Compton Gifford

Compton Gifford
Devon
Hollycroft Road
Location
Grid reference:	SX493564
Location:	50°23’20"N, 4°7’13"W
Data
Population:	12,677  (2011)
Post town:	Plymouth
Postcode:	PL3
Dialling code:	01752
Local Government
Council:	Plymouth

Compton Gifford or simply Compton is a suburb of Plymouth in Devon. Its name is from the Old English cumb tun, meaning 'Valley farmstead'.

Once a small village, Compton was developed in the 1930s and now lies between the suburbs of Mannamead and Efford. There are two parts, Higher and Lower Compton named after two farms and now distinguished by their respective public houses.

Although essentially infill development between older larger areas, Compton is distinctive in character.

History

The earliest evidence of man in Compton, is from around 3000 BC: stone axes typical of those made in Penzance, Callington and Camborne have been found here.

Around 800, the Manor of Compton was appearing on maps, Coombe (a wooded valley) Ton (the Saxon word for farm).

The Domesday Book of 1086 records of Compton:

Stephen holds Compton from Iudhael. Oswulf held it before 1066. It paid tax for 1 hide and 1 virgate of land. Land for 4 ploughs, which are there; 2 slaves, 6 villagers, and 4 smallholders.

Meadow 1 acre, Underwood 20 acres. 5 cattle, 2 pigs, 52 sheep. Value formerly and now 30 shillings.

Compton is mentioned in 1238 as it was on the route to the new Plym Bridge, the route to Plympton and beyond was through Compton and Eggbuckland. Before this, it had been necessary to travel much further north to cross the Plym at high tide, as the river in those days from Plym bridge to Marsh mills was just mud flats in a wide creek. To cross the river at low tide the ebb-ford (Efford) could be used.

The 'Gifford' element in Compton's name dates back to around 1100 AD when the granddaughter of Guy de Bockland, Isabella brought the estate to her husband Osbert Giffard. The estate continued in their family until 1342.

During the Civil War of 1642−46 it is recorded that Prince Maurice advanced from Compton village around the head of Lipson Creek, but after some bloody fighting was defeated by the Roundheads and the tide. At this time his headquarters were at Widey Court.

By 1730 Compton was part of the Culme estate, and it was not until the last member of that family died in 1804 that, with a population of around fifty, Compton began to grow. At this stage there were not many buildings, of these The Compton Inn is probably the oldest, with walls up to four feet thick, it was an old farmhouse, then a granary, a tanners and a cobblers shop.

In around 1850, horse trams were now using Henders Corner as a terminus. In 1870 new parish of the Church of England was created to serve the growing village. The centre for this parish was a small church built on land offered by Betsy and Elizabeth Revel.

It became a popular pastime for the townsfolk of Plymouth to take a stroll out to Compton, to take tea at one of the many places offering some refreshment from their front gardens or parlours. Compton even had a reputation as a spa, due to a piped off water chute, just near what is now Crowndale Road. Granny Daw, who lived in Beckham Place, built a reputation for being able to cure most ailments with her remedies, and a little help from the water.

From the early 1900s onward Lower Compton had a school. When Mary Leigh took over as Headmistress in 1936 the school had 82 pupils. Some classes had to walk up the hill to the Methodist hall to be taught. There was terrible poverty during this time, and she managed to obtain some boots for the children who had none, but she had to punch holes in the uppers, so that the parents would not sell them off to buy food. By the time she left in 1947 the school had 300 pupils, and Compton School was one of the best in Plymouth.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Compton Gifford)