Stoke Canon
Encyclopedia
Stoke Canon is a small village near the confluence of the rivers Exe
and Culm
on the main A396 between Exeter
and Tiverton in the County of Devon
, England
.
There is a pub, The Stoke Canon Inn, and a post office & general stores in the centre of the village.
date, made from a single block of lava
, and a number of 17th century floor slabs to local families.
It was here in 1666, at this 14th Century Church, that George Boone III, grandfather of the famous American pioneer
Daniel Boone
, was baptized.
, and still belongs to the Dean and Chapter. A Charter, still in existence, records the grant of land at Stoke Canon by King Cnut to the King’s minister Hunewine in the year 1033.
In April, 1847, a hot cinder, blown from one of the railway engines, ignited the thatched roof of a row of cottages, and the fire spread till 24 dwellings, including the Parsonage House, were destroyed.
In 1966 there was still a working water mill producing stone ground flour, and another one producing paper.
Despite being so close to the River Exe, the village had not been known to flood until at least 1967 even though it was nicknamed (by Exeter residents) as "Stoke Canon where the floods are", it used to stand out as an island.
left money in his will (1326) for its upkeep. It contains some old work but has been much widened to carry the main road.
On 1 May 1885 the Exe Valley branch was opened from a junction a little to the south of the station. This was relocated further south so that it could serve both lines from 1 July 1894. As with most stations on the Taunton
to Exeter line, the platforms were moved apart in 1932 to accommodate new loop lines, and the branch was given its own side of the up platform so that trains could run on to the branch while a train stood in the up loop.
The site can still be recognised from passing trains. The station closed on 13 June 1960.
River Exe
The River Exe in England rises near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, near the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon...
and Culm
River Culm
thumb|Old stone bridge with pedestrian refuges over River Culm at Culmstock The River Culm flows through Devon, England. It rises in the Blackdown Hills at a spring - - near Culmhead and flows west through Hemyock, then Culmstock to Uffculme...
on the main A396 between 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 Tiverton in the 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...
, 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...
.
There is a pub, The Stoke Canon Inn, and a post office & general stores in the centre of the village.
The Church
The Church (St. Mary) was wholly rebuilt in 1836, except for the West tower, at the cost of £1000. The interior is neatly fitted up, and the tower has a clock and four bells. It contains a remarkable font of NormanNorman dynasty
Norman dynasty is the usual designation for the family that were the Dukes of Normandy and the English monarchs which immediately followed the Norman conquest and lasted until the Plantagenet dynasty came to power in 1154. It included Rollo and his descendants, and from William the Conqueror and...
date, made from a single block of lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
, and a number of 17th century floor slabs to local families.
It was here in 1666, at this 14th Century Church, that George Boone III, grandfather of the famous American pioneer
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
, was baptized.
History
The manor was given by King Athelstan to Exeter CathedralExeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
, and still belongs to the Dean and Chapter. A Charter, still in existence, records the grant of land at Stoke Canon by King Cnut to the King’s minister Hunewine in the year 1033.
In April, 1847, a hot cinder, blown from one of the railway engines, ignited the thatched roof of a row of cottages, and the fire spread till 24 dwellings, including the Parsonage House, were destroyed.
In 1966 there was still a working water mill producing stone ground flour, and another one producing paper.
Despite being so close to the River Exe, the village had not been known to flood until at least 1967 even though it was nicknamed (by Exeter residents) as "Stoke Canon where the floods are", it used to stand out as an island.
The Bridge
Stoke Canon bridge, which stretches over two arms of the River Culm, was already built in the late 13th century. Bishop StapeldonWalter de Stapledon
Walter de Stapledon , English bishop, was born at Annery in North Devon.On 13 March 1307 Stapledon was chosen Bishop of Exeter, and was consecrated on 13 October 1308. He went on errands to France for both Edward I and Edward II, and attended the councils and parliaments of his time...
left money in his will (1326) for its upkeep. It contains some old work but has been much widened to carry the main road.
The Railway
A station opened to serve Stoke Canon in 1860 with staggered platforms. The up platform was north of the level crossing; the down platform was to the south.On 1 May 1885 the Exe Valley branch was opened from a junction a little to the south of the station. This was relocated further south so that it could serve both lines from 1 July 1894. As with most stations on the Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
to Exeter line, the platforms were moved apart in 1932 to accommodate new loop lines, and the branch was given its own side of the up platform so that trains could run on to the branch while a train stood in the up loop.
The site can still be recognised from passing trains. The station closed on 13 June 1960.