Axminster

Axminster
Axminster
	; Axminster
	Axminster Location within Devon
Population	5,761 (2011)
OS grid reference	SY2998
Civil parish	Axminster;
District	East Devon;
Shire county	Devon;
Region	South West;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	AXMINSTER
Postcode district	EX13
Dialling code	01297
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Tiverton and Honiton;
	List of places UK England Devon 50°46′52″N 3°00′00″W / 50.781°N 3.000°WCoordinates: 50°46′52″N 3°00′00″W / 50.781°N 3.000°W

Axminster is a market town and civil parish on the eastern border of the county of Devon in England, some 28 miles (45 km) from the county town of Exeter. The town is built on a hill overlooking the River Axe which heads towards the English Channel at Axmouth, and is in the East Devon local government district. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 5,626,^[1] increasing to 5,761 at the 2011 census.^[2] The town contains two electoral wards (town and rural) the total sum of both wards being a population of 7,110.^[3]^[4] The market is still held every Thursday.

Axminster gave its name to a type of carpet. An Axminster-type power loom is capable of weaving high quality carpets with many varying colours and patterns. While Axminster carpets are made in the town by Axminster Carpets Ltd, this type of carpet is now manufactured all over the world.

History[]

The town dates back to the Celtic times of around 300 BC. It lies on two major Roman roads: the Fosse Way from Lincoln to Seaton, and the Dorchester to Exeter road. There was a Roman fort on the crossroads at Woodbury Farm, just south of the present town. Axminster appears on the Peutinger Map, one of only 15 British towns on that Roman era map.

Axminster was recorded in the late 9th century as Ascanmynster and in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Aixeministra. The name means "monastery or large church by the River Axe" and is a mixture of languages; the river name Axe has Celtic origins and mynster is an Old English word.

The history of the town is very much linked to the carpet industry, started by Thomas Whitty at Court House near the church in 1755. The completion of the early hand tufted carpets was marked by a peal of bells from the parish church as it took a great amount of time and labour to complete them. Axminster carpets continue to this day providing carpets for Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and other royalty-owned addresses. ^[5]

In 1210, a charter was granted to the town that included the right to hold a weekly cattle market which took place in the market square until it was moved to Trinity Square in 1834. It then moved in October 1912 to a site off South Street where it was held for 94 years. It finally closed in 2006 in the aftermath of the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak.^[6] A building on the site then continued to be used for a general auction until all the buildings were demolished and replaced by a housing development.

Axminster Parish Church

The town was on the coaching route from London to Exeter. In 1760 a coaching inn named The George Hotel was opened on the corner of Lyme Street and Chard Street on the site of an old inn called the Cross Keys that was destroyed by fire in 1759. Over 16 coaches a day would stop at the hotel in its heyday for refreshments and to change horses, the building is now currently under refurbishment.^[6] Axminster was on the route of The Trafalgar Way which is the name given to the historic route used to carry dispatches with the news of the Battle of Trafalgar overland from Falmouth, Cornwall, to the Admiralty in London in 1805 and there is a plaque commemorating this fact in the town centre.

Part of the parish of Axminster had historically been an exclave of Dorset until the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844, when it was fully incorporated into Devon.

Axminster railway station was opened on 19 July 1860, with the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) offering direct services between Queen Street station in Exeter and Yeovil. The station building was designed by the LSWR's architect Sir William Tite in mock gothic style. In 1903, the branch line from Axminster to Lyme Regis was opened. This branch line was closed with the Beeching cuts, in the 1960s. One engine has been preserved on the Bluebell Line, in Sussex, while the station was dismantled and reconstructed at New Alresford, on the Watercress Line, in Hampshire.

Axminster is the southern starting point of the Taunton Stop Line, a World War II defensive line consisting of pillboxes and anti-tank obstacles, which runs north to the Somerset coast near Highbridge.^[7]

Nearby Kilmington was used as a location for the 1998 LWT adaptation of Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The celebrity chef and TV presenter Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has his River Cottage H.Q. at a 60-acre (24 ha) farm in the Axe valley. He has since purchased an old inn that once provided the ballroom of the town, now converted to an organic produce shop/market and canteen.^[8]

Geography[]

The hamlet of Abbey Gate lies to the south of the town near the A35 and A358 intersection.

Other villages within 5 miles (8.0 km) of Axminster include Chardstock, Colyford, Combpyne, Dalwood, Hawkchurch, Kilmington, Membury, Musbury, Raymond's Hill, Rousdon, Shute, Smallridge, Tytherleigh, Uplyme and Whitford.

Landmarks[]

Axminster Museum
Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
East Devon Way
Forde Abbey
Jurassic Coast
Lambert's Castle
Loughwood Meeting House
Musbury Castle
Shute Barton

Amenities[]

St Mary's Church

The town has Cloakham Lawns, the Axe Valley Sports Centre and Flamingo Swimming Pool, a library, several churches and a museum of local history. Shops include three supermarkets, Trinity House, and several independent retailers. The Guildhall is a theatre with meeting rooms that hosts many events and clubs such as Axminster Drama Club and Axminster Operatic Society. The town is also home to a small, local hospital.

Education[]

Axe Valley Academy
Axminster Community Primary School
St. Mary's Primary School
All Saints Community Primary School

Transport[]

Axminster station

Road[]

Axminster is at the crossroads of the A358, which links with the A303 at Ilminster, and the A35 from Southampton to Honiton, which has been diverted by a bypass to the south of the town.

Rail[]

Axminster railway station is on the West of England Main Line that runs from Exeter via Salisbury to London Waterloo.

Bus[]

Axminster is served by AVMT Buses' service 885 to local towns & villages including Seaton, Beer & Colyton. Stagecoach South West, The Buses of Somerset and First Hampshire & Dorset provide long-distance services to Exeter, Weymouth, Dorchester and Taunton.

Twin towns[]

Douvres-la-Délivrande, France

Historic estates[]

Weycroft, Axminster

Notable people[]

Steve Benbow, folk musician
William Buckland, geologist and palaeontologist

Notes[]

^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : East Devon Archived 13 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 January 2010
^ "Town population 2011". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
^ "Axminster Rural ward 2011". Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
^ "Axminster Town ward 2011". Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
^ "Meet the company making carpets for Wetherspoon and the Queen". The Independent. 1 June 2019. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Historical Axminster Rotary Club Blue Plaques
^ "Land off Morton Way, Axminster, Devon – A Limited Archaeological Excavation and Recording Programme" (PDF). Archaeology Data Service. Context One Archaeological Services. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
^ "Views are the jewels in Devon's crown". Portsmouth News. 17 November 2012. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.

References[]

Mee, A. The King's England: Devon (Hodder and Stoughton, 1965); pp. 25–26.
Mills, A. D. Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280074-4.

External links[]

"Axminster" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 3 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 68.
Axminster at Curlie
Devon Local Studies – Axminster community page
Axminster in the Domesday Book

[1] Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : East Devon Archived 13 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 January 2010

[2] "Town population 2011". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.

[3] "Axminster Rural ward 2011". Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2015.

[4] "Axminster Town ward 2011". Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.

[5] "Meet the company making carpets for Wetherspoon and the Queen". The Independent. 1 June 2019. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.

[blueplaques-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b Historical Axminster Rotary Club Blue Plaques

[7] "Land off Morton Way, Axminster, Devon – A Limited Archaeological Excavation and Recording Programme" (PDF). Archaeology Data Service. Context One Archaeological Services. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.

[8] "Views are the jewels in Devon's crown". Portsmouth News. 17 November 2012. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.

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show v t Ceremonial county of Devon
Devon Portal
Unitary authorities	Plymouth Torbay
Boroughs or districts	Exeter East Devon Mid Devon North Devon Torridge West Devon South Hams Teignbridge
Major settlements	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
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show v t Civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Devon
List of civil parishes in Devon
Exeter^1,2	None
East Devon¹	All Saints Awliscombe Axminster Axmouth Aylesbeare Beer Bicton Brampford Speke Branscombe Broad Clyst Broadhembury Buckerell Budleigh Salterton Chardstock Clyst Honiton Clyst Hydon Clyst St George Clyst St Lawrence Clyst St Mary Colaton Raleigh Colyton Combe Raleigh Combpyne Rousdon Cotleigh Cranbrook Dalwood Dunkeswell East Budleigh Exmouth Farringdon Farway Feniton Gittisham Hawkchurch Honiton Huxham Kilmington Luppitt Lympstone Membury Monkton Musbury Nether Exe Newton Poppleford and Harpford Northleigh Offwell Otterton Ottery St Mary Payhembury Plymtree Poltimore Rewe Rockbeare Seaton Sheldon Shute Sidmouth Southleigh Sowton Stockland Stoke Canon Talaton Uplyme Upottery Upton Pyne West Hill Whimple Widworthy Woodbury Yarcombe
Mid Devon¹	Bampton Bickleigh Bow Bradninch Brushford Burlescombe Butterleigh Cadbury Cadeleigh Chawleigh Cheriton Bishop Cheriton Fitzpaine Clannaborough Clayhanger Clayhidon Coldridge Colebrooke Copplestone Crediton Crediton Hamlets Cruwys Morchard Cullompton Culmstock Down St Mary Eggesford Halberton Hemyock Hittisleigh Hockworthy Holcombe Rogus Huntsham Kennerleigh Kentisbeare Lapford Loxbeare Morchard Bishop Morebath Newton St Cyres Nymet Rowland Oakford Poughill Puddington Sampford Peverell Sandford Shobrooke Silverton Stockleigh English Stockleigh Pomeroy Stoodleigh Templeton Thelbridge Thorverton Tiverton Uffculme Uplowman Upton Hellions Washfield Washford Pyne Wembworthy Willand Woolfardisworthy Zeal Monachorum
North Devon¹	Arlington Ashford Atherington Barnstaple Berrynarbor Bishop's Nympton Bishop's Tawton Bittadon Bratton Fleming Braunton Brayford Brendon and Countisbury Burrington Challacombe Chittlehamholt Chittlehampton Chulmleigh Combe Martin East and West Buckland East Anstey East Down East Worlington Filleigh Fremington Georgeham George Nympton Goodleigh Heanton Punchardon Horwood, Lovacott and Newton Tracey Ilfracombe Instow Kentisbury King's Nympton Knowstone Landkey Loxhore Lynton and Lynmouth Mariansleigh Martinhoe Marwood Meshaw Molland Mortehoe North Molton Parracombe Pilton West Queen's Nympton Rackenford Romansleigh Rose Ash Satterleigh and Warkleigh Shirwell South Molton Stoke Rivers Swimbridge Tawstock Trentishoe Twitchen West Anstey West Down Westleigh Witheridge
Torridge¹	Abbots Bickington Abbotsham Alverdiscott Alwington Ashreigney Ashwater Beaford Bideford Black Torrington Bradford Bradworthy Bridgerule Broadwoodwidger Buckland Brewer Buckland Filleigh Bulkworthy Clawton Clovelly Cookbury Dolton Dowland East Putford Frithelstock Great Torrington Halwill Hartland High Bickington Hollacombe Holsworthy Holsworthy Hamlets Huish Huntshaw Landcross Langtree Littleham Little Torrington Luffincott Merton Milton Damerel Monkleigh Newton St Petrock Northam Northcott Pancrasweek Parkham Peters Marland Petrockstow Pyworthy Roborough Shebbear Sheepwash St Giles in the Wood St Giles on the Heath Sutcombe Tetcott Thornbury Virginstow Weare Giffard Welcombe West Putford Winkleigh Woolfardisworthy Yarnscombe
West Devon^1,3	Beaworthy Belstone Bere Ferrers Bondleigh Bradstone Bratton Clovelly Brentor Bridestowe Broadwoodkelly Buckland Monachorum Chagford Coryton Dartmoor Forest Drewsteignton Dunterton Exbourne Germansweek Gidleigh Gulworthy Hatherleigh Highampton Horrabridge Iddesleigh Inwardleigh Jacobstowe Kelly Lamerton Lewtrenchard Lifton Lydford Marystow Mary Tavy Meavy Meeth Milton Abbot Monkokehampton North Tawton Northlew Okehampton Okehampton Hamlets Peter Tavy Sampford Courtenay Sampford Spiney Sheepstor Sourton South Tawton Spreyton Sticklepath Stowford Sydenham Damerel Tavistock Throwleigh Thrushelton Walkhampton
South Hams¹	Ashprington Aveton Gifford Berry Pomeroy Bickleigh Bigbury Blackawton Brixton Buckland-Tout-Saints Charleton Chivelstone Churchstow Cornwood Cornworthy Dartington Dartmouth Dean Prior Diptford Dittisham East Allington East Portlemouth Ermington Frogmore and Sherford Halwell and Moreleigh Harberton Harford Holbeton Holne Ivybridge Kingsbridge Kingston Kingswear Littlehempston Loddiswell Malborough Marldon Modbury Newton and Noss North Huish Rattery Ringmore Salcombe Shaugh Prior Slapton South Brent South Huish South Milton South Pool Sparkwell Staverton Stoke Fleming Stoke Gabriel Stokenham Strete Thurlestone Totnes Ugborough Wembury West Alvington West Buckfastleigh Woodleigh Yealmpton
Teignbridge¹	Abbotskerswell Ashburton Ashcombe Ashton Bickington Bishopsteignton Bovey Tracey Bridford Broadhempston Buckfastleigh Buckland in the Moor Christow Chudleigh Coffinswell Dawlish Doddiscombsleigh Dunchideock Dunsford Exminster Haccombe with Combe Hennock Holcombe Burnell Ide Ideford Ilsington Ipplepen Kenn Kenton Kingskerswell Kingsteignton Lustleigh Mamhead Manaton Moretonhampstead Newton Abbot North Bovey Ogwell Powderham Shaldon Shillingford St George Starcross Stokeinteignhead Tedburn St Mary Teigngrace Teignmouth Trusham Whitestone Widecombe in the Moor Woodland
Plymouth^2,4	None
Torbay⁴	Brixham⁵
Bold text denotes a parish council referred to as a "town council". Non-metropolitan district of the non-metropolitan county of Devon (administered by Devon County Council). Has city status in the United Kingdom. Has borough status in the United Kingdom. Unitary authority not part of the non-metropolitan county, thus not administered by Devon County Council. The remainder of Torbay is unparished.

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