River Torridge and Taddiport Medieval Strip Fields

Videos by Drone
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A flight around New Bridge, near Torrington in North Devon, and over the Medieval Strip Fields at Taddiport, nearby.

The strip fields originally supported a leper colony. These two particular strips are what remain of between seven and a dozen fields (reports vary) which were reserved for cultivation by lepers who lived in the village from the 14th until the 17th century when leprosy was eradicated from Britain. The Tythe Map of 1838 shows that seven strips were still in use, though the lepers were long gone.

More information at https://great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk/2017/09/19/what-are-those-strip-fields-across-the-valley/.

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Great video.Never knew these were here,only lived in north Devon for 45 years lol.

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I particularly enjoyed the opening sequence!

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Thanks! I left North Devon about 50 years ago, but have been a regular visitor - I’d never stayed in this area before (I was brought up in Bideford).

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Cheers - I shot the river bits first and the arches last; it was fun to put them together in this way.

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Lovely film Howard. I live in Bideford and have often been to Taddiport. The stone bridge is beautiful. Great to see some local history too!
I think.I read about the strip fields on a board in Torrington, but you have brought them to life for me. I will definitely look them out when there again. Thank you
Btw. They are finally demolishing the old dairy and plan to build houses.

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Thanks, Tony, I’m glad you liked it - the strip fields are an interesting and unusual pocket of history.

Have they started work on demolishing Dairy Crest? I know the property has been sold, but I thought the asbestos on site was a major stumbling block to moving forward. (However, I do see news reports from Nov 2023 saying that demolition work was due to start that month and it being scheduled to take several months.)

I did fly there when I was down in October, and ICYMI the link is, Torridge Vale / Dairy Crest milk factory - Added to Historic Buildings in South West.

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Nice one Howard, - subbed to you now as well.

Paul.

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Cheers :+1: I’m reviewing other footage from North Devon next.

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