History - Clovelly

experienceDevon’s customized holiday itinerary planning can show you the historic, much loved and visited village of Clovelly.

The village of Clovelly is mentioned in the Domesday book, and has only been associated with three families since the middle of the 13th century. The Clovelly Estate was acquired by the Hamlyn family in 1738 and the ownership of it is still in this family. Christine Hamlyn renovated the old cottages and because of her actions Clovelly is in its present state of preservation.

The buildings in the village are all owned by the Clovelly Estate Company. They also own a few thousand acres around the village. The maintenance undertaken by the Estate ensures the village stands in the midst of the 19th century, but with it's community very much of the 21st Century. John Rous took over the running of the estate in 1983.

From the Elizabethan period, Clovelly's industry was herring and mackerel fishing and the village prospered until the herring shoals began to move away in the 1840's. The famous Clovelly herrings were taken by donkey to waiting lorries and transported by train to London and other Counties. Fishing is still part of village life and is celebrated today with the annual Herring Festival in November.

The coastline was also known for smugglers, wreckers and pirates in previous centuries and is notorious for shipwrecks. Clovelly has had its own lifeboat since 1870 and during the Summer months, the old Boathouse can be visited where lists of crews, boats, launches and lives saved can be seen.

In the middle of the 19th Century Charles Kingsley returned to Clovelly and wrote 'the Water Babies' and 'Westward Ho!' The Victorians' love of the sea and Kingsley's writings produced a  boom in tourism and soon ships arrived from around the Bristol Channel bringing day visitors. Clovelly's 14th Century cottages, 13th Century parish church, abundant flowers including honeysuckle, geraniums and hydrangeas and the traffic-free street made from cobbles hauled up from the beach, are what lure visitors today.

Clovelly retains all its charm, history, breathtaking scenery. The Hobby Drive is "one of the loveliest walks.." (Sheila Ellis) in Clovelly. Wonderful walks can be enjoyed ,with experienceDevon's help, where glimpses of the 14th century harbour and beautiful Bideford Bay can be seen.