North Molton: Churches, Bridges and Paths

North Molton offers several specific points of interest for travellers who take historic buildings and footpaths into account when choosing a destination. These include a late medieval parish church, bridges with different arch designs, a mining connection, and paths with specific details about their length or surroundings. The village is also located on the southwestern edge of Exmoor National Park.

Churches, Bridges and Mining History

The Church of All Saints on The Square is a late medieval parish church dating from the late 15th century and is listed Grade I. The church has an elaborately carved octagonal font dating from 1490. The specific date of the font adds detail to the broader dating of the church and draws attention to a precise architectural feature.

A different period is represented by North Molton Methodist Church: its adjoining church hall forms part of a shared Grade II listed building with the church, dating from 1891. Compared with All Saints, this shifts the timeframe from the late 15th century to the late 19th century; the described unit also comprises both the church and hall.

The bridges also have different features. Mole Bridge stands at the end of East Street and probably dates from the 17th century; it crosses the River Mole with three arches. New Bridge also crosses the River Mole, but with a single arch, and was probably built in the late 18th or early 19th century. This makes it possible to compare the design and probable date of construction of the two bridges directly.

Bampfylde Mine adds a mining connection to the area around North Molton. It was the most important copper mine in the area. The remains of a stone-crushing house at the mine are listed Grade II. This industrial heritage adds another theme to the local history alongside the religious buildings and bridges.

Location and Footpaths

North Molton is located on the southwestern edge of Exmoor National Park, about 3 miles from the A361 link road. The approximate distance gives an indication of the road connection; the location on the edge of the national park is a separate point of reference for understanding the destination.

The Riverside–Marsh Lane–Dure Lane footpath is 2.59 miles long. The permissive footpath to Bampfylde Clump is much shorter, at 0.19 miles. Taking path length into account when planning makes it easy to compare the difference.

The Mines Bridge–Barham Bridge footpath runs alongside the river, passing fields and woodland. By contrast, the Holdridge Lane–Bicknor Bridge footpath includes a road and a steep, stony path. Take these conditions into account when planning. Before setting out, also check the Parish Council's notices about temporary path conditions or closures.

Discover more destinations: Blackawton, Torquay, Buckfastleigh, Exebridge, Instow, Bottreaux Mill, Bideford, Lympstone

For the main travel overview: Devon.