By: Blonde One
I recently had a lovely day exploring the tiny village of Ilsington near Dartmoor. It’s only a stone’s throw from home and yet I’ve always seemed to drive past without giving it some attention. I’m so glad that I stopped this time. I spent a few hours mooching around and discovered some interesting things. As well as the pub, the community shop and the tiny primary school, there’s a fascinating 15th Century church which welcomed me in. I was surprised that the church was so large and ornate for a small village.
The outside too had lots to show me. There is a tomb cover that contains a riddle, and a small headstone that demands the grave remains be left undisturbed. In one corner of the graveyard, there are the remains of the Ilsington Manor which is recorded in the Domesday Book. The information board gives plenty of interesting facts.
The lychgate, which once accommodated a school in the room above, remains quite grand with its statue of St Michael. The villagers learned in 1639 to be careful of the wind when the gate below slammed and brought the schoolroom crashing down.
I think I will make it a bit of a mission to try to visit and explore more of the beautiful villages that cover Devon.
