Sticklepath, Devon One Place Study

Profile managers: One Place Studies Project WikiTree [send private message] and Helen Shields [send private message]

Sticklepath, Devon One Place Study

This profile is part of the Sticklepath, Devon One Place Study.

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• Wikidata: Item Q4304283, en:Wikipedia
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Name

Named after the staecle (Anglo-Saxon) or ‘steep’ ancient pack-horse trackway, the main route from London to Cornwall.

Geography

20 miles West of Exeter, 3-4 miles East of Okehampton, this typical single-street Devon village in South West England has many listed picturesque thatched cottages. As the road starts to rise by Ladywell, the Cleave Valley lane to Belstone branches left. Here was Cleave Mill, and, further along Skaigh or Ska Valley with its ancient woodlands, one of the largest water wheels in mainland Britain (70ft diameter). Sticklepath folk claim to have a high rainfall due to the valley, and heavy snows can isolate the village (eg 1963).Sticklepath and Belstone along with South Tawton and South Zeal, lie ‘in the shadow’ of Dartmoor’s highest point - Cawsand or Cosdon Beacon.

Continent: Europe

Country: England

County: Devon

GPS Coordinates: 50.733333, -3.933333

Elevation: 260.0 m or 853.0 feet

History

Please see report: https://www.one-place-studies.org/europe/england/devon/sticklepath/

Population

In 1841 the population was 550-600. Whilst many Sticklepath folk married people from neighbouring villages, changes in employment, varying prevalence of occupation and attractive opportunities to emigrate all had an impact. In 1950 Jessie Barron wrote: “The most marked change in the last 50 years has been in the number and character of the population. In later years the fashion for large families has died out, and as a result of this, rather than for lack of local industry, the population has decreased. In 1900 there were about 50 houses and over 70 Sticklepath children attending the council school. Now, although thirty additional houses have been built, there are but thirty children, all told, in the village, including babies under school age.” The school has been closed since the 1980s. It became largely a village for workers in the nearby town and city. It still has a rural feel. It was mainly in Sampford Courtenay Parish until 1987, but some of the village was in South Tawton Parish and some was in Belstone Parish.

Notables

Visited by John and Charles Wesley, Strong Methodist presence until the 1960s. The Quaker Burying Ground became an ecumenical village cemetery in 1816, still run by a village committee. The Finch Foundry (National Trust property) water-powered tilt hammers and shears, are still demonstrations today. St Mary's Church heritage centre interactive historical displays.

Sources

• https://sticklepathhistory.family/sources/

I am working on adding memorials from the Sticklepath Quaker Burying Ground to Findagrave. ( https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2638351/sticklepath-quaker-burying-ground )

I am trying to add everyone from the 1851 census (first England and Wales census with family relationships noted) but keep getting distracted from the task in hand - too many rabbit holes!

I am a keen member of the One-Place Society and find their encouragement, ideas, webinars, Twitter #OnePlaceWednesdays and facebook discussion group all very helpful.