Colyton, Devon

Coordinates: 50°44′16″N 3°04′10″W / 50.737883°N 3.069354°W / 50.737883; -3.069354

Colyton
The Church of St. Andrew in Colyton, known for its rare octagonal lantern tower
Colyton  Colyton shown within Devon
Population	2,783 (1991)
OS grid reference	SY245937
Shire county	Devon
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	COLYTON
Postcode district	EX24
Dialling code	01297
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	East Devon
List of places: UK • England • Devon

Colyton is a small town in Devon, England. It is located within the East Devon local authority area. It is 3 miles away from Seaton and 6 miles away from Axminster. Its population in 1991 was 2,783.

History

Colyton first appeared as an ancient village around 700 AD and features in the Domesday Book as 'Culitone'. The third code of law of King Edmund I was issued at Colyton in about 945. This helped to stabilize feudal society, by stating clearly its four pillars: kingship, lordship, family, and neighbourhood.^[1] It grew into an important agricultural centre and market town with a corn mill, saw mill, iron foundry and an oak bark tannery that is still functioning.

It was called the "most rebellious town in Devon" due to the number of its inhabitants who joined the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685.^{[citation needed]}

The church

A Saxon church occupied the site of St Andrew's church until replaced by the present Norman church in the 11th century. The 14th century octagonal lantern tower is said to have been used as a beacon for ships on the once navigable River Axe, to the east, although there is doubt that the tower may be seen at all from the river. The nearby vicarage dates from 1529.

Other notable features

Colyton Grammar School dates from 1546 and once occupied the part-medieval building now known as the Old Church House. In 1927 it moved to Colyford, a small town within the Colyton parish. The school has made headlines in recent years as the first school to 'opt out' of local authority control and gain grant-maintained status and for achieving very high rankings in national examination league tables.

The Seaton Tramway terminates at nearby Kingsdon on the other side of the River Coly and the town is on the route of the East Devon Way footpath.

In Summer 2006, E4 filmed their reality show Stop Treating Me Like A Kid in the town, which was broadcast in Autumn that year.

References

1. ^ ODNB entry for King Edmund I: Retrieved 18 August 2011. Subscription required.

External links

• Colyton Parish History Society