Sowton

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Sowton
Devon
Sowton church - geograph.org.uk - 136973.jpg
The parish church, Sowton
Location
Grid reference: SX976926
Location: 50°43’27"N, 3°27’3"W
Data
Post town: EX5
Local Government
Council: East Devon

Sowton is a village to the east of Exeter in eastern Devon. The 2001 census recorded a population of 639. The village itself stands apart from the city, east of the M5 motorway and in the meadows of the River Clyst.

The old village centre by the Clyst is just part of Sowton: west of the motorway is a part of the parish long since sundered and swallowed within Exeter’s civic bounds and which serves as a major Exeter suburb, with a large industrial estate, park and ride site and modern housing developments.

Parish church

The parish church of known as the Church of St Michael and All Angels. This church was rebuilt in 1844–45, by John Hayward and paid for by John Garratt. He retained the original Perpendicular Gothic north arcade. It is a rare example of an early Victorian Tractarian village church.[1]

The church is a grade I listed building.[2]

Industry

M5 junction 29, and Sowton Industrial Estate

Sowton is also the name of an industrial estate at SX964920. The area is located next to the M5 motorway between junctions 29 and 30, the opposite side from the village and is served by Digby and Sowton railway station.

Most of the industrial estate is covered with large retailers, warehousing and distributing, as well as a small number of manufacturers. There is also a Park and Ride location for bus services to Exeter city centre. For a number of years there has been an office development on the main road which was left incomplete as the economy took a downturn during construction.

Outside links

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("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Sowton)

References

  1. Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Devon, 1952; 1989 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09596-8pages 755–756
  2. National Heritage List 1334001: Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels, Sowton