Hittisleigh

Hittisleigh
St Andrew's Church, Hittisleigh
Hittisleigh is located in Devon
Hittisleigh
Hittisleigh
Location within Devon
Population113 
OS grid referenceSX734954
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townExeter
Postcode districtEX6
Dialling code01647
PoliceDevon and Cornwall
FireDevon and Somerset
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Devon
50°44′28″N 3°47′52″W / 50.741072°N 3.797858°W / 50.741072; -3.797858

Hittisleigh is a small rural parish and village just north-east of Dartmoor in Devon. Once part of the ancient district of the Wonford Hundred, it is now administered by Mid Devon District Council and part of the Central Devon constituency. The name Hittisleigh may be derived from Hyttin's leah (from the Old English for wood/clearing). Alternatively it may come from the Old English "hithisce" (a family or tenants) and have meant 'tenant's place or pasture'. Although difficult to date the initial settlement Hittisleigh is mentioned in the Domesday Book.[1] Hittisleigh is known as the birthplace of Samuel Bellamy the eighteenth-century pirate.

It has a church, Church of St Andrew, Hittisleigh, village hall, several farms and a public telephone box. In the past it has also boasted a school, public house (The Hunters Inn), post office, blacksmith, bakery and Wesleyan Methodist chapel. These have all since closed with the buildings often becoming residential. The church has a nave and chancel of the 14th century and a 15th-century aisle built of granite. According to John Betjeman, "it was restored late and lovingly" and is "an adorable little church".[2]

The village is served by a bus from Whiddon Down to Crediton on a Tuesday (it returns if required by passengers on the bus).[3]

  1. ^ "Hittisleigh in Domesday Book". Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  2. ^ Betjeman, John, ed. (1968) Collins Pocket Guide to English Parish Churches; the South. London: Collins; p. 163
  3. ^ "Carmel Coaches Timetable" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2008.