A brief history
Visitors to Holsworthy will discover that this small country town has a long and interesting history. The first settlement was established in Saxon times and is mentioned in the Domesday Book under the name Haldeurdi - meaning Harold's Land.
Although there was no church mentioned in the Domesday Book there is evidence of a small Norman Oratory on the site of the present Early English style church which was built in 1250. The present church still uses the original Norman doorway. The church is renowned for its peal of eight bells and the famous carillon which plays hymn tunes every three hours throughout the day. The organ dates from 1680 although it has been rebuilt over the years.
Holsworthy is described as a Port Town. The word Port was a Saxon term for a secure place for trade - a market. It has nothing to do with the coming of the canal in 1826 and the wharf or terminus at Blagdon Moor. A charter was granted to Fulk de Paganet in the latter part of the 12th century to hold a market and fair. Since there was very little national government, civil and criminal matters were dealt with locally. The spokesman for the inhabitants was known as the Portreeve and the ruling council as the Courtleet. These positions were established in 1154. The group of officials used to control things like weights and measures, the quality of bread and ale and hedge maintenance. They still meet on the eve of the St. Peter's Fair, at the beginning of July, but no longer have any powers although they do still insist on sampling the ale! The town band and the town crier lead an ever increasingly merry group of tasters round the town awarding ivy branches to each hostelry which produces ale which meets with their approval. The Courtleet used to meet under the Great Tree. The last tree died at the end of the 19th century but another has just been planted in the town square.
Another charter for the holding of a market was granted by James the First in 1624 to Sir Nicholas Prideaux This charter is loudly proclaimed by the Town Crier every year during the Pretty Maid ceremony, which is held at noon on the Wednesday of St. Peter's Fair week. This ceremony includes the town's best kept secret because no-one except the girl, her family and a small group of trustees, knows her identity. On the stroke of mid-day, the chosen maid appears with the rector at the door of the church to be presented to the townsfolk.
The coming of the railway in 1879, which utilised the two graceful viaducts which can still be seen although the railway has now gone, led to further prosperity. This is well displayed at the Agricultural Show held on the second Thursday in May. The show is the first of the season to be held in Devon and is a must for show-jumping enthusiasts. The Holsworthy Carnival, held in November, is also a great spectacle for the visitor especially the parade of highly decorated and illuminated floats which passes through the town in the evening. The parade includes many local marching bands which add their own special enthusiastic accompaniment to the occasion.
The town has always been an important agricultural trading centre and the livestock market held on Wednesdays and Thursdays is one of the busiest in the south-west. This used to be held in the town square but was moved to the southern outskirts of the town in the 1940's. Furniture and chattels auctions are held on Fridays on a monthly basis. The busy pannier market is held on Wednesdays in the town centre. Visitors should also look out for the W.I. market, with its tables of delicious home-made produce and the various events and coffee mornings held in the Memorial Hall which also take place on Wednesdays. Stalls are set up at all three venues early in the morning and throughout the day the streets come alive as farmers and their wives and families visit the town to buy and sell, to meet friends and to swap gossip, as they have done for generations. So Wednesday is perhaps the best day to visit Holsworthy when the streets are full of life and activity.
HOLSWORTHY'S SURROUNDING VILLAGES
BRADWORTHY, eight miles north of Holsworthy and seven miles inland from the coast, is a spacious, well-kept village with a large square and a long history. It was probably one of the earliest Saxon settlements founded soon after 700AD and is one of the best examples of Anglo-Saxon layout and planning in the West of England. The affix - worthy meant 'enclosure" and "Brad" probably meant broad. The parish church of St. John the Baptist stands on the edge of the village, its fine tower at once conspicuous with its embattled turret and well-proportioned pinnacles.
BRIDGERULE, on the Devon/Cornwall border is cut in two by the little River Tamar. The name comes from its Norman owner, Ruald Adobed - the bridge of Ruald. The 15th century church, standing well above the village, has a tower crowned by turrets and pinnacles. The church, dedicated to St. Bridget is elaborately decorated, perhaps like our medieval churches used to be. Its oldest possession is a crude Saxon font, hewn from rock over a thousand years ago and the flooring is of chequered Cornish slate from the Delabole quarries near Tintagel, which were known to have been worked in Roman times.
CLAWTON, about three miles south of Holsworthy is a village clustered round the meeting place of four roads, where a striking cross stands to all who served in the two World Wars. The church, a little way across the River Claw, is chiefly 14th century but has a Norman font and a Norman piscina (a drain for rinsing sacred vessels).
HARTLAND, to the far north of the area was once a most important borough. Its charter, dated 1825, has lapsed and its Town Hall has vanished too, and on its site was built, in 1839, St. John's Chapel-of-Ease. The tall tower of St. Nectan's Church, at Stoke, between Hartland Town and Hartland Point, is seen from many a long mile away, and is 144 feet high. The church dates from about 1350 and the tower from around 1400. Hartland Abbey, built on the site of the original abbey dates from the 11th century, and incorporates some of its ancient cloisters.
PYWORTHY, some two and a half miles from Holsworthy. The Church of St. Swithin is of stone in the perpendicular style, with a tower of five bells, cast in 1758.
SHEBBEAR There is a legend about the Devil's bones buried beneath a one ton stone on the Green in the village. The stone was turned every year on the 5th of November, after a religious service being held around it, and then a long jangle of bells, to prevent the devil from getting his rest.
The villages of Black Torrington and Ashwater are also worthy of note, and further details of these villages, and the wider area, may be obtained from the Holsworthy Information Centre, Manor Car Park, Holsworthy. Tel: 01409 254185
WELCOMBE,a delightful scattered parish comprised of several clustering hamlets, lies 11 miles north of Bude just within the Devon border. This is totally rural country - an area of outstanding beauty with narrow lanes and an abundance of wild flowers. Welcome beach approached by a long rough track, is rocky and unspoilt with a long stretch of beautiful sand at low tide - there are no facilities here but it has recently been awarded the accolade of "Britain's Cleanest Beach". The area with its rugged coastline has spectacular cliff walks, a fascinating old church, thatched Old Smithy Inn and a working pottery.
FORESTRY COMMISSION
COOMBE VALLEY: A delightful wooded spot four miles north of Bude. The Coombe Valley Nature Trails commence at the picnic site and car park. There are a number of paths, some of which provide easy walking for young children, prams and adults of all ages.
COOKWORTHY WOODS: near Halwill have been developed by the Forestry Commission and offer visitors a forest path, car park and picnic area. The woods - formerly known as Halwill - are situated about five miles to the east of Holsworthy . One forest walk is of particular interest, carefully waymarked and with interpretation material displayed. The two-mile walk is along forest tracks and back along the former railway line.
For more information about all Forestry Commission sites in the area telephone (01409) 221692 .
FISHING
Days are long gone now when the angler coming to this part of the country packed his tackles on the off chance of a few snatched hours of coarse fishing whilst the children were on the beach. There is now such a variety of well stocked fisheries that he or she is spoilt for choice. Whether you be a specimen hunter, a match or a pleasure angler, there are wealth of waters within a 30 minutes drive from Bude. The obvious starting point will be the canal which stretches I 1/2 miles from the town into the picturesque countryside. Open matches are held here during the summer when visitors are welcome to compete for the many species, including roach, perch, tench and the elusive carp. Best times are early and late when there is less boat traffic.
Just a few miles out of town Tamar Lake offers 40 acres of unspoilt fishing. Bream and carp are the most sought after species. Day tickets available on site. The other large day ticket v venue in the v vicinity is the well known water "Anglers Eldorado" at Halwill where the specialist can lure fish such as Golden Orfe, Golden Finch, Rudd, Koi, Wels Cat Fish and Grass Carp as well as the usual ones. Simpson Fishery just outside Holsworthy though smaller, is becoming a popular summer venue and here the main quarry are Carp, followed by Tench and Rudd. For those seeking mysterious secluded farm ponds look no further than Legge Farm at Highampton. These are well stocked with Crucian Carp, Common Carp, Mirrors and other specimen fish. Excellent Coarse fishing may also be found at Exemoor Farm, Week St Mary. Well stocked waters may be fished from dawn to dusk all year round. Please also check out Mill Leat Fishery with two lakes totalling 3 acres where the speciality is rainbow trout, and Clawford Fishery with a specimen carp lake and coarse fishing. We cannot cover all the possibilities but please phone Simon Hockaday on 01409 23464 - as local fishing club liaison of officer he will help you point your rod in the right direction for a good days fishing.
The game angler has also been well catered for with established rivers like the Camel to the South and the Torridge to the North, both producing excellent salmon and trout fishing. Likewise, the River Tamar can give fine sport for trout as can its source, the Upper Tamar Lake.
There are many opportunities for disabled fishermen in the region. Of special note is "Anglers Utopia" at Halwill, which among other facilities, has specially adapted villas for disabled anglers and their families. "Anglers Utopia" can be contacted on 01409 221559.
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