Sampford Courtenay
| Sampford Courtenay | |
|---|---|
 Sampford Courtenay | |
  Sampford Courtenay Location within Devon | |
| Population | 600 (2019) |
| OS grid reference | SS6301 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | OKEHAMPTON |
| Postcode district | EX20 |
| Dialling code | 01837 |
| UK Parliament | |
Sampford Courtenay is a village and civil parish in West Devon in England, most famous for being the place where the Western Rebellion, otherwise known as the Prayerbook rebellion, first started, and where the rebels made their final stand. It has a population of around 600.[1]
The Church of St Andrew is mainly built of granite and has an elegant tower.[2]
It was served by the nearby Sampford Courtenay railway station at Belstone Corner. This station still operates as a halt on the Dartmoor Railway summer weekend service between Okehampton and Exeter.
Literature
Sampford Courtenay is the area author M.R. James had in mind for his short ghost story Martin's Close published in More Ghost Stories in 1911. The New Inn featured in this story is also a real place and a grade II listed old coaching inn originally built in the 16th Century
Local traditions
THE FESTIVAL OF THE MUTE has dated back to the 1900s. The day celebrates the arrival of Boer soldier who was saved by British medics after being shot in the throat and being unable to talk in the battle of Kraaipan. He came to live in Sampford courtenay after the boar war. The festival of the mute takes did take place every summer bank holiday. Unfortunately the last event took place in 1981 due to concerns it could be perceived as racist and its links to the far right.
High profile court cases
public nudity
Sampford Courtenay has had a long standing affiliation with public nudity which dates back to the 16th century when witches would dance naked around granite standing stones after sacrificing animals. In more recent times public nudity was celebrated with the relaxing of public views in the 1960s, however today parishioners are divided on how public nudity is impacting the village, with the majority of the parish council having extremely Liberal views this has led to a lot of public and media interest.
witches and poltergeists
References
- ^ "Sampford Courtenay website". www.sampfordcourtenay-pc.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ Betjeman, J. (ed.) (1968) Collins Pocket Guide to English Parish Churches: the South. London: Collins; p. 165
External links
Media related to Sampford Courtenay at Wikimedia Commons
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
 | This Devon location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |