Holsworthy

Wednesday is a good day to visit Holsworthy. That’s when this little ton, just four miles from the Cornish border, holds its weekly market. This is very much the traditional kind of street market, servig a large area of the surrounding countryside and with locally-produced fresh cream, butter, cheese and vegetables all on sale. The town gets even livelier in early July when it gives itself over to the amusements of the three-day-long St Peter’s Fair. The Fair opens with the curious old custom of the Pretty Maid Ceremony. Back in 1841, a Holsworthy merchant bequeathed a legacy to provide a small payment each year to a local spinster, under the age of 30 and noted for her good looks, demre manner and regular attendance at church. Rather surprisingly, in view of the last two requirements, the bequest still finds a suitable recipient each year.

Holsworthy’s most striking architectural features are the two Victorian viaducts that once carried the railway line to Bude. The viaducts stride high above the southern edge of the town and, since they now form part of a footpath along the old track, it’s possible to walk across them for some stunning views of the area.

An interesting feature in the parish church is an organ built in 1668 by Renatus Hunt for All Saints Church, Chelsea. In 1723, it was declared worn out but was nevertheless purchased by a Bideford church. There it gave good service for some 140 years before it was written off once again. Removed to Holsworthy, it has been here ever since.

The area around Holsworthy is particularly popular with cyclists. There are three clearly-designated routes starting and finishing in the town, and it also lies on the West Country Way, a 250-mile cycle route from Padstow to Bristol and Bath which, opened in the spring of 1997.