Parkham

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Parkham
Devon
The church of St James at Parkham (geograph 3702315).jpg
St James's Church, Parkham
Location
Grid reference: SS389215
Location: 50°58’13"N, 4°17’44"W
Data
Post town: Bideford
Postcode: EX39
Dialling code: 01237
Local Government
Council: Torridge
Parliamentary
constituency:
Torridge and West Devon

Parkham is a small village on the north of Devon, found some five miles south-west of the town of Bideford. The parish population was recoerded as 742 in 2011; barely changed from the 786 recorded in 1901.[1]

Although there is a substantial farming community around Parkham, the majority of incomes are earned outside of the village. During the summer months tourism contributes to the economy through a number of guest houses in the area. In the centre of the village is the church, and close by a public house, The Bell Inn. There is also a local butcher

Churches

The large parish church, dedicated to St James, is mostly 15th century, though it still has a Norman doorway and font. It was restored by R. W. Drew in 1875.[1][2]

Parkham also has a Methodist chapel.

Society

There is a Youth Club every Thursday in the Methodist chapel and every second Friday of the month in the village hall.

Historic estates

The following historic estates are within the parish:

  • Halsbury, today a farmhouse called Halsbury Barton, long a seat of the ancient Giffard family.
  • Bableigh, seat of the Risdon family from the 13th to 18th centuries.

Outside links

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("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Parkham)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Harris, Helen (2004). A Handbook of Devon Parishes. Tiverton: Halsgrove. pp. 131–2. ISBN 1-84114-314-6. 
  2. Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Devon, 1952; 1989 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09596-8page 624