Avonwick

From Wikishire
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Avonwick
Devon

St James Church, Avonwick
Location
Grid reference: SX715584
Location: 50°24’32"N, 3°48’50"W
Data
Postcode: TQ10
Dialling code: 01364
Local Government
Council: South Hams

Avonwick is a village in the south of Devon, named from the River Avon which runs through the village

The river has a very common name; 'avon' is the old British language word for 'river', which 'wick' is the Old English wic, meaning 'village'. However the village was not so named until the 1870s: previously it was known as 'Newhouse',[1] and renamed in a Victorian fancy.

Avonwick has rapidly grown in size over the last few years with two developments. The village contains one of only a few proprietary chapels remaining in the country, a restaurant, [2] a pub (the Avon Inn), one of the oldest lawn tennis clubs in the world (the Avon Vale Tennis and Croquet Club), a garage and a small shop.[3]

Avonwick railway station opened in 1893 about half a mile outside the village, but closed in 1963.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Avonwick)

References

  1. Gover, J. E. B. & Mawer, A. & Stenton, F.M.: 'Place-Names of Devon , Part 1' (English Place-Names Society, 1931), page 303
  2. The Turtley Corn Mill
  3. Avonwick Shop