Shirwell
| Shirwell | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 Shirwell | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SS597374 |
| Location: | 51°7’7"N, 4°0’20"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | North Devon |
Shirwell is a village in the north of Devon, about three and a half miles north-east of the town of Barnstaple, to the east of the A39 road to Lynton.
The county's Shinwell Hundred is named for this village.
The parish population was recorded as was 333 in 2001; little changed from the figure of 338 recorded in 1901.[1] The parish is surrounded clockwise from the north by the parishes of East Down, Arlington, Loxhore, Bratton Fleming, Goodleigh, Barnstaple, West Pilton and Marwood.[2]
Parish church
The parish church in the village is the Church of St Peter. It has 13th-century origins but the chancel is of 14th-century date. It underwent a Victorian restoration by the architect William White between 1873 and 1889.
An effigy in the chancel is said to be of Blanche St Leger (d.1483) and above this is a monument to Lady Anne Chichester (d. 1723).[3][4] Other 18th-century monuments survive in the church.[4] Here also is a memorial plaque to the aviator and sailor Sir Francis Chichester, who was born in the Rectory in the village.
Manor
The manor of Shirwell was the seat of two of the leading families of North Devon, the Beaumonts (to the end of the 15th century) and their heirs the Chichesters of Raleigh, Pilton, both of which families lived on the estate of Youlston within the Manor of Shirwell. The manor house which survives today known as Youlston Park exists largely in its Georgian form, but it retains many impressive late 17th-century interiors; Pevsner describes it as "one of the most rewarding in North Devon".[4]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Shirwell) |
References
- ↑ Harris, Helen (2004). A Handbook of Devon Parishes. Tiverton: Halsgrove. p. 149. ISBN 1-84114-314-6.
- ↑ "Map of Devon Parishes". Devon County Council. http://www.devon.gov.uk/devon_districts_2002_.pdf. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ↑ Hoskins, W. G. (1972). A New Survey of England: Devon (New ed.). London: Collins. p. 475. ISBN 0-7153-5577-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Devon, 1952; 1989 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09596-8