Population 1,494 (2011 Census) Civil parish Silverton Country England Local time Wednesday 1:12 AM District Mid Devon UK parliament constituency Central Devon | OS grid reference SS955028 Region South West Sovereign state United Kingdom Shire county Devon Dialling code 01392 | |
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Weather 6°C, Wind S at 29 km/h, 89% Humidity | ||
Silverton is a large village and civil parish, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Exeter, in the English county of Devon. It is one of the oldest villages in Devon and dates from the first years of the Saxon occupation.
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Map of Silverton, UK
In the will of King Alfred the Great of 899, now in the British Museum, it was left to his youngest son Aethelweard (c.880-922).
In the year 2001, its population was 1,905,recounted to 1,494 at the United Kingdom Census 2011. The electoral ward with the same name had a population of 1,875 at the above census. It has four pubs: The Lamb, The Three Tuns (currently closed), the Ruffwell Inn and the Silverton Inn. The church, dating back to the fourteenth century, is dedicated to St Mary. It has a full set of bells which are rung regularly. Inside, the pews have doors at the end of each row which is unusual in this area. The village also has a further two churches - an Evangelical and a Methodist church; both are popular with social and youth clubs.
The village is on the "old" road from Exeter to Tiverton and as such was once a busy thriving place. Now it has become a dormitory for people working in Exeter although there are still a number of original families living in the village. A post office, a small supermarket (Spar), butcher's shop and a hairdresser offer most necessities for the residents.
The main feature of the village is the giant oak tree which is over 1,000 years old.
The Bristol and Exeter Railway opened Silverton railway station in 1867 but it has since closed.
On the first Saturday of each August, the village holds a Street Market, which is popular among local people. There are stalls selling local goods and crafts, as well as entertainment and children's activities organised throughout the day, and the tug-of-war always ends the day on a high.
Silverton also has a football club, Silverton FC, who play in the Fresha Devon and Exeter Football League. Their pitch is notoriously slanted lengthways - with it being an estimated seven feet lower at one end.
Politically. Silverton is represented on Mid Devon District Council by Liberal Party Councillor, Jenny Roach.
Silverton Parochial Trust
The Silverton Parochial Trust is a historic charity still operating in the Silverton area. It comprises a collection of 13 legacies, the earliest dating from 1616 and now formed into a modern charitable trust controlling property, land and investments. It is managed by seven resident trustees. Funds are available for the immediate assistance of parishioners who are in a condition of ‘need, hardship or distress’ which is not provided for by the state schemes such as Social Services or state benefit programmes.
Parish church
The parish church, dedicated to St Mary, is a building mainly of the 15th and 16th centuries; it has a nave, chancel and north and south aisles. The west tower has battlements, buttresses and four pinnacles. The north aisle was built with funds left by a rector who died in 1479; a rebus referring to a rector of 1519-49 is on the east respond of the north arcade. A new chancel, vestry and two western bays were added by the architects Hayward and Ashworth in 1860-63.