Ilfracombe

Ilfracombe is a seaside resort on the north coast of Devon, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. An occasional ferry service runs from the town to Lundy Island, Swansea and Penarth in Cardiff.

The main natural landmark Hillsborough Hill dominates the harbour and is the site of an iron age fortress. A man made landmark is the award winning Landmark theatre, of unusual double conical design. The theatre is locally referred to as Madonna's Bra, a reference to its shape and that of an iconic brassiere worn by the singer Madonna.

History

Ilfracombe has been settled since the iron age, its name is a derivative of the Anglo-Saxon Alfreincoma - by which name it was noted in the Exeter Domesday Book. The translation of this name (from Walter William Skeat of the department of Anglo Saxon at Cambridge University) means the "Valley of the sons of Alfred". Ilfracombe was made up of two communities; a farming community around the parish church called Holy Trinity, parts of which date from the 12th century; and the other was a fishing community around the natural harbour beneath the dominant hill.

The Manor House lands by the church, were first given to the Champernon family in 11th Century, those by the harbour the Bouchiers, Earls of Bath. It was a significant port on the Bristol Channel and in 1247 it supplied a ship to the fleet that was sent to conquer the Western Isles of Scotland. Ships were sent to support the siege of Calais, and it was the disembarkation point for two large forces sent to subdue the Irish.

File:Ilfracombe.longview.arp.750pix.jpg Ilfracombe seen from Hillsborough (447 feet, 136 metres), a viewpoint on the South West Coast Path. The Lundy ferry is moored at the lower centre of the picture. Lundy island is just visible on the horizon (in the larger picture)

The Landmark theatre

The Harbour

In recent years it has become the home of the world champion long-jumper Jonathan Edwards. The actor Peter Sellers first set foot on stage here, and the Collins sisters Joan and Jackie went to school in the town.

Economy

Until the mid 19th century the economy was based around sea trade and fishing, the town then became a desirable tourist resort served by ferries along the Bristol Channel. The population grew until the First World War, then stabilised at 9200, now 11000. The economy suffered throughout the 1960s as UK holiday patterns changed, and suffered further through the closure of the railway line in 1979. In the last twenty five years the economy has become based on light engineering. There are two major employers; Pall Europe - a manufacturer of specialist filters for industry and Coutant Lambda - a manufacturer of power supplies currently owned by the TDK Corporation and a former subsidiary of Invensys. In 2006 major leisure industry developments are expected to shift the local economy back to tourism.

Culture

Each year, the residents and school children of Ilfracombe celebrate their heritage by taking part in activities. These include May Day celebrations which date back to the 16th century. Since 1985 a week long celebration of the town's boom years has been held, known as 'Victorian Week'. During the summer months, the town has an influx of foreign students who study English at the Channel School.

The town's educational needs are served by three schools; the Infants, the Junior and the comprehensive school - Ilfracombe College. Each of these schools is amongst the largest of their type in the County of Devon. The college serves the needs of Ilfracombe residents and those across the North Devon region as far as Lynton and Lynmouth. This mix of rural coupled with town dwelling students gives the college a unique character.

Demographics and Sociology

When the tourism market faltered following the end of the Victorian era local hotelliers invited people living in major urban areas to the town with the prospect of seasonal employment. Later as unemployment levels rose. this 'inward migration' caused social problems and friction between these people and those with a long history of residence.

These problems are now being addressed by the implementation of local government schemes e.g Surestart - a project to help the families with young children; and since 2004 the neighbourhood management Transform programme.

During the early 1990s, the team of the popular English reality TV show Challenge Anneka relocated the Ilfracombe Community Centre from its former base near Ilfracombe Library, into Burnside - the heart of Slade Valley.

Following better policing, use of neighbourhood wardens and wide use of CCTV, crime rates are now around the North Devon regional average and a fraction of those nationally. Since 2001 there has been a locally led economic regeneration programme called the Ilfracombe & District Community Alliance MCTI. This programme developed following a widespread consultation for a community strategy for the next twenty years. The South West Regional Development Agency is formulating detailed plans for the town's economic and physical structures. A target is the creation of a light vehicle and foot passenger ferry service to Swansea - a large Welsh city which is only twenty one miles away across the Bristol Channel.

External links

• Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
• Channel School of English
• Coutant Lambda
• Pall Corporation
• Ilfracombe College website
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