the A373) over the canal. The same engineers that built the canal also built a substantial country house, turnpike house and cottages at the site. Several other bridges were also constructed at Halberton to carry minor roads over the canal.
There are several old houses in the village, the most notable being ‘The Priory’, believed to date from the 14th century, when it was part of a college called St. Jude’s. This was occupied by monks of the order of St. Augustine. Townsend House dates from the early 18th century, and several other houses in the village date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The parish church dates from the 14th century and stands at the centre of the village. It is thought to have been constructed on the site of an earlier Saxon church. There is also a Methodist Chapel at which John Wesley preached, first in 1760, and again between 1779 and 1789. Halberton also has a Christian Fellowship Group, which meets in Ash Thomas Church.
The Primary School, erected in 1844 has seen many changes and extensions over the years, and although still small is well equipped with modern equipment.
There is an active Parish Council, and many other organisations which cater for all tastes, including a Women’s Institute and a branch of the British Legion.
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...
. The Grand Western Canal
Grand Western Canal
The Grand Western Canal ran between Taunton in Somerset and Tiverton in Devon in the United Kingdom. The canal had its origins in various plans, going back to 1796, to link the Bristol Channel and the English Channel by a canal, bypassing Lands End...
runs through the village. The village is situated between the historic market towns of Tiverton and Cullompton
Cullompton
Cullompton is a civil parish and town in Devon, England, locally known as Cully. It is miles north-north-east of Exeter and lies on the River Culm. In 2010 it had a population of 8,639 and is growing rapidly....
.
Halberton is a large parish in Devon, stretching from Tiverton, almost up to the Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
border, and from Sampford Peverell
Sampford Peverell
Sampford Peverell is a village in Mid-Devon, England. Its name reflects its inclusion in the Honour of Peverel, the lands of William Peverel and his family...
to Butterleigh, an area of about 7520 acres (30.4 km²). Its name is derived from ‘Haligbeort’ (Albert), the name of the Saxon Chief, and ‘tun’, a farm settlement.
Halberton was once important enough to be a Hundred, an administrative division of a shire. The hundred of Halberton
Halberton (hundred)
The hundred of Halberton was the name of a small district, one of thirty two ancient administrative shires of Devon, England. The parishes in the hundred were:* Burlescombe * Halberton* Sampford Peverell* Uplowman * Willand- See also :...
included the parishes of Halberton, Sampford Peverell
Sampford Peverell
Sampford Peverell is a village in Mid-Devon, England. Its name reflects its inclusion in the Honour of Peverel, the lands of William Peverel and his family...
and Willand, as well as parts of Uplowman and Burlescombe. Many of the farms date back to Doomesday or shortly after and Halberton is still largely a farming community.
Halberton village is divided into two parts, Higher Town and Lower Town, separated by the mill stream and pond. The pond is fed by warm springs and never freezes.
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
once had a branch line running through Halberton to Tiverton, but this has now gone. However, the Grand Western Canal
Grand Western Canal
The Grand Western Canal ran between Taunton in Somerset and Tiverton in Devon in the United Kingdom. The canal had its origins in various plans, going back to 1796, to link the Bristol Channel and the English Channel by a canal, bypassing Lands End...
still runs through the village and this is now a country park. It is 11 miles (17.7 km) long running from Tiverton to Loudwells. Rock Bridge was constructed to carry the road (formerly the A373) over the canal. The same engineers that built the canal also built a substantial country house, turnpike house and cottages at the site. Several other bridges were also constructed at Halberton to carry minor roads over the canal.
There are several old houses in the village, the most notable being ‘The Priory’, believed to date from the 14th century, when it was part of a college called St. Jude’s. This was occupied by monks of the order of St. Augustine. Townsend House dates from the early 18th century, and several other houses in the village date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The parish church dates from the 14th century and stands at the centre of the village. It is thought to have been constructed on the site of an earlier Saxon church. There is also a Methodist Chapel at which John Wesley preached, first in 1760, and again between 1779 and 1789. Halberton also has a Christian Fellowship Group, which meets in Ash Thomas Church.
The Primary School, erected in 1844 has seen many changes and extensions over the years, and although still small is well equipped with modern equipment.
There is an active Parish Council, and many other organisations which cater for all tastes, including a Women’s Institute and a branch of the British Legion.