Burlescombe

Welcome to Burlescombe:

Burlescombe Parish stretches from Fenacre in the north to Leonard Moor Cross in the south, and from Maidendown in the east to Holbrook in the west. It encompasses the communities of Burlescombe, Westleigh, Canonsleigh, Westcott, Waterloo Cross, Junction 27 of the M5, Tiverton Parkway, Appledore, Southdown and Ayshford. With several locations recorded in the Domesday Book, the parish has deep historic roots. The 11th‑century gatehouse of Canonsleigh Abbey, once a wealthy religious institution until its dissolution in 1539, still stands as a striking reminder of the area’s medieval past.

The manor house at Ayshford, alongside its chapel of ease, was long the seat of the Ayshford family, who owned much of the parish until 1939. Their influence can be seen at St Mary’s Church, established by 1324 and notable for its Elizabethan and Jacobean memorials. The family also played a key role in establishing Burlescombe School, opened in 1859—over a decade before village schools became widespread under the Education Act of 1870.

Local Experiences:

The route joins this quieter section of the Grand Western Canal, which runs through the middle of the parish. You can spot kingfishers, heron and swans and explore the plentiful footpaths through the countryside. You can also explore St Mary’s Church in Burlescombe, with its ancient rood‑screen and striking memorials, or take a relaxing visit to the Old Well garden centre or Waterloo Cross pub. For youngsters there are playparks in both Burlescombe and Westleigh villages. If you’re lucky, your visit might coincide with an event at one of the village halls, where cream teas, bake sales, bingo nights and live music regularly take place.

History & Places of Interest:

• Medieval Industry: Westleigh’s limestone quarry has been worked continuously since the Middle Ages and remains active today.
• Brunel’s Railway: Built in the 1840s, the Great Western Railway once included a station at Burlescombe; today Tiverton Parkway serves the parish along the same corridor.
• Old Railway Line Walk: The Parish Council purchased land along the former narrow‑gauge quarry railway, now enjoyed as a scenic walking route.

Acknowledgement: Images courtesy of Lewis Clarke / Burlescombe : Churchyard & Village Road / CC BY-SA 2.0 and Image courtesy of Burlescombe Parish Council / Ayshford Chapel on the Grand Western Canal.

Many thanks to Burlescombe Parish Council for providing information for this site.