Newton St Cyres

Welcome to Newton St Cyres:

Newton St Cyres is a welcoming and historic parish located about five miles from Exeter and three miles from Crediton. Surrounded by the rolling countryside of Mid Devon, the village benefits from excellent transport links, including its own station on the picturesque Tarka Line and a regular bus service along the A377, which runs directly through the parish.

A designated Conservation Area protects part of the village, preserving its historic character. Newton St Cyres also enjoys an international connection through its twinning with Rots in Normandy, France.

Local Experiences:

Newton St Cyres offers a peaceful rural setting balanced with vibrant local life. Its beautiful surrounding countryside invites walkers, cyclists and nature‑lovers to explore a variety of public paths and scenic routes. The Newton St Cyres Arboretum, accessed through the churchyard, is open daily in daylight hours and makes a lovely destination for wandering among an impressive collection of trees and shrubs.

The Parish Church of St Cyr and St Julitta, dating from the 13th century, stands in an elevated position at the centre of the village. Among its many features is the rare royal coat of arms of James II, installed in 1685. The village also offers recreation facilities, including a golf course, a tennis club and a recreation ground.

Locally produced walking leaflets can be picked up within the village, with some routes also available through the parish walking section online.

For food and drink, Newton St Cyres provides excellent choices. By the Village Green, visitors can enjoy Italian cuisine at Belluno. A short walk toward the railway station leads to the popular Beer Engine gastro pub, while Hanlons Brewery, just outside the village, offers freshly brewed beer and meals at The Beer Factory and Kitchen. For fresh local produce, Quickes Farm Shop sells award‑winning clothbound cheddar and occasionally hosts open days and cheese‑making courses. Not far away, Bernaville Nurseries offers a café and, next door, The Stables at Cowley provides a full restaurant experience.

History & Places of Interest:

• Literary Heritage: Newton St Cyres was the birthplace of Dr Hugh Downman (1740), a poet and physician who helped translate Voltaire’s works and founded a literary society in Exeter in 1796.
• Children’s Literature: Author Dorothy Osborne (Dorothy Arthur) once lived in the parish.
• Religious Conflicts: In the reign of Edward VI, the village was the site of a violent clash between Protestant royal troops and local Catholic clergy, known as the Battle of Newton St Cyres.
• Civil War Connections: On 22 October 1645, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Parliamentary Commander‑in‑Chief, rested with his army in the village.
• Industrial History: In the 1700s, Newton St Cyres and neighbouring Upton Pyne became important sources of manganese for the United Kingdom.

Acknowledgements:

Image courtesy of John Walton / Newton St Cyres Ford / CC BY-SA 2.0

Our thanks to Newton St Cyres Parish Council for providing much of the information for this page