North Molton Village

North Molton sits on the south-western edge of Exmoor National Park, about 3 miles from the market town of South Molton and the A361 link road. Set in glorious countryside, the village and outlying hamlets and farms are currently home to around thirteen hundred residents. It is a happy, thriving community with a primary school, two churches, two pubs, a garage, a hairdressers and a variety of home-based businesses. There are two well-supported village halls and a sports club boasting football and cricket pitches and an indoor sports hall and pavilion.

The spirit of the community is captured in the book North Molton a celebration of the people and history of North Molton published by the North Molton History Society. The village was originally founded on the very successful wool trade, followed by a brief spell as a mining village. As the local saying goes "When North Molton was a thriving town South Molton was still a fuzzy down".

Defibrillator locations:
  • North Molton Village - The Poltimore Inn porch (sedative.segregate.enacts)
  • North Molton Village - The Sports Club (aquatics.showering.pillow)
  • Heasley Mill - The Old Phonebox (remedy.purse.tomorrow)

How to use the defibrillator.

A defibrillator (AED = Automated External Defibrillator) will talk you through how to use it - so do not worry about getting things wrong - the machine will be in control.

However, if you would like to be mentally prepared beforehand, please watch the St John's Ambulance video here, and the HeartSine video here (the defibrillator at The Politmore Arms is this model). The defibrillator should have a Resus pack containing a resuscitation mask, scissors for removing clothing, and a razor for shaving a patch on a hairy chest (the pads may not stick otherwise). Please note that these videos are examples of how to use a defibrillator and are not being promoted here as an effective way to learn CPR.

Important Information

Highways update 11th October 2024

Please find attached the latest Griffiths Traffic Bulletin for the North Devon Link Road Project - A361 - (Portmore to Borners Bridge) or click HERE to view online at the Griffiths Community Website under Traffic Updates. This bulletin contains important Traffic Information regarding night closures and traffic management programme. For additional project information or to view all newsletters and traffic updates online, please visit the Griffiths in the Community North Devon Link Road website HERE

New Heritage Skills website (NDDC)

Do you work/train in construction or a trade? Maybe you're a home owner or heritage building enthusiast...?

If so, you should check out NDDC's new website northdevonheritageskills.co.uk

The Heritage Skills project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, seeks to address the heritage skills gap in North Devon and help protect the district's local historic buildings.

The aim is to support training and development of the skills needed to maintain the historic buildings and places of North Devon, where we live, work, learn and play. These buildings will go on for many years to come if we look after them well, with the right people, having the right skills, and using the right materials.

The website will host a directory of trades and service professionals, information for property owners, and links to skills and training opportunities; organisers will be hosting a range of course between October 2024 and March 2025. 

New DEfRA requirements for keeping birds (no lower limit in numbers)

Thank you to Nigel Penfold for pointing out the following:

As from 1st October, it will be a legal requirement for everyone who keeps any sort of birds on their property to register them with DEFRA. This applies to chickens, ducks, birds of prey ... everything. Previously, if you kept fewer than 50, there was no requirement to register, but there is now no lower limit. Pet birds kept indoors are exempt. The registration process is quick. Details on the DEfRA website.

Pension Credit - are you eligible?

If you are over State Pension age, you may be eligible to claim Pension Credit, even if you own your home or have savings. People who claim Pension Credit may also be able to get:

- The Winter Fuel Payment and other help with heating costs

- Help with rent and Council Tax

- A free TV Licence for those aged 75 or over 

- Help with the cost of NHS services, such as NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments

You could be eligible for Pension Credit if your weekly income is below £218.15 or, if you have a partner who lives with you, £332.95. Qualifying income level may be higher in some circumstances.

Don’t miss out.  Check your eligibility at gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling 0800 99 1234

Parish Council annual audit 2024

Under Parish Council, Legal documents you can find the draft 2024 audit paperwork.  These have to be published, officially from 3rd of June to 12 July, but North Molton Parish Council leaves them permanently on the website.

Anyone has the right to inspect or copy any of our accounting records.  If you wish to do so, please contact the Parish Clerk.

Schoolchildren help at turf cutting for village’s new homes

The first turf has been cut to mark the start of construction at a new community in the village of North Molton by Westcountry housebuilder Cavanna Homes.

The development of 39 open market and affordable homes has been named Hollywell Meadow, after a unanimous vote by local schoolchildren at North Molton Primary School.

Five children from the school, with their Headteacher Angela Fernyhough, joined the village’s Parish Council Chair Sir Richard Peek, North Devon District Councillor, Liz Bulled and Director of Land and Design at Cavanna Homes, Michael Newman, for the ceremony at Hollywell Meadow off Fore Street.

Pupils Arthur Bolton, Tabitha Noble, Dougie Butt, Brennan Thomas and Josie Alford, donned hard hats and hi-vis jackets for the event to celebrate naming the new community of homes.

The ceremony marks the beginning of building work on 39 homes, 11 of which will be marketed as affordable and available for shared ownership or social rent.

Sir Richard said: “This is an exciting time for North Molton with a community of new homes coming forward by a local homebuilder. It was a pleasure to mark the start of construction on-site and I look forward to seeing the scheme take shape.”

Cllr Bulled said: “This is positive for the village with lots of advantages which wouldn’t be possible without a new housing development, such as the new footpath from the sports centre to the school, creating safer walking routes for children and their families. It’s great to see that affordable housing has also been allocated for the community.”

The one to four-bedroom homes will be energy efficient, fitted with air source heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. High levels of insulation and double-glazing will be installed in every property.

The scheme will include a village green, allotments, a play area and a footpath to the village sports and community centre.

Children from North Molton Primary School named the development site, Hollywell Meadow in a vote held earlier this year.

Classes across the whole school took part in the ballot to choose from three possible names on a shortlist, drawn up by Torquay-based Cavanna Homes. Mrs Fernyhough, the Headteacher, said: “Every class voted for the name – Hollywell Meadow – it was a unanimous decision, and the children are so pleased to have played a part in this new community.”

The properties are expected to bring new families to the thriving North Devon village. As part of the planning agreement, Cavanna Homes will provide funding for secondary education, secondary school transport and highway improvements.

The Marketing Suite at Hollywell Meadow will be open in late summer, with a Show Home available for would-be buyers to view in spring 2025.

For more information about Hollywell Meadow, visit: www.cavannahomes.co.uk/developments/north-molton.

North Molton Transport

South Molton - North Molton Route 856 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri and some bank holidays)
Stagecoach South West. Timetable valid from 5 Sep 2021 until further notice
South Molton, Broad Street Depart: 09:15 12:15 14:15
North Molton, Bridge Depart: 09:30 12:30 14:30
North Molton, Square Depart: 09:32 12:32 14:32
South Molton, King Street Arrive: 09:45 12:45 14:45

Other useful links

Stagecoach 155 South Molton to Barnstaple timetable Stagecoach timetables - downloadable versions National Express Website Great Western Railway website National Rail Journey Planner

North & South Molton Taxis

  • A & L01769 572169
  • Bry Cabs07449 262008
  • South Molton Taxi Service Ltd01769 573636
  • Mr Thornton B-line Taxis01271 322117
North Molton Car Share Facebook Group
North Molton Transport

Laurels Playground

North Molton Playground

Sited in the play area of the Old School which closed in 1992, the Laurels Playground provides a safe enclosed area for children. The Parish Council began renovation in 2020, and so far equipment installed includes a ride-on tractor, 3-way see-saw, a slide with rope ladder, a new swing with an accessible basket, and an in-ground trampoline that can hold up to 5 children and is accessible to wheelchair users.

Coloured hopscotch graphics and a large mural designed by local children brighten up the area.

Work is ongoing to repair the rear wall and old iron railings, a lovely feature of the playground. Many kind donations from individuals have been made towards the renovation, and residents have given their time and energy in helping with the restoration. Support has also come from fundraising events, The National Lottery, Griffiths, the Freemasons, North Devon Atlantic Scramble Club, and the local government development levy grant (S106).

North Molton Book Box

A few years ago, North Molton Parish Council purchased the redundant telephone box in the village square from BT for the princely sum of £1.00. After a few repairs, and thanks to Cllr Anne Johnson being able to locate replacement perspex panels, we were able to turn it into the phone box library in 2021. Our library is available to all, residents and visitors alike.

The premise is simple. Books for all ages are welcome, and anyone can take or donate books (we check for suitably and cleanliness on a regular basis). When we have a surplus, and to keep them refreshed, we either store excess books or donate them to one of the charity shops in South Molton.

If you would like further information or have questions, please contact Councillor Hugh Jennings.

North Molton Book Box

North Molton Key Contacts

North Molton Contacts

Dog Fouling

North Devon Council wishes to remind anyone in charge of a dog that it is an offence to allow your dog to foul in a publicly accessible area without cleaning it up. This includes in car parks, recreation and sports grounds, parks, pavements as well as verges, footpaths and beaches. Failure to do so or leaving it to collect later (or even hanging it on a tree) can still result in a fixed penalty of £75 (or a maximum of £1000). Report dog fouling incidents using the NDC online form.

Lost or found dogs, see the North Devon dogs pages

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