Woodleigh
| Woodleigh | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 St Mary's Church, Woodleigh | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SX738488 |
| Location: | 50°19’34"N, 3°46’25"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 150 (est.) |
| Postcode: | TQ7 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Hams |
Woodleigh is a village in the south of Devon, on the east side of the River Avon; to the west across the river is the larger village of Loddiswell, which serves for what the Woodleigh lacks.
The population of Woodleigh is approximately 150. It is a small village. There was once a small school here, now this has been converted into a house, so that the children of the village must travel to Loddiswell: Woodleigh today has no shops, pubs or sports facilities but it does have a postbox.
The name of the village is from the Old English "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing.
History
The manor is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Odelie and was the 13th of the 17 holdings of Robert of Aumale (Latinised to Robertus de Albemarle). It then formed part of his demesne lands.[1]
Wood Barton on the northern edge of Woodleigh was built as a Cistercian monastery before being converted to apartments. The Wood estate was once held by a junior branch of the Fortescue family.[2] The Fortescue Baronetcy, "of Woodleigh in the County of Devon", was created in 1667 for Peter Fortescue (1620-1685) of Woodleigh. The title became extinct on his death in 1685.
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Woodleigh) |