South Hams

Local government district in Devon, England

This article is about the district. For the constituency, see South Hams (UK Parliament constituency).

Not to be confused with South Hampshire.

Non-metropolitan district in England

South Hams

Non-metropolitan district

From Start Point looking towards Hallsands and Beesands

South Hams shown within Devon

Coordinates (Totnes): 50°25′53″N 3°41′28″W﻿ / ﻿50.43139°N 3.69111°W﻿ / 50.43139; -3.69111
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Constituent country| England
Region| South West England
Non-metropolitan county| Devon
Formed| 1 April 1974
Government

• Type| District council
• Body| South Hams District Council
• HQ| Totnes
• Sub-divisions| Civil parishes
• UK Parliament| South West Devon
South Devon
• MPs| Rebecca Smith (C)
Caroline Voaden (LD)
Area

• Total

| 342.28 sq mi (886.51 km2)
• Rank| Ranked 36th
Population

(2022)

• Total

| 89,812
• Rank| Ranked 264th
• Density| 260/sq mi (101/km2)
• Ethnicity

99.09% White

* 97.04% White British
* 0.47% White Irish
* 1.57% Other White

* 0.13% Asian
* 0.06% Indian
* 0.02% Pakistani
* 0.02% Bangladeshi
* 0.03% Other Asian

* 0.12% Black
* 0.05% Black Caribbean
* 0.04% Black African
* 0.03% Other Black

* 0.49% Mixed
* 0.10% White & Black Caribbean
* 0.05% White & Black African
* 0.16% White & South Asian
* 0.18% White & Other

* 0.17% East Asian and Other
* 0.07% Chinese
* 0.10% Other

ONS code| 18UG

South Hams is a local government district on the south coast of Devon, England. Its council is based in the town of Totnes, although the largest town is Ivybridge. The district also contains the towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Salcombe and numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

Much of the district's landscape is recognised for its natural beauty; the north of the district includes part of Dartmoor National Park, the district's coastline and adjoining areas form most of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and part of the west of the district lies within the Tamar Valley AONB. The district's coast includes the promontories of Start Point and Bolt Head.

The neighbouring districts are Torbay, Teignbridge, West Devon, Cornwall (across the Tamar–Tavy Estuary) and Plymouth.

## Toponymy

[edit]

"Ham" is an Old English term which can mean a homestead, river meadow or peninsula.[1] The settled farming areas either side of the largely uninhabited wilderness of Dartmoor were anciently termed the "North Hams" and "South Hams" respectively. The name North Hams fell out of general usage, but the name South Hams continued to be used for the area between Dartmoor and the south coast.[2]

## History

[edit]

The South Hams were formerly part of the Brythonic (Celtic) Kingdom of Dumnonia. Post-Roman settlement on coastal promontory hillforts, such as Burgh Island, followed the established pattern of trading (particularly of tin) found across the western Atlantic coastal regions. The Anglo-Saxon conquest of south Devon was completed in the late 7th and early 8th centuries.[3] In the later Anglo-Saxon era, the South Hams was a feudal estate consisting of all of the land between the River Plym and River Dart and south of Dartmoor with the English Channel forming the southern boundary. As a result of claims made by 19th century antiquarian Richard Polwhele, there is a popular belief that Cornish continued to be spoken in the area until the later middle ages and as late as the 14th century. However, there is, in fact, no evidence supporting this.[4]

In 1917, the village of Hallsands was abandoned after much of it was lost to the sea following the removal of the shingle bank protecting the shore to help build Devonport dockyard.[5]

In 1944 several villages were evacuated so that training for D-Day could be carried out in secret. The area was chosen because of the resemblance of its beaches to those of Normandy. Preparations were disrupted, and secrecy nearly compromised, by a devastating E-boat attack during Exercise Tiger.

The modern local government district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of seven former districts which were all abolished at the same time:[6]

* Dartmouth Municipal Borough[a]
* Kingsbridge Rural District
* Kingsbridge Urban District
* Plympton St Mary Rural District
* Salcombe Urban District
* Totnes Municipal Borough
* Totnes Rural District

The new district was named South Hams, using the long-established name for the area.[7]

## Governance

[edit]

South Hams District Council

Type
Type|

Non-metropolitan district council

History
Founded| 1 April 1974
Leadership

Chair

Bernard Taylor,
Conservative
since 23 May 2024[8]

Leader

Dan Thomas,
Liberal Democrat
since 15 May 2025

Chief Executive

Andy Bates
since June 2020[9]

Structure
Seats| 31 councillors

Political groups

Administration (19)
Liberal Democrats (19)
Opposition (12)
Conservative (7)
Green (3)
Labour (1)
Independent (1)
Elections

Voting system

| Plurality-at-large

Last election

| 4 May 2023

Next election

| 6 May 2027
Meeting place
Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE
Website
www.southhams.gov.uk
Constitution
South Hams District Council Constitution

South Hams District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Devon County Council.[10] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[11]

In the parts of the district within the Dartmoor National Park, town planning is the responsibility of the Dartmoor National Park Authority. The district council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 19-person National Park Authority.[12]

### Political control

[edit]

The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since the 2023 election.

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[13][14]

Party in control | Years

|

| Independent | 1974–1983
| No overall control | 1983–1987
| Conservative | 1987–1995
| No overall control | 1995–1999
| Conservative | 1999–2023
| Liberal Democrats | 2023–present

### Leadership

[edit]

The leaders of the council since 1994 have been:

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Owen Masters[15] |  | Conservative | 1994 | May 1995
Doreen Flood[16][17] |  | Liberal Democrats | May 1995 | May 1999
Owen Masters[15] |  | Conservative | May 1999 | 2001
Richard Yonge[18] |  | Conservative | 2001 | 2007
John Tucker[19] |  | Conservative | 2007 | May 2019
Judy Pearce[20][21] |  | Conservative | 16 May 2019 | May 2023
Julian Brazil[22][23] |  | Liberal Democrats | 25 May 2023 | 15 May 2025
Dan Thomas[23] |  | Liberal Democrats | 15 May 2025 |

### Composition

[edit]

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:[24]

Party  | Councillors

|

| Liberal Democrats | 19
| Conservative | 7
| Green | 3
| Labour | 1
| Independent | 1
Total  | 31

The next election is due in 2027.[25]

### Premises

[edit]

The council is based at Follaton House, a large converted house on the outskirts of Totnes.[26] The main house dates back to the early nineteenth century and is a Grade II* listed building.[27] The building had been bought by the old Totnes Rural District Council for £26,000 in 1965 and converted to become its offices, transferring to the new South Hams District Council on local government reorganisation in 1974.[28][29]

## Geography

[edit]

The district's geography can be described in terms of three loosely defined bands: a coastal band of bays, headlands, birdlife, fishing and small harbour towns with the estuaries and rias; a middle band with the main, well-conserved towns; and a sparsely populated band of upland National Park moorland in the north. For over a century its tourism was concentrated around the railway, with most stations built here from 1847 to 1872 so tourism to its beaches and fishing villages began in earnest later than to the 'English Riviera' east of the area. South Hams' widespread tourism multiplied on the dualling of the A38 and time-cutting construction of the M5 and A303 across other parts of south-west England.

> In the north, there is...the "wildscape"—...[a new] bypass [to the A30, the A38]...cut[s] through some of the most beautiful country in Britain, that of the Dartmoor national park....while in the south-west there is extensive mining of china clay...[an abortive] tungsten mine in the Shaugh Prior — Sparkwell area will be [would have been] amongst the largest in the world and probably the largest in Europe. The wildscape band runs from Cadover Bridge and Shaugh Prior in the west right over to the other side of Dartmoor, to the Avon dam, Shipley Bridge and South Brent, touching the outskirts of Buckfastleigh.

> The second band is the agricultural belt of lush, fertile farmland which produces some of the finest milk and Devon cream. Within that belt are the medieval towns of Modbury and Totnes and small hamlets and villages such as...Holbeton, Marldon and Berry Pomeroy.

> The third band is the Heritage coast [and South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty], running from near the fishing port of Brixham through Churston,[b] Kingswear, Dartmouth, Slapton Sands, Torcross, East Prawle, Salcombe and Bigbury Bay almost to the boundaries of Plymouth in Heybrook bay. That area is filled with rivers such as the Erme, the Plym, the Avon and the Dart. [There is] an island in the shape of Burgh Island. There are rolling hills, deep wooded valleys, estuaries full of fish and a coastline full of crab, lobsters and oysters. The climate is warm and mellow. Some regard it as a garden of Eden. We even have a naturist beach and hotel. ...forgive me if I wax lyrical about this beautiful, delightful area. Tourism is an important livelihood...the other is farming...for many.[30]

> — Anthony Steen, MP for this area (1983–2010), South-West Region potential and current public priorities debate, 1983)

The South Hams, along with nearby Broadsands in Paignton, is the last British refuge of the cirl bunting.[citation needed]

## Parishes and settlements

[edit]

The whole district is covered by civil parishes. Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council. The parish councils for Dartmouth, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Totnes take the style "town council".[31]

Settlements in the district include:

* Ash, Aish, Allaleigh, Ashprington, Aveton Gifford
* Badworthy, Bantham, Beesands, Beeson, Berry Pomeroy, Bickleigh, Bigbury-on-Sea, Bittaford, Blackawton, Blackpool, Bolberry, Brixton, Broadhempston, Buckland-Tout-Saints
* Charleton, Chillington, Chivelstone, Churchstow, Cornwood, Cornworthy, Curtisknowle
* Dartington, Dartmouth, Dean Prior, Didworthy, Diptford, Dittisham, Dodbrooke (neighbourhood of Kingsbridge)
* East Allington, East Charleton, East Portlemouth, East Prawle, Ermington
* Ford (Chivelstone), Ford (Holbeton), Frogmore
* Goveton
* Hallsands, Halwell, Harberton, Harford, Hemsford, Heybrook Bay, Holbeton, Holne, Hutcherleigh
* Ivybridge
* Kingsbridge, Kingston, Kingswear
* Landscove, Ledstone, Lee Moor, Littlehempston, Loddiswell, Lutton
* Malborough, Marldon, Michelcombe, Modbury, Moreleigh
* Newton Ferrers, Noss Mayo, North Huish
* Rattery, Revelstoke, Rew, Ringmore, Roborough
* Salcombe, Scorriton, Shaugh Prior, Sherford (near Kingsbridge), Sherford (new town), Slapton, Soar, South Brent, South Huish, South Milton, South Pool, Sparkwell, Start, Staverton, Stoke Fleming, Stoke Gabriel, Stokenham, Sutton
* Thurlestone, Torcross, Totnes, Tuckenhay, The Mounts
* Ugborough, Uphempston
* Washbourne, Wembury, West Alvington, Woodleigh, Woolston Green, Wotter, Wrangaton
* Yealmpton

## Elections

[edit]

See also: South Hams District Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 31 councillors representing 20 wards, with each ward election one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[32]

The South Hams district straddles the two parliamentary constituencies of South West Devon and Totnes.

In the 2016 EU Referendum it voted to remain with a very high (80.3%) turnout.[33][34]

### Wards

[edit]

Some of the district's wards are coterminous with civil parishes, though most consist of multiple parishes or parts of parishes. The following table lists the electoral wards of South Hams and the associated civil parishes.

Ward  | Civil Parishes  | No. of councillors

|
|

Allington & Strete  |

* Buckland-Tout-Saints
* Charleton
* East Allington
* Frogmore and Sherford
* Slapton
* Strete

| 1
Bickleigh & Cornwood  |

* Bickleigh (part)
* Cornwood
* Harford
* Shaugh Prior

| 1
Blackawton & Stoke Fleming  |

* Blackawton
* Halwell and Moreleigh
* Stoke Fleming

| 1
Charterlands  |

* Bigbury
* Kingston
* Modbury
* Ringmore

| 1
Dartington & Staverton  |

* Dartington
* Staverton

| 1
Dartmouth & East Dart  |

* Dartmouth
* Kingswear
* Stoke Gabriel

| 3
Ermington & Ugborough  |

* Ermington
* Ugborough (part)

| 1
Ivybridge East  |

* Ivybridge (part)
* Ugborough (part)

| 2
Ivybridge West  | Ivybridge (part)  | 2
Kingsbridge  | Kingsbridge | 2
Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford  |

* Aveton Gifford
* Churchstow
* Loddiswell
* Woodleigh

| 1
Marldon & Littlehempston  |

* Berry Pomeroy
* Littlehempston
* Marldon

| 1
Newton & Yealmpton  |

* Holbeton
* Newton and Noss
* Sparkwell
* Yealmpton

| 2
Salcombe & Thurlestone  |

* Malborough
* Salcombe
* South Huish
* South Milton
* Thurlestone
* West Alvington

| 2
South Brent  |

* Dean Prior
* Diptford
* Holne
* North Huish
* Rattery
* South Brent
* West Buckfastleigh

| 2
Stokenham  |

* Chivelstone
* East Portlemouth
* South Pool
* Stokenham

| 1
Totnes  | Totnes | 3
Wembury & Brixton  |

* Brixton
* Wembury

| 2
West Dart  |

* Ashprington
* Cornworthy
* Dittisham
* Harberton

| 1
Woolwell  | Bickleigh (part)  | 1

## See also

[edit]

* Grade I listed buildings in South Hams
* Grade II* listed buildings in South Hams

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Formally called "Clifton Dartmouth Hardness".
2. ^ Brixham and Churston were in the South Hams constituency are geographically within neighbouring Torbay but were part of the South Hams Parliamentary constituency.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The South Hams and Devon's far south". Bradt Guides. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
2. ^ Harpley, William, ed. (1878). "Notes on the historical connections of Devonshire place-names". Report and transactions of the Devonshire Association for the advancement of science, literature and art, Volume 10. Plymtouh: W. Bredon and Son. p. 306. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
3. ^ Loyn, H.R. (1991). Anglo Saxon England and the Norman Conquest. Longman. pp. 49–50\. ISBN 9780582072961.
4. ^ Payton, Philip (2021). Cornwall in the Age of Rebellion, 1490–1690. University of Exeter Press. pp. 49–51\. ISBN 978-1-905816-20-0.
5. ^ "Recalling the disaster at Hallsands". BBC Devon: History features. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
6. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 30 July 2023
7. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
8. ^ "South Hams District Council elects its new chairman". Kingsbridge and Salcombe Gazette. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
9. ^ Clark, Daniel (23 April 2020). "South Hams and West Devon councils confirm new Chief Executive appointment". Devon Live. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
10. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
11. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
12. ^ "Who are the members?". Dartmoor National Park Authority. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
13. ^ "South Hams". BBC News Online. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
14. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "South Hams" in search box to see specific results.)
15. ^ a b Bounds, Kristen (14 August 2018). "Local MBE and retired careworker celebrating their diamond anniversary this week". Kingsbridge and Salcombe Gazette. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
16. ^ "Council power battle". Herald Express. Torquay. 9 May 1995. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
17. ^ "True blue joy in S Hams as Tories regain power". Herald Express. Torquay. 7 May 1999. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
18. ^ Henderson, Guy (26 October 2022). "Long-serving South Hams council leader dies, aged 83". Devon Live. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
19. ^ Clark, Daniel (5 April 2019). "Leader of South Hams District Council stands down as election candidates made public". Devon Live. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
20. ^ "Council minutes, 16 May 2019". South Hams District Council. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
21. ^ "Outgoing council leader praises team who stuck together". Ivybridge and South Brent Gazette. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
22. ^ "Council minutes, 25 May 2023". South Hams District Council. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
23. ^ a b White, Laura (16 May 2025). "New leader elected for South Hams District Council". The Moorlander. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
24. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
25. ^ "South Hams". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
26. ^ "How to find our offices". South Hams District Council. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
27. ^ Historic England. "Follaton House (Grade II*) (1235624)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
28. ^ "Totnes R.D.C. to buy mansion". Herald Express. Torquay. 3 November 1965. p. 5. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
29. ^ "Follaton House". Devon Gardens Trust. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
30. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 19 December 1983. col. 278–291.
31. ^ "Town and Parish Clerks' contact details". South Hams District Council. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
32. ^ "The South Hams (Electoral Changes) Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2014/3059, retrieved 31 July 2023
33. ^ http://old.southhams.gov.uk/eureferendumresults [dead link]
34. ^ "South Hams votes to Remain, but UK as a whole votes Leave".

## External links

[edit]

* South Hams District Council
* south-hams

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South Hams.

* v
* t
* e

Districts of South West England

Devon|

* East Devon
* Exeter
* Mid Devon
* North Devon
* South Hams
* Teignbridge
* Torridge
* West Devon

Gloucestershire|

* Cheltenham
* Cotswold
* Forest of Dean
* Gloucester
* Stroud
* Tewkesbury

Unitary authorities|

* Bath and North East Somerset
* Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
* Bristol
* Cornwall
* Isles of Scilly
* Dorset
* North Somerset
* Plymouth
* Somerset
* South Gloucestershire
* Borough of Swindon
* Torbay
* Wiltshire

* v
* t
* e

Ceremonial county of Devon

Devon Portal

Unitary authorities|

* Plymouth
* Torbay

Boroughs or districts|

* East Devon
* Exeter
* Mid Devon
* North Devon
* South Hams
* Teignbridge
* Torridge
* West Devon

Major settlements
(cities in italics)|

* Ashburton
* Axminster
* Bampton
* Barnstaple
* Bideford
* Bovey Tracey
* Brixham
* Buckfastleigh
* Budleigh Salterton
* Chagford
* Chudleigh
* Chulmleigh
* Colyton
* Crediton
* Cullompton
* Dartmouth
* Dawlish
* Exeter
* Exmouth
* Great Torrington
* Hatherleigh
* Holsworthy
* Honiton
* Ilfracombe
* Ivybridge
* Kingsbridge
* Kingsteignton
* Lynton
* Moretonhampstead
* Newton Abbot
* North Tawton
* Northam
* Okehampton
* Ottery St Mary
* Paignton
* Plymouth
* Plympton
* Plymstock
* Salcombe
* Seaton
* Sidmouth
* South Molton
* Tavistock
* Teignmouth
* Tiverton
* Topsham
* Torquay
* Totnes
See also: List of civil parishes in Devon

Rivers|

* Ashburn
* Avon
* Axe
* Barle
* Bovey
* Bray
* Burn
* Clyst
* Creedy
* Culm
* Dart
* East Dart
* West Dart
* Erme
* Exe
* Heddon
* Lemon
* Lew
* Lumburn
* Lyd
* East Lyn
* West Lyn
* Meavy
* Mole
* Okement
* East Okement
* West Okement
* Otter
* Plym
* Sid
* Swincombe
* Tamar
* Tavy
* Taw
* Teign
* Thrushel
* Torridge
* Walkham
* Wallabrooke
* East Webburn
* West Webburn
* Wolf
* Yealm

Topics|

* Flag
* Devon County Council
* Parliamentary constituencies
* Economy
* Places
* Towns by population
* SSSIs
* Country houses
* Grade I listed buildings
* Grade II* listed buildings
* Scheduled monuments
* Bridges
* History
* Schools
* Museums
* Lord Lieutenants
* High Sheriffs
* Notable people
* Dartmoor
* Exmoor
* South Devon AONB
* Tamar Valley AONB
* Jurassic Coast
* South West Coast Path
* Two Moors Way
* North Devon's Biosphere Reserve

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template