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Self-catering holiday accommodation in Cullompton, Devon
At first sight Cullompton
appears to be a quiet backwater, a small town a few miles north of Exeter
and Honiton, a town that people drive past to obtain access to the M5.
A leisurely walk down the high street reveals several interesting shops
and a whilst we were there, a banner stretching across the road inviting
the local population to a meeting about upgrading the town. There are
several impressive buildings of age and architectural interest. The Walronds
is one such handsome neglected period building facing onto the high street. In this day of supermarket
domination and closure of local independent shops, Cullompton can still
boast of 2 bakers shops with a good selection of cakes and bread, two
tea shops and an Egon Ronay listed hotel and pubs. There is still a family
butcher, a delicatessen and a rare and well-stocked fabric shop with cavernous
depths selling dress fabrics and curtain materials. Another shop has sweets
for sale in old-fashioned glass jars. Another striking
aspect of the town is the number of churches of various denominations;
religion appears to thrive here. The church of St. Andrew is a historical
treasure. It lies down a lane back from the high street, and unusually,
is open to the public, although you may have to open the front door first
because it's kept closed to prevent birds from flying in and nesting.
The church has a unique golgotha or carving made from a single tree trunk.
The carved and painted rood screen is simply beautiful. The impressive
painted organ is perched on a Jacobean gallery. Above are ornate painted
ceilings, each section slightly different and representing a certain period
in time. The section nearest the altar was repainted most recently a couple
of centuries ago. Other works of art include a beautifully carved wooden
pulpit, richly coloured stained glass windows, carved columns, each with
a differently decorated top. Not only is St. Andrews full of historical
treasures but it appears to be a thriving church with a very much alive
congregation continuing to pass the Christian message down the centuries.
There are several
tourist attractions near Cullompton; a quad biking arena, an interesting
Wool Museum, and the National Trust house and gardens at Killerton featuring
a varied programme of events, including concerts and classic car shows.
The gardens at Killerton are magnificent and merge formal beds with wildflower
meadows seamlessly. There include several tall Californian redwoods among
the wide variety of trees. The rhododendron displays are best during early
May. Country cottages
and self-catering accommodation near Cullompton, Devon Accommodation in England
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