Okehampton
Okehampton photos (28 available)
Okehampton maps (2 available)
Map of Devon
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Okehampton books (26 available)
Barnstaple Town Walk Guide
Paperback
Torbay Photographic Memories
Paperback
Exmoor Photographic Memories
Paperback
- 6 photos on Okehampton appear in 4 Frith books - View photos of Okehampton
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Okehampton and Devon
Okehampton memories
Read and share memories of Okehampton and Devon inspired by Frith photos
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You can also read memories of nearby places in Devon below.
Devon memories
The Friendly Post Office
As a kid this is where I cycled to from my home in Windy Ridge, Skaigh Lane, Belstone to save my pocket money - I knew I would never be a millionaire but I achieved my target of having a thousand pounds by my 18th birthday and I remember making the deposit at Belstone Post Office not long after my 17th birthday - I have very fond memories of Belstone as a child.
Paul Starkey
A memory of Belstone contributed by First Name Last Name
King's Oven
In the 1960s I took my parents to stay in a bungalow a short distance from the Warren House Inn. The bungalow was called The King's Oven, and we rented it for a week. It had been used as accomodation for the tin mine inspector when he visited the area. Sadly, it has since been demolished, but I can still discern where it used to be. While we were there, my father used to like to stroll up the road to the Warren House Inn for a drink.
A memory of Dartmoor contributed by Rosemary Bennett
The Old School House at Coldridge
I went with my cousin Robert Allen to see the village of Coldridge to find out where our Grandad's sister had lived. Now many of what were once the important village businessses are modernised houses called The Old Forge or The Old Bakery or The Old Post Office. It is a shame to realise that the heart of this beautiful country community has been lost but I have heard that village life still thrives.
My cousin and I thought that Coldridge is a beautiful place. Our Grandad was George Creasey Allen and he had a younger sister Winifred Kate who married a Mr Plumridge and lived in The Old School House right next to lovely Coldridge Parish Church. ...read more here
A memory of Coldridge contributed by John Howard Norfolk
Reverend Green
I remember the Reverend Green used to come to North Bovey School and tel us some very interesting stories of his travels in Africa and other countries where he had travelled. Does anyone remember Miss Jones and Mrs Watton? I went to North Bovey School from 1958-1964. I loved North Bovey and its school, they sure have changed, times, haven't they? Nice to see the pictures of the old church, hope to visit soon. Lindsay Baldwin
A memory of North Bovey contributed by lindsay baldwin
Extracts From Okehampton & Devon books
The original castle was built on this site by Baldwin FitzGerald following his appointment by William the Conqueror as Sheriff of Devonshire. It was from here that FitzGerald ruthlessly put down a rebellion in the south-west. The castle was rebuilt in the 14th century when an extension was added to the keep, and Okehampton became more a residence than a fortress. Though defended during the English Civil War, the castle had in fact been partially dismantled around 1538 following the execution of its owner, the Marquess of Exeter, for his alleged role in a plot against Henry VIII. During a confused skirmish at dawn on 8 February 1643, the poet Sidney Godolphin was killed.
An extract from from"English Castles".
Okehampton was established near a Saxon site just after the
Norman conquest. The church in the picture is St James. This
was built as a chantry chapel to All Saints, which was in the
Saxon part of the town, well away from the newer area. Farmers
gather at the corner to mull over the issues of the day.
An extract from from"Devon Pocket Album".
The Green is now built over. This picture shows the Union Workhouse. Subsequently, it would become the
Alexandra Hospital, which remained in business until 1978 when the new North Devon General hospital was
opened.
An extract from from"Barnstaple Photographic Memories".
This picture faces the opposite direction to the previous one. The cabman’s shelter seen in photographs 49616 &
64564 on pages 34 to 36 is still in place. On the left, The Golden Lion was a 17th century merchant’s house. Today
it is called The Bank inn. This district was known locally as The Hearts of Oak.
An extract from from"Barnstaple Photographic Memories".
By the time this picture was taken, the trees had gown to an enormous size and needed surgery. The river still pro-
vided scope for pleasure boating and Shapland & Petter’s factory had grown to its full size. Today, boating is but a memory.
An extract from from"Barnstaple Photographic Memories".