Discover Payhembury: History, Village Culture and Landscape

Payhembury offers a travel experience where archaeology, village history, local culture and landscape come together. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Payhembury can shape their stay around different interests: explore historic sites, discover local theatre work, visit a village show or, on a clear day, enjoy wide-reaching views across the Otter Valley to the coast.

Hillfort, Church and Historic Memorials

One particular attraction is Hembury Fort. The small, multivallate Iron Age hillfort stands on the site of an earlier Neolithic causewayed enclosure. Two clearly distinct periods in the history of settlement therefore meet at this location. On a clear day, Hembury Fort offers far-reaching views across the Otter Valley to the coast. Public rights of way are used to access Hembury Hillfort. Please respect both its archaeological significance and the importance of the site for nature conservation.

The Church of St Mary also offers specific historical details. The parish church dates from the 15th and early 16th centuries and was extensively restored in 1889. Its unbuttressed two-stage west tower is particularly striking, with a battlemented parapet and carved gargoyles. Anyone interested in church architecture and craft details will find a different way of engaging with Payhembury’s history here than at the hillfort.

The Higher Tale War Memorial commemorates the brothers William and Henry Pratt. Both were born locally and served in France with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The memorial itself is a roughly hewn granite obelisk at the junction of two roads near Higher Tale Farm. Its name, material and location give this memorial a clearly recognisable local character.

Local Theatre Work and a Distinctive Village Show

Payhembury expresses its present-day character through more than historic buildings. The Tale Valley Community Theatre creates theatre from the stories, history and venues of Payhembury and the surrounding areas. The productions are original works written by local people. One production was performed in April 2012 as site-specific theatre in a 14th-century house in Payhembury. Anyone interested in place-based culture can bring theatre, local history and a distinctive setting together here.

Another facet of village life is the Payhembury Village Show. It was established in November 2021 as a reimagining of the previously annual Spring Bulb and Flower Show. Its scope includes produce, flower arrangements, cookery entries, crafts and children’s classes. For families, this mix of themes offers different ways to experience local traditions and creative contributions.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for accommodation in Payhembury, it is worth deciding on your preferred focus before booking. A holiday apartment or holiday cottage can provide the right setting for a stay in which you get to know the area’s history, landscape or village culture more closely. The key question is which side of Payhembury you want to place at the centre of your trip.

More local pages for comparison: Parracombe, Black Torrington, Berrynarbor, Beaworthy, Blackawton, Two Bridges, Chagford, Holsworthy

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.