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North Devon
Scene
Bradworthy & Holsworthy
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| • Holsworthy’s Church of St Peter
and St Paul. |
Holsworthy is in the heart of the North West Devon
countryside. Not to be missed is market day on a Wednesday
when the Square is filled with colourful market stalls.
In the 13th century, Holsworthy became a borough, governed
by a Portreeve, its leading citizen, and his Court.
On the eve of St Peter’s Fair Day in July, the
officers of the Court Leet still meet to petition the
Portreeve on any matter a member of the community wishes
to raise. The Court Leet Beedle reads ‘Ye Charter’
to open the Fair the next morning.
The Portreeve holds only ceremonial office now as Holsworthy
has a town council headed by the Town Mayor.
The town’s museum, in which there are many domestic
and agricultural exhibits, features a 17th century kitchen,
complete with many interesting utensils and instruments.
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| • Holsworthy’s market. |
The Church of St Peter and St Paul at the east end
of the town contains some Norman stone in the south
porch. Its carillon plays a tune every three hours between
9am and 6pm.
The town also has a sports hall and a swimming pool
and is an ideal base for a touring holiday.
Holsworthy is very close to the Cornish border and,
while visiting, you are also not far from the Brocklands
attraction at Kilkhampton and Killarney Springs.
Bradworthy is situated in the quiet rural hinterland
some eight miles from Holsworthy.
The village is an ideal centre for touring both the
magnificent coastal areas and the high, remote country
of this part of North West Devon. Bradworthy is an attractive
place – briskly alive with excellent shopping facilities
and a full social calendar.
The Square with the village pump at its centre is arguably
one of the largest in the West of England. Today, The
Square serves as a central car parking area, recalling
its past on carnival night in July.
You must visit the family-run Martins of Bradworthy.
Called a hardware store, it is really an emporium where
you can buy everything from a nail to a three-piece
suite. The business spreads through several former cottages
off the Square and is known locally as “Aladdin’s
Cave.”
Not far from Bradworthy is the Gnome Reserve and wild
flower garden at West Putford. Visitors can meet 1,000
gnomes and pixies in the woods which have featured on
television many times.
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| • The famous Gnome Reserve near Bradworthy
is well worth a visit. |
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