Stokenham

Stokenham ([stəʊ̯kən'hæm] -- not ['stəʊ̯kənəm], as analogy with other apparently similar names in England would suggest) is a village and civil parish in the English county of Devon. The population of the parish at the 2011 census was 1,895.[1]

Stokenham, Devon.

Places in the parish

As well as Stokenham the civil parish includes the settlements of Torcross, Beesands, Hallsands, Kellaton, Kernborough, Dunstone, Beeson and Chillington and Bickerton.[2] It forms part of the district of South Hams.

Point	Coordinates (Links to map resources)	OS Grid Ref	Notes
Beesands	50.253°N 3.6572°W	SX818406
Torcross	50.2666°N 3.6535°W	SX822420

History

The village of Stokenham was known in Saxon Times as Stoc or Stoc Hamme ("meaning Stoc meadows").[3] By the 13th century the town was called Stoke in Hamme.[4] An electoral ward has the same name. The ward population at the 2011 census was 1,895.[5]

In Mediaeval times St. Humbert the Confessor (d.1188AD)[6] was locally venerated as patron saint in the town.

The area was known in the 19th century for the fine crabs, and in World War II local residents were evacuated from the area, on the eve of D-day.

Start Bay looking north east

Geography

To the east of the parish is Start Bay in the English Channel. The principal road in the parish is the A379 running between the nearest towns of Kingsbridge (to the west) and Dartmouth to the north.

Local landmarks

The parish church

The present church dates from 1431;[7] an earlier Norman church predated it.[8]

"The church as it stands today, is a fine example of the perpendicular style of medieval architecture. It is built on the side of a hill so that its whole length can be seen from below and is dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, which was common practice for churches standing on elevated sites. It was, however, dedicated to St Barnabas and prior to that to St Humbert the Confessor."[9]

Stokenham manor house

Immediately to the east of the church is the site of Stokenham manor house, abandoned in 1585 but possibly dating back to at least the 12th century.[10]

Local pub

The Tradesman's Arms is an imposing 14th-century, part-thatched pub and restaurant.

References

1. "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 6 April 2015.
2. Stokenham Parish Council
3. Stokenham Devon England Photos.
4. Stokenham at Devon County Council website.
5. "ward population 2011". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
6. Nicholas Orme, English Church Dedications: With a Survey of Cornwall and Devon (University of Exeter Press, 1996) page 24
7. Stokenham Devon England Photos.
8. Stokenham Parish Church website.
9. The Church of St Michael and All Angels, Stokenham at Geograph.org.uk.
10. Excavations and Survey around the Village of Stokenham, Devon Department of Archaeology, The University of Exeter.