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Clovelly
Clovelly (/kləˈvɛli/) is a privately owned harbour village in the Torridge district of Devon, England. The settlement and surrounding land belongs to John Rous, who inherited it from his mother in 1983. He belongs to the Hamlyn family, who have managed the village since 1738.
The village, which is built into the wooded sea cliffs of the north Devon shore, has a steep pedestrianised cobbled main street with architecture that was improved by Christine Hamlyn. Due to the gradients, donkeys (now mostly replaced with sledges) have been used to move goods and cargo from Clovelly Bay. Visitors to the village entering via the visitor centre are required to pay an entrance fee which covers parking, entrance to two museums, Clovelly Court gardens, and an audiovisual history guide. The village is a tourist destination and is host to an annual Lobster and Crab festival.
At the 2011 census, the parish population was 443, a decrease of 50 on the 2001 census. The island of Lundy is part of the electoral ward of Clovelly Bay.
The area has had human habitation since the Iron Age; there is a hillfort at Windbury Head northwest of the village. Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the Manor of Clovelly was acquired by William the Conqueror from its Saxon tenant. It was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Clovelie". William later gifted of the village to his wife Matilda of Flanders.
In the late 14th century, during the reign of Richard II, the Manor of Clovelly was bought by the judge Sir John Cary. The Church of All Saints contains several monuments to the Cary family, who remained the Lords of the Manor for another 400 years.
The village remained an agricultural parish until the late 16th century, when the squire, George Cary, had the stone breakwater erected, creating a harbour. This provided the only safe haven for ships along this stretch of the Devon coast between Appledore and Boscastle. Cary also erected fish cellars and warehouses at the cliff base and cottages along the banks of the stream that provided the only route to the shore from the plateau above. Cary spent £2,000 turning Clovelly into a fishing village.
The privately owned village has been associated with only three families since the middle of the 13th century. In 1738, the Clovelly Estate was acquired by the Hamlyn family. In 1901, the village had a population of 521.
Clovelly's preservation owes much to Christine Hamlyn, who dedicated herself to renovating and expanding the ancient cottages while beautifying the village. She built a new car park in order to keep the village car free. In the 1930s 50,000 cars were visiting each year. The village became a tourist attraction. In the 2020s the village was having 150,000 visitors each year.
Hub AI
Clovelly AI simulator
(@Clovelly_simulator)
Clovelly
Clovelly (/kləˈvɛli/) is a privately owned harbour village in the Torridge district of Devon, England. The settlement and surrounding land belongs to John Rous, who inherited it from his mother in 1983. He belongs to the Hamlyn family, who have managed the village since 1738.
The village, which is built into the wooded sea cliffs of the north Devon shore, has a steep pedestrianised cobbled main street with architecture that was improved by Christine Hamlyn. Due to the gradients, donkeys (now mostly replaced with sledges) have been used to move goods and cargo from Clovelly Bay. Visitors to the village entering via the visitor centre are required to pay an entrance fee which covers parking, entrance to two museums, Clovelly Court gardens, and an audiovisual history guide. The village is a tourist destination and is host to an annual Lobster and Crab festival.
At the 2011 census, the parish population was 443, a decrease of 50 on the 2001 census. The island of Lundy is part of the electoral ward of Clovelly Bay.
The area has had human habitation since the Iron Age; there is a hillfort at Windbury Head northwest of the village. Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the Manor of Clovelly was acquired by William the Conqueror from its Saxon tenant. It was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Clovelie". William later gifted of the village to his wife Matilda of Flanders.
In the late 14th century, during the reign of Richard II, the Manor of Clovelly was bought by the judge Sir John Cary. The Church of All Saints contains several monuments to the Cary family, who remained the Lords of the Manor for another 400 years.
The village remained an agricultural parish until the late 16th century, when the squire, George Cary, had the stone breakwater erected, creating a harbour. This provided the only safe haven for ships along this stretch of the Devon coast between Appledore and Boscastle. Cary also erected fish cellars and warehouses at the cliff base and cottages along the banks of the stream that provided the only route to the shore from the plateau above. Cary spent £2,000 turning Clovelly into a fishing village.
The privately owned village has been associated with only three families since the middle of the 13th century. In 1738, the Clovelly Estate was acquired by the Hamlyn family. In 1901, the village had a population of 521.
Clovelly's preservation owes much to Christine Hamlyn, who dedicated herself to renovating and expanding the ancient cottages while beautifying the village. She built a new car park in order to keep the village car free. In the 1930s 50,000 cars were visiting each year. The village became a tourist attraction. In the 2020s the village was having 150,000 visitors each year.