What is Holsworthy Hamlets? It’s the rural parish wrapped around Holsworthy, a patchwork of farms, hamlets and country homes that gives you space and peace with the town a few minutes away. It’s in north-west Devon, in the EX22 postcode.
Holsworthy Hamlets at a glance
| What it is | A rural civil parish, created in 1900 from the countryside around the town |
| Where | Surrounds Holsworthy on the north, west and south; Torridge district |
| Postcode | EX22 |
| Population | About 1,000 people (2021 census) |
| Nearest transport hub | Holsworthy, a few minutes from most of the parish |
| Places in the parish | Chilsworthy, Thorne, Staddon, Chasty, Youldon, Vognacott and more |
If you’ve ever looked at a property listed as “near Holsworthy” and wondered where exactly it is, there’s a good chance the answer is Holsworthy Hamlets. The town has a boundary; the countryside round it is its own parish.
It’s a big area with a small population, about 1,000 people across more than 3,300 hectares. That works out at roughly 30 people per square kilometre. In other words, lots of fields and not many neighbours.
The hamlets: what’s where
- Chilsworthy: the parish’s main village, two miles north-west of town, with a village hall, post office counter and Methodist chapel. It has its own Chilsworthy guide.
- Thorne: like Chilsworthy, one of the old manors listed in the Domesday Book.
- Staddon and Chasty: on the edge of town, where homes along the lanes are a short walk or drive from the shops.
- Youldon, Honeycroft, Vognacott, Merryfield, Herdwick and South Arscott: farms and small clusters of homes spread out in the lanes, with South Arscott the original home of the Arscott family.
The parish council says most people think of the Hamlets as just Chilsworthy and Staddon Road. In fact it runs right out to the edges of Sutcombe, Holsworthy Beacon and Hollacombe.
Countryside on the doorstep
Living in the Hamlets means countryside without the commute. Holsworthy Golf Club is just outside town on the Bude road, with views across to Dartmoor. Dunsdon, the Devon Wildlife Trust’s wildflower meadow, is just over the parish edge, and the Tamar Lakes are around 15 minutes north.
Bude’s beaches are about 20 minutes away from most of the parish.
Homes and house prices in Holsworthy Hamlets
- Edge of town: detached houses and bungalows along roads like Staddon Road, with fields behind and the town in front.
- Village living: family homes, cottages and barn conversions in and around Chilsworthy.
- Room to breathe: farmhouses, barns, smallholdings and equestrian homes with land, often down long lanes.
This is where to look if you want land, outbuildings or simply no one overlooking you, but still want to nip into town for milk. Expect to pay more than in the town itself for the space. If you’d rather walk to everything, see the Holsworthy guide.
For the latest local figures every month, read Plot & Shore.
The honest bit
The Hamlets is a parish, not a village, so there’s no centre to stroll to. Almost everything means a drive into Holsworthy, and the lanes are narrow and muddy in winter. Rural homes vary a lot, so check the broadband, the heating, the drainage and the access at the exact address before you offer.
Holsworthy Hamlets: quick answers
What is Holsworthy Hamlets?
A rural civil parish in Torridge district, Devon, that surrounds the town of Holsworthy on three sides. It was created in 1900 when the old Holsworthy parish was split into town and countryside.
Which places are in Holsworthy Hamlets?
Chilsworthy is the main village. The parish also takes in hamlets and farms such as Thorne, Staddon, Chasty, Youldon, Honeycroft, Vognacott, Merryfield, Herdwick and South Arscott.
How many people live in Holsworthy Hamlets?
About 1,000, according to the 2021 census.
What schools serve Holsworthy Hamlets?
Most of the parish is close to Holsworthy Church of England Primary School and Holsworthy Community College, which takes students from 11 to 16.
About the author. Mat Loach has worked in estate agency for 20 years. He lives on the Devon and Cornwall border near Holsworthy, coaches junior football at Stanhope Park and is a governor at Holsworthy Primary School.
Sources: Office for National Statistics (Census 2021); The Post; Handbook of Devon Parishes; Devon Wildlife Trust; HM Land Registry.
Fancy a look round?
If you’re thinking about a move to the countryside around Holsworthy, I’m always happy to chat it through over a coffee on the Square. No pitch, just a local view.