Compton, Plymouth
| Compton | |
|---|---|
 Compton
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| Compton shown within Devon | |
| Population | 12,677 (2011) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PLYMOUTH |
| Postcode district | PL3 6xx |
| Dialling code | 01752 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
Compton or Compton Gifford is a suburb of Plymouth in the English county of Devon.
Once a small village, it was developed in the 1930s and now lies between the suburbs of Mannamead and Efford. There are two parts, Higher and Lower Compton named after two farms and now distinguished by their respective public houses.
Although essentially infill development between older larger areas, Compton is distinctive in character.
The earliest evidence of man in Compton, is from around 3000 BC. At this time, Neolithic stone axes which have been found in Compton, were being made in Penzance, Callington and Cambourne. They may have been used by farmers, or dropped on route to other settlements.
Around 800 AD, the Manor of Compton was appearing on maps, Coombe (a wooded valley) Ton (the Saxon word for farm).
In 1086 the Doomsday book had this entry for Compton;
"Stephen holds Compton from Iudhael. Oswulf held it before 1066. It paid tax for 1 hide and 1 virgate of land. Land for 4 ploughs, which are there; 2 slaves, 6 villagers, and 4 smallholders.
Meadow 1 acre, Underwood 20 acres. 5 cattle, 2 pigs, 52 sheep. Value formerly and now 30 shillings."
Compton is mentioned in 1238 as it was on the route to the new Plym Bridge, the route to Plympton and beyond was through Compton and Eggbuckland. Before this, it had been necessary to travel much further north to cross the Plym at high tide, as the river in those days from Plym bridge to Marsh mills was just mud flats in a wide creek. To cross the river at low tide the ebb-ford (Efford) could be used.
The Gifford in Compton Gifford, dates back to around 1100 AD when the granddaughter of Guy de Bockland, Isabella brought the estate to her husband Osbert Giffard. The estate continued in their family until 1342.
It is interesting to note that only recently has Compton become part of Plymouth. Around 1596 for example, the town criers of Plymouth, Thomas Edwarde and Vincent, were recorded as relocating lame men, beggars and other undesirables to Compton, Plympton and Plymstock, an effective way of removing the problem!
Compton was not left out of the civil war of 1642−46. It is recorded that Prince Maurice advanced from Compton village around the head of Lipson Creek, but after some bloody fighting, was defeated by the Roundheads and the tide. At this time his headquarters were at Widey Court.
By 1730 Compton was part of the Culme estate, and it was not until the last member of that family died in 1804 that, with a population of around fifty, Compton began to grow. At this stage there were not many buildings, of these The Compton Inn is probably the oldest, with walls up to four feet thick, it was an old farmhouse, then a granary, a tanners and a cobblers shop.
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Wikipedia