Pennymoor: History and Historic Traces

Pennymoor can be understood through tangible traces of its local history: an inn dating from the mid-17th century, a former packhorse route, craftwork and religious buildings. These examples span different periods. In the surrounding area are the Church of the Holy Cross and its bell-ringing group; other historic traces relate to Pennymoor itself.

The Inn and Old Routes

The Cruwys Arms is a Grade II listed inn dating from the mid-17th century. Its unusual layout comprises three rooms and a lobby entrance. In 1650, Pennymoor's blacksmith was allowed to use the oven at the Cruwys Arms inn once a week to cook food. This episode connects the inn with local craftsmanship and a specific way of preparing food at the time.

The historic crossroads in Pennymoor lies on an old packhorse route that ran north to south from Exmoor to Exeter and was also used by cattle drovers. The old forge also points to the travel infrastructure: it had room for four horses, suggesting that travellers stayed overnight at the adjoining inn. The route represents a historic connection between Exmoor and Exeter, while the forge offers a clue to how horses were accommodated at the time.

Craftwork and Thatching

A master thatcher from Pennymoor made hazelwood spars. They were used to secure thatch on corn ricks and on the roofs of houses and barns. Historically, most houses in Pennymoor were thatched. The spars illustrate a specific stage of the work: they were used to secure thatch on different types of buildings and on corn ricks.

Religious Building History

In the area around Pennymoor, the Church of the Holy Cross was built in 1529. In 1689, a lightning strike and the major fire that followed destroyed its spire; the uppermost part of the tower then had to be rebuilt in brick. These events mark two phases of construction: the building of the church and its later restoration after the damage.

The Congregational Church in Pennymoor has a different building history. It was built in 1930–31; before that, services were held in a converted cottage. While the history of the Church of the Holy Cross involves rebuilding after its destruction, the story of the Congregational Church is about the move from a cottage to a purpose-built church.

Festivals and Community Life

The former Parish Revel in Pennymoor later developed into the Harvest Festival. The Pennymoor Singaround invites people to take part in folk arts through singing, playing music, storytelling and dancing; its monthly gatherings have been held since 1979.

In the surrounding area, the Church of the Holy Cross has an active bell-ringing group. It practises on Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm, and both new and experienced ringers are welcome. If you would like to include a practice session in your travel plans, check the arrangements locally in advance.

The May/June 2026 edition of Today listed a Sunday service at Pennymoor Chapel at 4:00 pm. On the third Sunday of the month, the joint service at Way Village Chapel was scheduled for 3:00 pm instead. If you are planning to attend a service, confirm the current times locally in advance.

Discover more destinations: Saint Giles in the Wood, Exebridge, Newton Poppleford, Washfield, Kingsteignton, Umberleigh, Clyst Saint Mary, Woody Bay

For the broader travel guide: Devon.