Hatherleigh

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Hatherleigh
Devon
St John the Baptist's Church, Hatherleigh - geograph.org.uk - 80166.jpg
St John the Baptist, Hatherleigh
Location
Grid reference: SS542040
Location: 50°49’0"N, 4°4’0"W
Data
Population: 1,306  (2001)
Post town: Okehampton
Postcode: EX20
Dialling code: 01837
Local Government
Council: West Devon

Hatherleigh is a small market town in west Devon, on the River Lew just below its junction with the River Torridge. Hatherleigh is on the A386 between Okehampton to the south and Great Torrington to the north.

The parish church is dedicated to St John the Baptist and has a western tower topped by a shingled spire. The nave and aisles are divided by granite arcades. The font is Norman and the original wagon roofs remain.[1]

Big Society

The Hatherleigh Arts Festival is held in Hatherleigh in July.[2]

In November there is a celebration of Bonfire Night featuring two flaming tar barrel runs.[3]

On New Year's Day, the Walruses meet to jump into the River Lew to raise money for local good causes.

An annual half-marathon called the Ruby Run takes place usually in June between Holsworthy and Hatherleigh, starting from each town in alternate years.

Market

Hatherleigh Market has weekly sales of sheep, cattle, poultry with increased sales on Tuesdays. As a market place, it can calim its status as a town, and as such Hatherleigh is the smallest town in Devon.

About the town

Hatherleigh has three pubs, The Bridge Inn, The Tally Ho and The George. The George was burned down in an arson attack on 23 December 2008 and has been rebuilt and re-opened in 2010. More than 100 firemen from across the county were drafted in to help fight the blaze which was still burning well into the early hours of Christmas Eve. Hatherleigh also contains hairdressers, craft shops, a beauty salon, a butcher, a newsagency, a bakery, a convenience shop and a post office.

An obelisk a mile east of the town commemorates Lt Col William Morris, who died in 1858 in India. It was raised in 1860.[4][5]

Outside links

References

Churchyard in Hatherleigh
  1. Pevsner, N. (1952) North Devon. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books; p. 96
  2. "Welcome to the Hatherleigh Festival Website". Hatherleigh Festival Website. http://www.hatherleighfestival.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-16. 
  3. "Carnival Index Page". Hatherleigh.net. http://www.hatherleigh.net/carnival_index.asp. Retrieved 2008-12-16. 
  4. Pevsner, N. (1952)
  5. "William Morris Monument, Hatherleigh, Devon, UK". Waymarking. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8FMW_William_Morris_Monument_Hatherleigh_Devon_UK. Retrieved 18 April 2010.