St Marychurch
Encyclopedia
St. Marychurch in Devon
, England
, is one of the oldest settlements in South Devon. Its earliest documentary record dates from around 1050 AD.
It is a former English urban district
, abolished in 1900 when it was incorporated into the neighbouring borough
of Torquay
. Notable former residents include 19th Century zoologist and creationist Philip Henry Gosse
, who lived at Sandhurst on Torquay Road (now called St. Marychurch Road). The former town stretches from Plainmoor
to Maidencombe and is known for its scenery, shopping precinct and neighbouring churches. These churches include:
Tourist attractions include Babbacombe Cliff Railway
http://www.friendsofbabbacombecliffrailway.org.uk Babbacombe Downs with its stunning views across Lyme Bay, Bygones Victorian museum http://www.bygones.co.uk and the Model Village at Babbacombe.
The main shopping street (Fore Street) consists of a small market and boasts four public houses, a post office, a fishmongers, butchers, bakers, greengrocers, bookshop, pet shop, four banks, two supermarkets and a health food shop, as well as a number of cafes, estate agents and hairdressers.
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...
, is one of the oldest settlements in South Devon. Its earliest documentary record dates from around 1050 AD.
It is a former English urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
, abolished in 1900 when it was incorporated into the neighbouring borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
. Notable former residents include 19th Century zoologist and creationist Philip Henry Gosse
Philip Henry Gosse
Philip Henry Gosse was an English naturalist and popularizer of natural science, virtually the inventor of the seawater aquarium, and a painstaking innovator in the study of marine biology...
, who lived at Sandhurst on Torquay Road (now called St. Marychurch Road). The former town stretches from Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
to Maidencombe and is known for its scenery, shopping precinct and neighbouring churches. These churches include:
- St Marychurch Parish Church with its high tower and Saxon font dating from around 1110 AD. On Sunday May 30, 1943, the main part of this church was destroyed by a German bomb, killing 21 children and 3 teachers.
- Our Lady Help of Christians & St Denis (Roman Catholic) with its high steeple.
- Furrough Cross United Reformed Church, originally a Free Church built by parishioners who objected to "Popish Doctrines" at the parish church. Built 1852 under first minister Rev. Hugh Kelly, whose diocesan was the Bishop of MichiganEpiscopal Diocese of MichiganThe Episcopal Diocese of Michigan is the Episcopal diocese in the southeast part of Michigan.The diocese traces its roots to the founding of St. Paul's, Detroit in 1824. It became a diocese of the Episcopal Church in 1836, one year before the State of Michigan entered the Union. It covered the...
, USA. It later severed all contact with the Anglican Church and later became a Congregational church.
Tourist attractions include Babbacombe Cliff Railway
Babbacombe Cliff Railway
Babbacombe Cliff Railway is a funicular railway in the town of Torquay in the English county of Devon. It links Babbacombe Downs with Oddicombe Beach, and is owned and operated by the Torbay Council. The line runs march to end of october from 9:30am to 5.55pm...
http://www.friendsofbabbacombecliffrailway.org.uk Babbacombe Downs with its stunning views across Lyme Bay, Bygones Victorian museum http://www.bygones.co.uk and the Model Village at Babbacombe.
The main shopping street (Fore Street) consists of a small market and boasts four public houses, a post office, a fishmongers, butchers, bakers, greengrocers, bookshop, pet shop, four banks, two supermarkets and a health food shop, as well as a number of cafes, estate agents and hairdressers.
| Chairmen of St. Marychurch Urban District Council | |
|---|---|
| January - April, 1895 | G. T. Keppel |
| 1895 - 1899 | F. R. Evans |
| 1899 - 1900 | W. H. Grant |