Stokenham

Stokenham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Devon.

History
The village of Stokenham, was known in Saxon Times as Stoc or Stoc Hamme(meaning Stoc medows). By the 13th century the town was called Stoke in Hamme.

In Mediaeval times St. Humbert the Confessor (d.1188AD) was locally venerated as Patron Saint in the town.

The area was known in the 19th century for the fine crabs, and in WWII local residents were evacuated from the area, on the eve of D day.

Geography
Stokenham civil parish includes the settlements of Torcross, Beesands, Hallsands, Kellaton, Kernborough, Dunstone, Beeson and Chillington as well as Stokenham itself. It forms part of the district of South Hams.

To the east of the parish is Start Bay in the English Channel. The principal road in the parish is the A379 running between the nearest towns of Kingsbridge (to the west) and Dartmouth to the north.

The parish church
The present church dates from 1431; an earlier Norman church predated it. The "church, as it stands today, is built on the side of a hill in a 'the Perpendicular style of medieval architecture' so that its whole length can be seen from below. It is dedicated to St. Michael & All Angels which was common practice for churches on an elevated position, however, at one time dedicated St. Barnabas."

Stokenham manor house
Immediately to the east of the church is the site of Stokenham manor house, abandoned in 1585 but possibly dating back to at least the 12th century.

Local pub
The Tradesman's Arms is an imposing 14th Century, part-thatched pub and restaurant.