West Buckland, Devon
| West Buckland | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 A street in West Buckland | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SS655315 |
| Location: | 51°4’1"N, 3°55’15"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Barnstaple |
| Postcode: | EX32 |
| Dialling code: | 01598 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | North Devon |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North Devon |
West Buckland is a small village in northern Devon, eight miles east of Barnstaple. South Molton is the nearest town. The hamlet of Elwell stands to its north-east.
This is a little place: no pub, no shop since 2008, but a parish church, a village hall and an occasional village festival.
Most travellers reach West Buckland by a steep, winding, mostly single track hill up from the A361 'North Devon Link Road'.
History
The manor was formerly part of the Fortescue Estate, owned by the Earls Fortescue of nearby Castle Hill, Filleigh. Earlier the manor together with the advowson of the church had been acquired by the influential Barnstaple merchant and MP John Delbridge (1564-1639).
West Buckland School
The village may be best known for having given its name to the adjacent co-educational independent West Buckland School. Though taking the village's name, the school, comprising a preparatory school, three boarding houses and public school itself is located on an extensive estate about half a mile east of the village.
West Buckland Festival
In September there has been an annual four-day "Festival of Music, Art and Entertainment", which includes both international and local performers, a very successful Art and Craft Exhibition and various workshops.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about West Buckland, Devon) |