Swimbridge
Encyclopedia
Swimbridge is a village in the English
county of Devon
. It is situated 4 miles (6.4 km) south-east of Barnstaple
and twinned with the town of St.Honorine Du Fay
in Normandy, France. The name Swimbridge originates from the clegyman Sawin Birige. Sawin was a founder of a chapelry at Swymbridge in Saxon times. Sawin held lands around the village and the lands were known as Birige.
Before the shifting of parish
boundaries in 2003, the size of the parish was 7280 acres (29.5 km²); one of the largest in North Devon
.
The village is noted for its church (The Parish Church of St. James; tower ca. 1300) which has before been described as a treasure house due to its fine carvings and memorials.
The village is also famed as the home of the Rev. John 'Jack' Russell who first bred Parson Jack Russell terriers. The Reverend Russell is said to have brought his first terrier, Trump, whilst he was studying at Oxford University and then bred from her to eventually originate the Parson Jack Russell strain of terrier. John Russell died in 1883 and his grave can be found in the graveyard of St. James's Church and the village pub is named after him and his breed of terrier.
From 1873 to 1966, Swimbridge had a station
on the Devon and Somerset Railway
, which became part of the Great Western Railway
and which ran from Taunton
to Barnstaple
. The alignment of the railway line through Swimbridge station is now part of the North Devon Link Road.
The main industry of Swimbridge, apart from farming, until 1965 was tanning.
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 is situated 4 miles (6.4 km) south-east of Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
and twinned with the town of St.Honorine Du Fay
Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay
Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
in Normandy, France. The name Swimbridge originates from the clegyman Sawin Birige. Sawin was a founder of a chapelry at Swymbridge in Saxon times. Sawin held lands around the village and the lands were known as Birige.
Before the shifting of parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
boundaries in 2003, the size of the parish was 7280 acres (29.5 km²); one of the largest in North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
.
The village is noted for its church (The Parish Church of St. James; tower ca. 1300) which has before been described as a treasure house due to its fine carvings and memorials.
The village is also famed as the home of the Rev. John 'Jack' Russell who first bred Parson Jack Russell terriers. The Reverend Russell is said to have brought his first terrier, Trump, whilst he was studying at Oxford University and then bred from her to eventually originate the Parson Jack Russell strain of terrier. John Russell died in 1883 and his grave can be found in the graveyard of St. James's Church and the village pub is named after him and his breed of terrier.
From 1873 to 1966, Swimbridge had a station
Swimbridge railway station
Swimbridge railway station served the village of Swimbridge, Devon five miles east of Barnstaple. The station was on the Devon and Somerset Railway that ran between Taunton and Barnstaple...
on the Devon and Somerset Railway
Devon and Somerset Railway
The Devon and Somerset Railway was a branch line from near in Somerset to in North Devon. It was operated from the outset by the Bristol and Exeter Railway which became part of the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1876.-History:...
, which became part of the Great Western Railway
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...
and which ran from Taunton
Taunton railway station
Taunton railway station is a junction station on the route from London to Penzance, from London Paddington station. It is situated in Taunton, Somerset, England and is operated by First Great Western...
to Barnstaple
Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station
Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station was the terminus of the Devon and Somerset Railway line from Taunton railway station. It served the town of Barnstaple in Devon, England and was opened when the Devon and Somerset line was extended from Wiveliscombe to Barnstaple on 1 November...
. The alignment of the railway line through Swimbridge station is now part of the North Devon Link Road.
The main industry of Swimbridge, apart from farming, until 1965 was tanning.