Topsham, Devon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 50°41′10″N 3°27′54″W / 50.6860°N 3.4651°W
| Topsham | |
 The Strand showing some of the houses with Dutch gables. |
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  Topsham
Topsham shown within Devon |
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| Population | 5,023 (Ward - 2001 Census) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Exeter |
| Shire county | Devon |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Devon | |
Topsham is a suburb of Exeter in the county of Devon, England, on the east side of the River Exe estuary between Exeter and Exmouth. Although village-sized, with a current population of around 5,023, it was designated a town by a 1300 royal charter, until the Exeter urban district was formed. It is served by Topsham railway station.
The native Celtic settlement of Topsham became the port of the Roman city of Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter) in the first century AD, and continued to serve it until the Roman occupation southern Britain ceased about the year 400. In the 7th century the Saxon rule in East Devon saw the settlement grow into a considerable village.
Topsham's position, offering a sheltered harbour to seagoing trade has enabled it to thrive as a port, a centre for fishing and shipbuilding, and notably was the scene of a Parliamentarian naval assault during the civil war.
Formerly a major seaport, it is of current interest for its architecture, scenery and proximity to the nature reserves for wading and migrating birds on the Exe estuary, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
There are a large number of Dutch style houses in Topsham dating from the time when Topsham was an important cotton port. Many of Topsham's houses are built using Dutch bricks, which were brought over as ballast from Holland - to where the wool and cotton from South-West England had been exported.
Topsham Museum is located in one of a set of 17th century buildings looking out over the Exe Estuary. The lovely furnished period rooms of the house, themselves can be explored, together with displays of the local history of the town and memorabilia of Vivien Leigh, the film star. The museum is open from April to October, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
St Margaret's Church in Topsham, part of the Church of England, dates back to the 10th Century. Although reconstructed several times through the years, it remains in its original location as granted in 937 by King Athelstan, who gave "a parcel of land, i.e. a manse, which the vulgar called Toppesham, to the monastery Church of St Mary and St Peter in Exeter, for the cure of his soul, to have in eternal freedom so long as the Christian Church shall endure."
Topsham enjoys cult status with students of nearby Exeter University and Rolle College as the home of the "Topsham Ten", a pubcrawl of ten pubs in a little over a mile.
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[edit] Sport
Topsham's local football club is Topsham Town AFC a non-league side in Devon. They are managed by Danny Carpenter.
[edit] Notable residents
Tryphena Sparks Thomas Hardy's cousin, who was the inspiration for Hardy's poem Thoughts of Phena at News of Her Death.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Millgate, Michael Thomas Hardy: A Biography Revisited (2004) Oxford University Press, ISBN 0199275661
