Horrabridge

Horrabridge is a village in West Devon, England with a population of 2,115 people in 2006, down from 2,204 in 1991.[1] It is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) north of the city of Plymouth and 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Tavistock and is within the Dartmoor National Park. Horrabridge is a major part of Walkham electoral ward. The population at the 2011 census was 3,115.[2]

Horrabridge

The packhorse bridge over the River Walkham
Horrabridge
Location within Devon
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townYelverton
Postcode districtPL20
PoliceDevon and Cornwall
FireDevon and Somerset
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament

It sits on the River Walkham, a fishing river famous for its salmon. The village's name may have been taken from the 15th century pack-horse bridge which remains the only vehicular route from one side of the village to the other, and featured in the children's television programme Bagpuss.[3][4] The bridge is a Grade I listed building.[5]

Horrabridge has two pubs the London Inn and The Leaping Salmon but has lost many of its shops over the last 20 years including a draper, television shop and a general store. The village does however retain its post office, family bakery, hairdresser, florist and newsagent.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, the main industry was the mining of copper and tin. This industry has completely disappeared, leaving a legacy of unmapped mineshafts in the village and the surrounding area. It is a popular starting point for walks on Dartmoor and has become a dormitory village for the adjoining towns.

Horrabridge has a football club associated with it; Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association. The football club has 2 adult teams and 8 youth teams. The football club has been around for over 100 years and provides a useful activity for the children of Horrabridge and the surrounding villages of Yelverton, Buckland Monachorum, Crapstone, Meavy and Walkhampton.

Musician Seth Lakeman recorded his album Kitty Jay in Horrabridge.[6]

Horrabridge is twinned with Tilly-sur-Seulles in Normandy and the Twinning Association has existed since 1974.[7]

References
  1. "Dartmoor Baseline Profile (p.10)" (PDF). Devon County Council. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  2. "Walkham ward 2011". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  3. Photo by Francis Frith: "Photo of Horrabridge, the Bridge 1898". Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  4. "Bagpuss Opening credits". Retrieved 12 November 2006.
  5. Historic England. "Horrabridge Bridge (1105769)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  6. "Kitty Jay – Seth Lakeman". 2004.
  7. "Horrabridge-a Devon village". Horrabridge Parish Council. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
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