Broadhempston
Encyclopedia
Broadhempston is a small village within the Teignbridge
District Council Area in the County
of Devon
in the South West of England ("The West Country"). It comprises 257 houses with a population (total parish) of 641.
It has a good mix of generations with a church, a primary school, two pubs (the Monk's Retreat and the Coppa Dolla) and a shop/post office. The working population tends to work in neighbouring cities and towns such as Torquay, Exeter and Plymouth. There is a higher than average proportion of professional and managerial staff than the national and house ownership, as a measure of prosperity, is also high. Many of the villagers are "incomers" and they now outnumber "natives".
Until the last few years, there were five working farms within the village itself, but, in common with many rural areas, the decline in farming has meant that these are now no longer in business and have become part of the housing pool of the village.
The village is very old, having been founded in Saxon
times, although the church itself is more modern, having been built in the 13th century. It suffers from diminishing congregations, although remains a focus for many village activities. The vicar serves four parishes as well as Broadhempston.
The 15th-century almshouse
is now an inn. The church has a 13th-century Chancel
, and 15th-century arcade
s, beams and bosses. The fine screen is equally old, but the baptismal font
is over 600 years old. Giles Hussey
, artist and theorist, is buried in the churchyard.
There is a Community Woodland Project being developed. This currently has public access for pedestrians. They are in the process of developing plans to build the woodland as a community educational resource.
Teignbridge
Teignbridge is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Newton Abbot.Other towns in the district include Ashburton, Dawlish and Teignmouth...
District Council Area in the County
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
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...
in the South West of England ("The West Country"). It comprises 257 houses with a population (total parish) of 641.
It has a good mix of generations with a church, a primary school, two pubs (the Monk's Retreat and the Coppa Dolla) and a shop/post office. The working population tends to work in neighbouring cities and towns such as Torquay, Exeter and Plymouth. There is a higher than average proportion of professional and managerial staff than the national and house ownership, as a measure of prosperity, is also high. Many of the villagers are "incomers" and they now outnumber "natives".
Until the last few years, there were five working farms within the village itself, but, in common with many rural areas, the decline in farming has meant that these are now no longer in business and have become part of the housing pool of the village.
The village is very old, having been founded in Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
times, although the church itself is more modern, having been built in the 13th century. It suffers from diminishing congregations, although remains a focus for many village activities. The vicar serves four parishes as well as Broadhempston.
The 15th-century almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
is now an inn. The church has a 13th-century Chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, and 15th-century arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
s, beams and bosses. The fine screen is equally old, but the baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is over 600 years old. Giles Hussey
Giles Hussey
Giles Hussey was a painter from Dorset, England. He has works in the Tate Gallery. His portraits are well regarded, but his theories on art never received the attention he craved. Hussey created the first portrait of Charles Edward Stuart, the pretender to the British throne...
, artist and theorist, is buried in the churchyard.
There is a Community Woodland Project being developed. This currently has public access for pedestrians. They are in the process of developing plans to build the woodland as a community educational resource.