West Alvington

Village in Devon, England

Human settlement in England

List of places: UK; England; Devon

50°16′N 3°49′W / 50.267°N 3.817°W / 50.267; -3.817

West Alvington is a village and civil parish on the outskirts of Kingsbridge in South Hams, Devon on the A381 road. In 2021 the parish had a population of 606. The appropriate electoral ward is called Westville and Alvington. Its population at the 2011 census was 2,042.^[1] It has a primary school and is about a 10-minute walk from the centre of Kingsbridge.

History

It was originally part of the manor of Bowringsleigh, which took its name from the Bowring family, who were lords of the manor from about 1330 to the early sixteenth century. At one time, Alvington was part of the Royal Estates;^[2] the town of Kingsbridge formed around a bridge which was built in or before the 10th century between the royal estates of Alvington, to the west, and Chillington, to the east, hence giving it the name of Kyngysbrygge ("King's bridge").

Notable residents

Thomas Bowring of Bowringsleigh (died 1504), Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and the principal local landowner.^[3]
Robert Bowring (died 1514) eldest son of Thomas, MP for Plymouth.

References

^ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
^ "History of "West Alvington"". West Alvington Parish Council. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
^ Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926