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Marldon is an archetypal Devon village with the traditional ancient church and pub overlooking the village cricket field (the Parish of Marldon includes Marldon, Compton and Westerland). The heart of the village centres on the church. Alongside are: The Church House Inn which gave accommodation to the artisans working on the church building before becoming the meeting house for the church congregation and finally the village inn; and the thatched village barn which was originally the builder's workshop (now owned by The National Trust). Opposite is the Victorian School House. Built in 1863, the school is now a listed building and was replaced as the village school in 1965. |
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The earliest written record of a church in Marldon is in 1348. The Church of St John the Baptist as seen today, dates mainly from about 1460, except the tower which was built about 1400. Built mainly of local sandstone, the church enjoyed the patronage of the Gilbert family (Compton Castle) and many references to the family can be seen in the church. The summer village celebrations centre around the Marldon Apple Pie Fair which is held on the last Saturday in July. The first fair was held in 1888 and features a hugh apple pie which is carried to the fair in Jubilee Meadow, on a cart pulled by two donkeys. The pie is then ceremoniously cut by the "Fair Princess". |
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Compton Castle is a magical fortified manor house, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, and has been the home to the Gilbert family for most of the last six hundred years. Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1583), half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh, was coloniser of Newfoundland. Sir Humphrey's son, Raleigh Gilbert, was the second in command of the "Popham Expedition" which colonised the Kennebec River area of Maine USA in 1607 - 13 years before the more famous voyage of the Pilgrim Fathers The dramatic towers and battlements shelter a stone courtyard, restored Great Hall, with minstrels gallery, solar, chapel, and magnificent kitchen. The grounds include a delightful rose garden and a knot garden with a stone viewing platform. |
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Westerland Valley is a beautiful area of quite lanes, hedgerows and lush fields, ideal for walking.
"Providence Cottage", at the head of the valley, was the home (1939-1951) of the novelist Elizabeth Goudge (1900-1984).
Much of her writing was inspired by her surroundings and the adjacent villages. |
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