1. education
2. school

7.
HISTORY OF AWLISCOMBE & WESTON
In the Domesday Book of 1068 Awliscombe is spelt Aulescomba. The Manor of Aulescomba was a large holding
of land covering both Awliscombe and Buckerell (named Orescombe in the Domesday Book). Ralph de Pomeroy
held the manor after the Conquest. The Gifford family had a connection with the Dukes of Normandy and Walter
Gifford helped Duke William with the preparations for the invasion in 1066. He was also one of the Commissioners
who compiled the Domesday Book itself. His descendant, Richard, acquired several important Manors by marriage
or inheritance; Aveton Gifford and Weare Gifford in North Devon. His grandson William married twice and
Baldwin was born to his second wife in about 1211. The Awliscombe Giffords come from Baldwin. His son, Sir
Roger Gifford, was followed by his son Matthew. As Lord of the Manor he was granted a Charter in 1292 from King
Edward I for an annual Fair on the eve, day and morrow of Michaelmas (29th September) and a weekly market on
Wednesdays. Many Lords of Manors tried this speculative venture at this period, hoping in due course for Borough
status but many were failures. Awliscombe was one of these. No doubt the close proximity of Honiton (their Charter
was granted in 1247) led to this failure.
Although the hoped for Borough failed the annual Fair continued into the C20th. In the C18th flax fibre and other
agricultural produce was sold on the village green (now enclosed in the vicarage garden). In the early C21th elderly
parishioners could remember at Michaelmas a shooting gallery and a sweet stall being set up outside the Post
Office, opposite the Honiton Inn.
The Manor of Awliscombe was gradually reduced as land was sold or parcelled up by inheritance. Eventually it
passed in this way to the Crewkern family. Richard Crewkern sold the remnants to an Exeter merchant Thomas
Calwodely, by which time it was reduced to 207 acres. In 1489 Thomas bequeathed the Manor to the Corporation of
Exeter, setting up a Charity for the poor of Exeter.
The illustration is the original Charter, which is held in the Archives at Kew, who hold the copyright.
The first article I wrote for the Awliscombe and Weston Times in October 2009 was a
very brief account about Awliscombe Fair. Since then I have written over 28,500 words!
I am finding it difficult to find topics that would make interesting reading and I think the
time has come to call a halt. I know that many of you have enjoyed this journey through the
History of Awliscombe and as I continue my research I am sure I will find items that will
give material for occasional contributions to the Awliscombe and Weston Times.
It would be excellent if other people could find the time to write about, say, the history of
their house (a subject I have not really covered) or write about a topic of interest to them,
which would fill the gap our editor will find in her ‘copy’!
Thank you all for your interest over the past five and a half years.
Valerie Cann
We all thank you Valerie, most
sincerely, for all the brilliant articles
you have produced for us to read, and
the accompanying photographs from
John. You have always been on time
with your articles too, which means a
lot to me. You will be missed.
AB
8.
MEN OF AWLISCOMBE
The MoA
have been in
action again
and enjoyed a
day out at the
biggest
Helicopter
Museum in
the world at
Weston-superMare.
Although it
was a cold
day it was
even colder in
the enormous
hangers housing the aircraft. Luckily hot food and drink
in their cafe kept us all alive! We were split into two
groups and with a couple of guides given an interesting
tour of the many varied and unusual
‘copters from all over the world.
There was even a nice shiny red one
used by the Royals. After a quick
spin down the sea front the 16 MoA returned home. Who knows
where we will go next? Thanks goes to our resident photographer
David Chippington for the pics.
SB
9.
Reflecting Christian values in all we do.
The Spring term is all but over as we write this and there are lots of new things to report on at the school.
At the beginning of January we started our management partnership
with Payhembury Primary School. This means that Penny Hammett, the
Headteacher at Payhembury for the last eight years, now heads both
schools, dividing her time equally between them. Mrs Hammett stepped
into the breach last year when we were without a head for six months, so
she was already well known to many parents and was able to hit the
ground running in January. It has been wonderful for everyone connected
with the school to have permanent leadership in place at last, and we are
hoping to build on this (see “Federation proposals”, below).
Our new teachers are now part of the fabric of the school, although we
were sad to lose Emma Thornton, our Nursery teacher, recently when a
family move took her up to the Midlands.
And by the time you read this, Suzy Salter will have hung up her teaching boots after 11 years at
Awliscombe. Mrs Salter first came to the school as a peripatetic music teacher, then became a class
teacher while still running the choir and generally overseeing the musical life of the school. More recently
she has been nurturing the next generation of Monty Dons and Carol Kleins in the gardening club. She
was also a staff governor for many years. Her warmth and quick wit have made her perennially popular
with the children and her departure, to help in a friend’s business near her home in Ottery St Mary, will
leave a hole that is hard to fill.
Our Nursery, Cygnets, is thriving and now very nearly full in all sessions. This provides tremendous
benefits to the school as a whole as it helps to ensure a steady flow of new children coming into
Reception who are already familiar with the ways of Awliscombe.
Total numbers in the school are continuing to rise slowly, and the new intake in September will provide
a substantial boost, but we still have space in many of the upper year groups which we are keen to fill.
Federation Proposals
Looking to the future, the governors have been in talks with Payhembury about developing the
Management Partnership into a full Federation. That is, a closer collaboration in which a single governing
body oversees both schools in place of the existing separate sets of governors. It is a step that can bring
a lot of benefits, particularly to small village schools like ours.
The federation process, on which we are being assisted by experienced advisors from the Local
Authority and the Diocese, is governed by legislation. It requires governors to consult formally with
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parents, staff, and other stakeholders in the
community. Our consultation is planned to run from
May to late June, following which both governing
bodies decide, taking into account all views
expressed in the consultation, whether or not to
federate. If agreed, the federation would then start
at the beginning of September.
If you would like to know more about what is
proposed and the benefits that federation can
bring, please speak to any of the governors.
Nick Thwaites
10.
LOCAL ELECTIONS 2015
GENERAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON
THURSDAY 7TH MAY 2015
AWLISCOMBE NEEDS 7 COUNCILLORS AND IF MORE THAN 7 NOMINATION FORMS ARE
RECEIVED THEN THERE WILL BE A CONTESTED ELECTION WHEREBY REGISTERED
ELECTORS WITHIN THE PARISH WILL VOTE FOR WHO THEY WANT TO REPRESENT THEM.
IF 7 NAMES ARE PUT FORWARD THERE WILL BE AN UNCONTESTED ELECTION AND
THOSE NAMES WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY VOTED ONTO THE COUNCIL.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE PARISH COUNCIL AND WOULD LIKE MORE
DETAILS REGARDING STANDING FOR COUNCIL OR WHAT IT INVOLVES TO BE A
COUNCILLOR PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH CLERK –
SALLY MAYNARD ON 01404 42962 OR EMAIL [email protected].
NOMINATION FORMS WILL BE WITH THE CLERK OR CAN BE OBTAINED DIRECTLY
THROUGH E.D.D.C. AFTER 3RD MARCH AND THESE NEED TO BE LODGED WITH E.D.D.C.
BEFORE 9TH APRIL 2015.
THE Awliscombe Parish Council FOR 2015
Cllr William Furnival (Chairman)
Day................ 891833
Evening.......... 43994
Sally Maynard (Clerk)............................................................ 42962
Cllr Paddy Gillingham............................................................ 43551
Cllr Andrew Summers............................................... 07770 474757
Cllr Nigel Boulton.................................................................... 44431
Cllr Paul Diviani (DCC Conservative). 07971 433175/ 0845 3285788
Cllr Richard Lawrence (Vice-Chairman)............................... .42825
(Parish Council E-mail…[email protected])
Cllr Tom Harvey.................................................................. .841341
Cllr Colin Wright..................................................................... 42678
Cllr Philip Skinner (EDDC Conservative).... 07971 289677/ 822855
Parish Council Website.....www.awliscombeparishcouncil.co.uk
JEN
SHEPPERD
SEAMSTRESS
This website is
very user friendly
and should pose no
problems.
07966 219785
[email protected]
Repairs
Alterations
Dressmaking
Costumes
Bridesmaids
Prom-Dresses
Cushions
Curtains/soft furnishings
Work
collected
and
delivered.
Reasonable
rates
charged
Superfast Fibre Broadband.
The fibre availability checker shows if you
can get fibre broadband to your home or
property. In most cases, it will return your
result on your phone number, if that's not possible, you can use your postcode. The site is
www.superfast-openreach.co.uk/where-andwhen/
this will show you the progress being made in
your location. I recommend you register your
interest as the more people embracing the
project may influence the speed that it arrives
in your area.
Colin Wright
Honiton
Mobile
Library
Service 2015
This service
operates on
Wednesdays, on the dates
shown:April 15th
May 13th Jun 10th
Jul 8th
Aug 5th Sept 2nd
Sept 30th
Oct 28th Nov 25th Dec 23rd
ARRIVE DEPARTGodford Cross 09.45
10.05
Village Hall
10.15
10.45
Awliscombe United New Season
Contact Martin Willmington at
[email protected] for any further information.
Home games are played at the top of Greenway Lane. Supporters always welcome.
Club Fixtures 18th April
Results
7th March
14th March
3.00pm
Lapford
v
Awliscombe United
@ Edgerley Cross
Awliscombe United
Awliscombe United
v
v
North Tawton
Langdon
0-1
0-4
Martin Willmington
11.
Thoughts are now turning to the summer and the Village Fete and Duck Race.
A meeting will be held on Monday 20th April at 7.30pm at Westlea Cottage, Weston and anyone
wishing to help organise this event is welcome to join us.
For more details, please call Mary on 07714 303434 or email – [email protected].
April 2015 Article
Blackdown Hills Transition Group: Building local resilience.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather -Why should we be concerned?
“We know that if we continue on our current path of allowing emissions to rise year after year, climate change will
change everything about our world. And we don’t have to do anything to bring about this future.
All we have to do is nothing.” Naomi Klein
The above quote courtesy of the Guardian Newspaper 7/3/2015. Rains last year caused widespread flooding with
over forty million tons of water deluging the Somerset Levels. Coupled with a policy of not looking after existing
drainage, this caused untold misery and loss. Also the storms of February 2014 caused extensive damage to the
West Country coastline including the destruction of the Dawlish seawall and subsequent rail problems. We see
famines, flooding and creation of deserts in other areas of the world once able to be farmed with an exodus of
desperate people from North Africa and the Middle East escaping poverty and crop failure and wars over the
remaining resources. . Much of this extreme weather is considered to be the result of the burning of fossil fuels,
(oil, gas & coal) to provide for the comforts of the "developed world" that we live in.
So what can you do? You may already reduce your consumption of fossil fuel used in homes, cars or business.
Maybe you stem the amount you buy and then throw away, not falling for the hype of advertising. Perhaps you buy
local food and produce or grow your own.
As we approach the general election on Thursday May 7th 2015, there will be a local hustings event for the
Tiverton and Honiton constituency at Dunkeswell Throgmorton Hall off Culme Way, Dunkeswell, Honiton, Devon,
EX14 4JP at 1900 hrs on Tuesday 21st April with all the relevant candidates . Ask those who seek to represent you
how they would solve some of these and other local issues. Send a question to Tim Clewer,
[email protected] or him for more detail tel 01404891154.
Neil Arnold and Jim Rogan - BHTG
AWLISCOMBE
& WESTON
Holiday Cottages
Godford Farm
2 self-catering barn conversion cottages 4**** open all year, each sleeping 4.
Sally Lawrence Tel: 01404 42825 www.devon-farm-holidays.co.uk
Wadhayes Farm. Awliscombe EX14 3PR On the edge of the Blackdown Hills, 3 recent stone barn conversions, sleeping 4, 5
and 6. Enclosed gardens with patio for relaxing in the summer. Log burner and under floor heating for the winter. We
welcome families and pets. Visit England graded 4****Gold. Contact: Kathryn Empson 01404 548840
Email: [email protected]
www.wadhayesfarmholidays.co.uk
AWLISCOMBE
AND WESTON
Threshays B&B AA Graded 3 Stars. Tastefully converted cob built threshing barn on non-working farm. Quiet rural location offering
friendly, relaxed, comfortable accommodation (1 double, 1 twin, shared bathroom) and a hearty breakfast. Delightful views over
open countryside. Ample parking.
Contact: Liz Gillingham, Threshays, Hunthayes Farm, Awliscombe. EX14 3QB
Tel/Fax 01404 43551.
Mobile: 07811 675800. Email: [email protected] Website: www.stayat.co.uk/threshayes.
Wessington Farm, Awliscombe. EX14 3NU Elegant Victorian farmhouse within Blackdown Hill. Wonderful views.
Warm welcome. Delicious varied breakfast menu all cooked on a traditional AGA. Four Star Silver Award.
En-suite rooms.
One double and one twin. Contact: Ros Summers. Tel: 01404 42280. Mobile: 07989 300392.
Email: b&[email protected]
Website: www.eastdevon.com/bedandbreakfast
12
AWLISCOMBE & WESTON ACTIVITIES, APRIL 2015
Wed
1
2.00pm
Short Mat Bowls, also at 7.00 pm Parish Hall
Thurs
2
Fri
3
7.00pm
8.00pm
10.00am
Short Mat Bowls: Awliscombe “A” v Seaton Cliff - Away
Maundy Thursday vigil in St Michael’s until midnight
Stations of the cross, followed by hot cross buns
Sat
4
Sun
5
9.30am
10.00am
Mon
6
Tues
Easter Day Celebration in the Church
Honiton Sovereign Grace Church (Committee Room)
8.00pm
Honiton YFC
7
2-4.30pm
Tea Dance: 01823 601474
Wed
8
2.00pm
Short Mat Bowls, also at 7.00 pm Parish Hall
Thurs
9
Fri
10
12md
7.00pm
7.30pm
2.15pm
Meet & Eat at The Deer Park
Short Mat Bowls: Awliscombe “B” v Sidbury Reds - Away
WI
Short Mat Bowls Awliscombe Aft. v Sidford - Away
Sat
11
Sun
12
Mon
13
10.00am
11am
9.15am
1.30-4.30pm
7.30pm
Honiton Sovereign Grace Church (Committee Room)
Parish Clean up Day!!
Awliscombe Little Otters at Awliscombe School
Honiton Art Society
Awliscombe Garden Club Speaker: Lynette Talbot “Sidmouth in Bloom”
Tues
Wed
14
15
9.45am
2.00pm
Mobile Library
Short Mat Bowls, also at 7.00 pm Parish Hall
Thurs
Fri
16
17
Sat
18
Sun
19
Mon
20
Tues
21
Wed
22
2.30pm
7.15pm
2.30pm
3.00pm
9.30am
10.00am
All Day
7.30pm
8.00pm
2-4.30pm
7.00pm
2.00pm
Awliscombe School Spring Fayre
Short Mat Bowls: Awliscombe “A” v Musbury - Home
Parish Hall Puppet Craft Theatre “MONKEY!” tel.01404 45145
Football
St Michael’s APCM
Honiton Sovereign Grace Church (Committee Room)
Magazine Deadline!!!!!
Village Fete & Duck Race Meeting
Honiton YFC
Tea Dance: 01823 601474
Short Mat Bowls: Awliscombe “B” v Colyton B - Home
Short Mat Bowls, also at 7.00 pm Parish Hall
Thurs
Fri
23
24
2.00pm
Short Mat Bowls Awliscombe Aft. v Beer - Home
Sat
25
Sun
26
10.00am
Honiton Sovereign Grace Church (Committee Room)
Mon
27
9.15am
Tues
Wed
28
29
Thurs
30
10-12.00am
2.00pm
8.00pm
Evening
Awliscombe Little Otters at Awliscombe School
Memory Café - Short Mat Bowls
Short Mat Bowls, also at 7.00 pm Parish Hall
East Devon Group YFC (Committee Room)
Young Wives – Tenpin Bowling Evening at the new rink in Exmouth. Contact
Val on 01404 42229
Any articles for the ‘Times’ please contact Steve & Anvee Brownridge on 01404 44963.
or e-mail [email protected] before the 20TH April for the May edition.
This does not include articles for the Activity Sheet. Please contact Jim Hickinbotham on 01404 44982 as usual.
Thank you
© Times up