Woodbury

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Woodbury
Devon

Woodbury
Location
Grid reference: SY011872
Location: 50°40’34"N, 3°24’4"W
Data
Population: 1,605  (2011)
Postcode: EX5
Dialling code: 01395
Local Government
Council: East Devon
Parliamentary
constituency:
East Devon

Woodbury is a village in the east of Devon, found seven miles south-east of the City of Exeter, on the east bank of the Exe Estuary. The village stands about four miles north of the centre of Exmouth, on the B3179 road between Clyst St George and Budleigh Salterton.

This is today a commuter village for the city and is primarily residential. The 2011 Census recorded a population of 1,605.

About two miles to the north runs the east-west A3052 road and a mile and a half to the west of the village is the A376 road that follows the Exe Estuary from Exeter down to Exmouth. The small settlements of Ebford and Exton are on this road.

History

Woodbury Castle, an Iron Age fort, is found on Woodbury Common.

The ancient manor of Nutwell was in the west of the parish, adjacent to the Exe Estuary; it was later owned by a branch of the Drake family. The present house, Nutwell Court was built in 1810.

The railway line which follows the estuary between Exeter and Exmouth was opened in 1861.[1] Now known as the 'Avocet Line', the nearest station to Woodbury is at Exton.

The village

The village centre has a local shop, two antique shops and a garage. There are two pubs, "The Maltsters Arms" and "The White Hart" and a Chinese takeaway/fish and chip shop. Woodbury Church of England Primary School has over 140 pupils after the building of new classroom facilities in 2010.

Church

The parish church, dedicated to St Swithun, is early 15th century (consecrated in 1409): the Perpendicular style is mixed with elements of the older Decorated. Interesting features include the woodwork of the screen, the 15th-century font, Elizabethan altar rails, Jacobean pulpit, and an early 17th-century monument to a man and his wife (recumbent effigies on a tomb-chest).[2]

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Woodbury)

References

  1. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named H
  2. Pevsner, N. (1952) South Devon. Penguin Books; pp. 312-13