Belstone

Village in Devon, England

Belstone Village Green The holy well at Belstone

Belstone is a small village and civil parish in the West Devon District of Devon, England.

## Location[edit]

Lying on the northern side of Dartmoor, the western boundary of the parish is mostly formed by the East Okement River and the eastern by the River Taw. The village lies at around 300m (990 feet) above sea level with its highest point being Belstone Tor in the south, at 460m (1,508 feet).[1] The village is central in its parish, surrounded clockwise from the north by the parishes of Sticklepath, South Tawton, Dartmoor Forest and Okehampton Hamlets.[2] It is only accessible by minor roads from the A30 road, east of the town of Okehampton, which is about three miles to the north-west. In 2001 its population was 257, relatively unchanged from the 1901 figure of 236.[1]

## History[edit]

There are a number of Bronze Age remains within the parish, including the Nine Maidens stone circle, the remains of the outer wall of a burial chamber.[1] It is possible that Fatherford, in the north west of Belstone parish, was one stage in a Roman extension of the Fosse Way road from Exeter to Launceston.[3]

The village was recorded as Bellestam in the 11th century Domesday Book. The parish church, dedicated to St. Mary, dates from the 13th century and has priests recorded from 1260.[1][4]

In the 19th century, copper was worked on the moor at Taw River mine which closed in 1892, and at Greenhill in the north-east.[1]

Nine Maidens stone circle

## Belstone in fiction[edit]

* Agatha Christie's 1931 novel The Sittaford Mystery would appear to use Belstone as the location of the fictional settlement of Sittaford.
* The story of The Ballad of the Belstone Fox (1970) by David Rook was based on the area, later made into a film The Belstone Fox in 1973.
* Michael Jecks made the village the setting for his 1999 novel Belladonna At Belstone.

## Gallery[edit]

* The Grade II listed stocks at Belstone

* Church of St Mary the Virgin, Belstone

* Early medieval ring-cross in Belstone's Church of St Mary the Virgin

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Harris, Helen (2004). A Handbook of Devon Parishes. Tiverton: Halsgrove. p. 16\. ISBN 1-84114-314-6.
2. ^ "Map of Devon Parishes" (PDF). Devon County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
3. ^ "Belstone History". South Zeal & its Dartmoor Environment. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
4. ^ Dorothea, James (1911). Belstone: Some Account of the Parish. Past and Present. Winchester: Warren and Son.

## Sources[edit]

* The Book of Belstone by Chris and Marion Walpole, 2002

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belstone.

* Village community website
* Parish Church website

50°43′N 3°57′W﻿ / ﻿50.717°N 3.950°W﻿ / 50.717; -3.950

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Settlements of Dartmoor, Devon

* Ashburton
* Belstone
* Bovey Tracey
* Brentor
* Bridestowe
* Buckfastleigh
* Buckland-in-the-Moor
* Chagford
* Drewsteignton
* Gidleigh
* Haytor
* Hexworthy
* Holne
* Ilsington
* Ivybridge
* Lustleigh
* Lydford
* Manaton
* Mary Tavy
* Moretonhampstead
* North Bovey
* Okehampton
* Peter Tavy
* Ponsworthy
* Postbridge
* Poundsgate
* Princetown
* Shaugh Prior
* Sheepstor
* Sourton
* South Brent
* South Tawton
* South Zeal
* Sticklepath
* Tavistock
* Walkhampton
* Widecombe in the Moor
* Yelverton

* v
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* e

Civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Devon

List of civil parishes in Devon

Exeter1,2|

* None

East Devon1|

* All Saints
* Awliscombe
* Axminster
* Axmouth
* Aylesbeare
* Beer
* Bicton
* Brampford Speke
* Branscombe
* Broad Clyst
* Broadhembury
* Buckerell
* Budleigh Salterton
* Chardstock
* Clyst Honiton
* Clyst Hydon
* Clyst St George
* Clyst St Lawrence
* Clyst St Mary
* Colaton Raleigh
* Colyford
* Colyton
* Combe Raleigh
* Combpyne Rousdon
* Cotleigh
* Cranbrook
* Dalwood
* Dunkeswell
* East Budleigh
* Exmouth
* Farringdon
* Farway
* Feniton
* Gittisham
* Hawkchurch
* Honiton
* Huxham
* Kilmington
* Lands common to Axminster and Kilmington
* Luppitt
* Lympstone
* Membury
* Monkton
* Musbury
* Nether Exe
* Newton Poppleford and Harpford
* Northleigh
* Offwell
* Otterton
* Ottery St Mary
* Payhembury
* Plymtree
* Poltimore
* Rewe
* Rockbeare
* Seaton
* Sheldon
* Shute
* Sidmouth
* Southleigh
* Sowton
* Stockland
* Stoke Canon
* Talaton
* Uplyme
* Upottery
* Upton Pyne
* West Hill
* Whimple
* Widworthy
* Woodbury
* Yarcombe

Mid Devon1|

* Bampton
* Bickleigh
* Bow
* Bradninch
* Brushford
* Burlescombe
* Butterleigh
* Cadbury
* Cadeleigh
* Chawleigh
* Cheriton Bishop
* Cheriton Fitzpaine
* Clannaborough
* Clayhanger
* Clayhidon
* Coldridge
* Colebrooke
* Copplestone
* Crediton
* Crediton Hamlets
* Cruwys Morchard
* Cullompton
* Culmstock
* Down St Mary
* Eggesford
* Halberton
* Hemyock
* Hittisleigh
* Hockworthy
* Holcombe Rogus
* Huntsham
* Kennerleigh
* Kentisbeare
* Lapford
* Loxbeare
* Morchard Bishop
* Morebath
* Newton St Cyres
* Nymet Rowland
* Oakford
* Poughill
* Puddington
* Sampford Peverell
* Sandford
* Shobrooke
* Silverton
* Stockleigh English
* Stockleigh Pomeroy
* Stoodleigh
* Templeton
* Thelbridge
* Thorverton
* Tiverton
* Uffculme
* Uplowman
* Upton Hellions
* Washfield
* Washford Pyne
* Wembworthy
* Willand
* Woolfardisworthy
* Zeal Monachorum

North Devon1|

* Arlington
* Ashford
* Atherington
* Barnstaple
* Berrynarbor
* Bishop's Nympton
* Bishop's Tawton
* Bittadon
* Bratton Fleming
* Braunton
* Brayford
* Brendon and Countisbury
* Burrington
* Challacombe
* Chittlehamholt
* Chittlehampton
* Chulmleigh
* Combe Martin
* East and West Buckland
* East Anstey
* East Down
* East Worlington
* Filleigh
* Fremington
* Georgeham
* George Nympton
* Goodleigh
* Heanton Punchardon
* Horwood, Lovacott and Newton Tracey
* Ilfracombe
* Instow
* Kentisbury
* King's Nympton
* Knowstone
* Landkey
* Loxhore
* Lynton and Lynmouth
* Mariansleigh
* Martinhoe
* Marwood
* Meshaw
* Molland
* Mortehoe
* North Molton
* Parracombe
* Pilton West
* Queen's Nympton
* Rackenford
* Romansleigh
* Rose Ash
* Satterleigh and Warkleigh
* Shirwell
* South Molton
* Stoke Rivers
* Swimbridge
* Tawstock
* Trentishoe
* Twitchen
* West Anstey
* West Down
* Westleigh
* Witheridge

Torridge1|

* Abbots Bickington
* Abbotsham
* Alverdiscott
* Alwington
* Ashreigney
* Ashwater
* Beaford
* Bideford
* Black Torrington
* Bradford
* Bradworthy
* Bridgerule
* Broadwoodwidger
* Buckland Brewer
* Buckland Filleigh
* Bulkworthy
* Clawton
* Clovelly
* Cookbury
* Dolton
* Dowland
* East Putford
* Frithelstock
* Great Torrington
* Halwill
* Hartland
* High Bickington
* Hollacombe
* Holsworthy
* Holsworthy Hamlets
* Huish
* Huntshaw
* Landcross
* Langtree
* Littleham
* Little Torrington
* Luffincott
* Merton
* Milton Damerel
* Monkleigh
* Newton St Petrock
* Northam
* Northcott
* Pancrasweek
* Parkham
* Peters Marland
* Petrockstow
* Pyworthy
* Roborough
* Shebbear
* Sheepwash
* St Giles in the Wood
* St Giles on the Heath
* Sutcombe
* Tetcott
* Thornbury
* Virginstow
* Weare Giffard
* Welcombe
* West Putford
* Winkleigh
* Woolfardisworthy
* Yarnscombe

West Devon1,3|

* Beaworthy
* Belstone
* Bere Ferrers
* Bondleigh
* Bradstone
* Bratton Clovelly
* Brentor
* Bridestowe
* Broadwoodkelly
* Buckland Monachorum
* Chagford
* Coryton
* Dartmoor Forest
* Drewsteignton
* Dunterton
* Exbourne
* Germansweek
* Gidleigh
* Gulworthy
* Hatherleigh
* Highampton
* Horrabridge
* Iddesleigh
* Inwardleigh
* Jacobstowe
* Kelly
* Lamerton
* Lands common to Bridestowe and Sourton
* Lewtrenchard
* Lifton
* Lydford
* Marystow
* Mary Tavy
* Meavy
* Meeth
* Milton Abbot
* Monkokehampton
* North Tawton
* Northlew
* Okehampton
* Okehampton Hamlets
* Peter Tavy
* Sampford Courtenay
* Sampford Spiney
* Sheepstor
* Sourton
* South Tawton
* Spreyton
* Sticklepath
* Stowford
* Sydenham Damerel
* Tavistock
* Throwleigh
* Thrushelton
* Walkhampton
* Whitchurch

South Hams1|

* Ashprington
* Aveton Gifford
* Berry Pomeroy
* Bickleigh
* Bigbury
* Blackawton
* Brixton
* Buckland-Tout-Saints
* Charleton
* Chivelstone
* Churchstow
* Cornwood
* Cornworthy
* Dartington
* Dartmouth
* Dean Prior
* Diptford
* Dittisham
* East Allington
* East Portlemouth
* Ermington
* Frogmore and Sherford
* Halwell and Moreleigh
* Harberton
* Harford
* Holbeton
* Holne
* Ivybridge
* Kingsbridge
* Kingston
* Kingswear
* Littlehempston
* Loddiswell
* Malborough
* Marldon
* Modbury
* Newton and Noss
* North Huish
* Rattery
* Ringmore
* Salcombe
* Shaugh Prior
* Slapton
* South Brent
* South Huish
* South Milton
* South Pool
* Sparkwell
* Staverton
* Stoke Fleming
* Stoke Gabriel
* Stokenham
* Strete
* Thurlestone
* Totnes
* Ugborough
* Wembury
* West Alvington
* West Buckfastleigh
* Woodleigh
* Yealmpton

Teignbridge1|

* Abbotskerswell
* Ashburton
* Ashcombe
* Ashton
* Bickington
* Bishopsteignton
* Bovey Tracey
* Bridford
* Broadhempston
* Buckfastleigh
* Buckland in the Moor
* Christow
* Chudleigh
* Coffinswell
* Dawlish
* Denbury and Torbryan
* Doddiscombsleigh
* Dunchideock
* Dunsford
* Exminster
* Haccombe with Combe
* Hennock
* Holcombe Burnell
* Ide
* Ideford
* Ilsington
* Ipplepen
* Kenn
* Kenton
* Kingskerswell
* Kingsteignton
* Lustleigh
* Mamhead
* Manaton
* Moretonhampstead
* Newton Abbot
* North Bovey
* Ogwell
* Powderham
* Shaldon
* Shillingford St George
* Starcross
* Stokeinteignhead
* Tedburn St Mary
* Teigngrace
* Teignmouth
* Trusham
* Whitestone
* Widecombe in the Moor
* Woodland

Plymouth2,4|

* None

Torbay4|

* Brixham5

Bold text denotes a parish council referred to as a "town council".

1. Non-metropolitan district of the non-metropolitan county of Devon (administered by Devon County Council).
2. Has city status in the United Kingdom.
3. Has borough status in the United Kingdom.
4. Unitary authority not part of the non-metropolitan county, thus not administered by Devon County Council.
5. The remainder of Torbay is unparished.

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