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You may find this relevant information helpful when researching the area prior to your visit

Brief History of Cullompton

The Parish of Cullompton extends some seven miles along the valley of the River Culm, covering nearly 8000 acres, with about 8000 inhabitants. Columtune was probably a Saxon settlement. The Saxon word 'tun' means town or settlement. Columtune simply means the town on the Culm.

In 549 AD St Columba, an Irish Saint preached the Word of God in the area. It is highly likely that the name St Columba has been preserved in the name of the town - Columba's Town. (Columba is the Latin for dove).

Columtune became part of the personal property of the House of Wessex by the time of Alfred the Great. In 872, the Saxon king, Alfred the Great, bequeathed Columtune and its lands to his son, Ethelward.

In 1020, the manor and lands of Cullompton, which was then known as Colitina, belonged to the Lady Gytha. She was a Danish Princess who was the widow of Earl Godwin and the mother of King Harold. King Harold was later to be defeated and killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

In 1066 William the Conqueror invaded England. The following year, 1067, he passed through the 'villa' of Colitina, on his way to besiege Exeter. Lady Gytha fled to Exeter where she owned much of the land (including a St Olaf's Church). The city fell 18 days later to the superior Norman soldiers of William I. William then divided up the land he had confiscated and gave it to his Norman barons. The manor of Cullompton (Colitina), together with Langford and Ponsford, he gave to Baldwin, the favourite nephew of his wife.

It was later granted by King Richard 1 to Richard de Clifford and by King John, in 1199 or 1200 to his brother, Walter de Clifford.

The Earls of Devon held it for many years, and in 1278 Amicia, Countess of Devon, willed it to the Abbot and Convent of Buckland Monachorum. This bequest was confirmed by her daughter, Isabella, and by Edward I in the eighth year of his reign.

At the dissolution it was surrendered into the king's hands and purchased by Sir John St Leger. At some stage it was sold by Sir George St Leger to Thomas Risdon, and later to the Hillersdon family from whom the Hillersdon estate takes its name. It was later held by Francis Coleman, David Sweet (1822), J Baker and W.C. Grant.

Also in 1278 the market was granted to Baldwin de Insula, Earl of Devon, to be held on Thursday, together with a fair for three days at the festival of St John the Baptist. In 1317 the Abbot and Convent of Buckland had the grant of the market to be held on Tuesday, together with a fair of three days at the feast of St George. Various alterations have since been made to the rights in connection with the market.

On 6 May 1356 a water course was conferred on the town. It was given by the Abbot of Buckland and flowed through the town for 600 years until November 1962.