Loddiswell

Coordinates: 50°19′16″N 3°48′00″W / 50.321°N 3.8°W / 50.321; -3.8

Loddiswell is a parish and village in the South Hams district of Devon, England. It lies on the west side of the River Avon or Aune and is three miles NNW from Kingsbridge. There is evidence of occupation going back to Roman times. The villages most famous son and benefactor was Richard Peek who retired here after being one of the Sheriffs of London. The name Loddiswell is a corruption of Saint Loda's well, named after one of the many saints that occurred all over the westcountry, especially in Cornwall.

History

There is evidence at the northern end of this parish that Blackdown hill was used by the Romans, on the hill Blackdown Rings, a ring-and-bailey hill fort, may be the remains of a wooden fortress of the 12th century, not otherwise documented. The hill itself gives a commanding view of the area.

Loddiswell was mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086 when the manor was valued at 100 shillings. The manor then belonged to Juhel of Totnes, but had belonged to Anglo Saxon called Heca before the Norman Conquest. Domesday recorded that there was a fishery that gave 30 salmon as geld.