Discover Pennymoor: History and Living Traditions

Pennymoor is a destination for travellers interested in rural history, churches, crafts and living traditions during their holiday. Around the village, historical traces combine with activities centred on communal singing, music-making, storytelling and dancing. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage for a culture-focused stay, these features may usefully influence your choice of holiday location.

Inn History and Historical Traces

A notable example in Pennymoor is The Cruwys Arms. The inn is listed as a Grade II building, dates from the mid-17th century and has an unusual layout with three rooms and a lobby entrance. The history of provisions and travel can also be experienced here: in 1650, the blacksmith of Pennymoor was permitted to use the oven at The Cruwys Arms once a week for cooking food.

The village's early history also includes a historic crossroads on a packhorse route that ran from Exmoor to Exeter in a north–south direction and was also used by cattle drovers. The old smithy had room for four horses. This suggests that travellers stayed at the adjoining inn. Historically, most houses in Pennymoor were thatched. A master thatcher from Pennymoor made hazelwood spars, which were used to secure thatch on grain ricks as well as on house and barn roofs.

Churches, Bells and the Local Community

In the area around Pennymoor stands the Church of the Holy Cross, which was built in 1529. Its spire was destroyed by a lightning strike and the major fire that followed in 1689; the uppermost section of the tower subsequently had to be rebuilt in brick. The church has an active group of bell ringers. It practises on Monday evenings from 19:30 to 21:00, and both new and experienced ringers are welcome.

The religious history continues in several chapels. The Congregational Church in Pennymoor was built in 1930–31; before that, services were held in a converted cottage. The Congregational chapel was apparently established around 1885. A service is held at Pennymoor Chapel on Sundays at 16:00. On the third Sunday of the month, worshippers instead attend the joint service at Way Village Chapel at 15:00. Those who appreciate ecclesiastical art, architectural history or local community traditions will therefore find various points of interest to incorporate into their travel plans.

Folk Traditions and Things to Do

The Pennymoor Singaround offers a communal and cultural holiday experience. It invites people to take part in folk arts through singing, music-making, storytelling and dancing. The monthly gatherings have been held since 1979. The former Parish Revel later developed into the Harvest Festival, pointing to another local festive tradition. For families or groups of travellers with different interests, Pennymoor can thus be combined with quieter explorations of cultural history and community-focused experiences, without limiting the stay to just one activity.

What Kind of Stay Suits Pennymoor?

Accommodation in Pennymoor is particularly suitable as a base for travellers who want to get to know the character of a place through its buildings, customs and stories. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday cottage, you can consider whether you would like to focus on historic architecture, religious traditions, crafts or folk culture. The specific times of bell ringing and services make it easier to include such dates in your plans. For further orientation, you can also look at Staverton, Virginstowe, Burrington, Luppitt, Chulmleigh, Lynmouth, Plympton and Holbeton.

For the broader travel overview: Devon.