Discover Frithelstock

Get to know Frithelstock through its historic buildings and its landscape of streams and rivers. Frithelstock Priory, the Church of St Mary and St Gregory, and the walking routes each offer a different focus. At the Priory, the surviving buildings and earthworks take centre stage; at the church, it is the building phases from different centuries. Streams and rivers provide a contrasting landscape. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to start with the historic buildings, the church’s architectural history, or the walking routes.

Landscape and routes

The River Torridge forms the eastern boundary of the parish of Frithelstock and provides a geographical point of reference. Frithelstock’s streams and rivers offer scenic walks. This gives you two distinct aspects of the landscape to consider when planning your trip: a parish boundary as a landmark, and walking routes that let you experience the surrounding area. This view of the landscape adds a distinct perspective to the historical and cultural themes.

On the Tarka With a Priestly Connection route, the path leaves the road and follows a footpath shortly after the farm buildings behind the Frithelstock village sign. The change from road to footpath is a specific point of reference for this route. If you plan to take it, check local conditions before setting out.

Frithelstock Priory and its architectural traces

Frithelstock’s rural setting has preserved the layout of Frithelstock Priory. Its essential design can still be recognised in the surviving buildings and earthworks. The combination of the two makes it possible to understand the Priory not only through individual building remains, but also in terms of its overall layout. The remains of the cloister ranges are incorporated into the buildings of Cloister Hall Farm. These incorporated cloister remains add a specific architectural component to the picture of the Priory’s preserved design.

The church and its building phases

The Church of St Mary and St Gregory brings together elements from several centuries. The north wall dates from the 13th century; the chancel was rebuilt in the early 14th century, and the south aisle also dates from this period. The west tower was rebuilt in the 15th century, and the southeast chapel was added around 1500. The dates therefore distinguish an early wall, a chancel and aisle from the same phase, and elements from the 15th century and around 1500. If you are interested in historic architecture, you can explore several clearly dated building phases at the church rather than just a single period.

Another feature is the L-shaped wall at the western end of the church. It dates from the 17th century, measures about 3 × 5 metres, and was listed for its group value. The approximate dimensions give an idea of its size; its listing for group value provides an additional point of reference in relation to the church. The wall adds a later-dated architectural element to the medieval building phases.

Other historic buildings

The barn and cart shed range lies about 20 metres northwest of Cloister Hall Farmhouse. It dates from the 18th century and was remodelled around 1860. Both dates matter to its architectural history: the 18th century marks its construction, while the remodelling around 1860 marks a later change.

Discover more destinations: Exmouth, Buckland Brewer, Exebridge, Ashwater, Bishop's Tawton, Kings Nympton, Southleigh, Hartland.

For the broader travel overview: Devon.