North Huish

North Huish offers a range of points of interest for planning your trip: church architecture, bridge construction, a lime kiln and a path through woodland along the River Avon. The historic buildings differ in their dates and functions. St Mary's Church reflects several phases of construction, while Devils Backbone Bridge and Oakenham Bridge serve different bridge functions. Footpath 6 adds a specific outdoor route to these themes. If you would like to focus your hotel choice on cultural history or time outdoors, these differences can help you shape your stay.

Church architecture and historical periods

St Mary's Church is mostly a building from the early 14th century. The south aisle and south porch date from the 15th century. An aisle extends the church space to the side; the porch is at the entrance. This makes it possible to distinguish the predominantly older structure from two later additions. For those interested in cultural history, the church's age is not the only point of interest; the sequence of its additions is also significant.

The lychgate southeast of the Church of St Mary probably dates from the late 17th or early 18th century. A lychgate is an entrance structure at a churchyard. The reused churchyard cross is probably medieval. These two dates refer to different parts: the cross's possible medieval origins do not automatically date the lychgate.

Church House probably dates from the early 17th century, though origins in the 16th century are possible. Its floor plan comprises two rooms, with a central entrance leading to a cross-passage. Church House is now a private home. Its dating can therefore be summarised with these qualifications: the early 17th century is considered likely, while a 16th-century origin is possible. As a home, Church House is a different type of building from the church buildings.

Bridges over the River Avon

Devils Backbone Bridge, also known as Old Bridge, is a road bridge over the River Avon. It was originally a packhorse bridge and probably dates from the 17th century. The road bridge and its former use as a packhorse bridge offer two different perspectives on the same structure: one describes its form, the other its original purpose.

Oakenham Bridge is built of rubble slate and has an arch made of dressed slate. It carries a path over the River Avon and dates from the early 19th century. It was probably built to provide access to the lime kilns immediately to the southwest, in the parish of North Huish. The bridges therefore differ not only in when they were built: at Devils Backbone Bridge, the focus is on its former use as a packhorse bridge; at Oakenham Bridge, it is on the path and its presumed connection to the lime kilns. Both structures cross the River Avon, but this does not mean they form a single route.

Lime kiln and outdoor paths

The lime kiln in North Huish dates from the early 19th century and is built into a hillside. Its structural features include a large pointed-arch opening and a stoke hole at the rear. Its hillside setting and two openings give a clear impression of its construction. This historic kiln is quite different from the bridges, whose arches carry paths across the river.

Footpath 6 passes through woodland along the River Avon. For anyone who would like to include time outdoors in their trip, this offers a different focus from the churches and historic buildings. Path conditions can change; check them before making specific plans.

Discover more destinations: Exebridge, Plymtree, Hollacombe, Moretonhampstead, Chagford, Yelverton, Braunton, Branscombe.

For the broader travel guide: Devon.