thurlestone
{{Short description|Village in Devon, England}}
{{Distinguish|Thurlstone}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name=Thurlestone
| country=England
| civil_parish=Thurlestone
| region=South West England
| static_image_name=Thurlestone rock.jpg
| static_image_caption=Thurlestone Rock, from which the village takes its name.
| area_footnotes =
| population =
| population_ref =
| population_density=
| os_grid_reference=
| coordinates = {{coord|50.27|-3.86|display=inline,title}}
| post_town=KINGSBRIDGE
| postcode_area= TQ
| postcode_district=
| dial_code=
| constituency_westminster=Totnes
| london_distance={{convert|183|mi}} NEE
| shire_district=
| shire_county=Devon
| website=
}}
File:A. R. Quinton, Thirlstone South Devon.jpg, c. 1920]]
Thurlestone is a village located {{convert|5|mi|km}} west of Kingsbridge in the South Hams district in south Devon, England. There is an electoral ward in the same name. The population at the 2011 census was 1,886.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/thurlestone-e05003583#sthash.y838MBZN.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011|access-date= 20 February 2015}}
The village takes its name from Thurlestone Rock, the so-called "thirled stone", an arch-shaped rock formation just offshore in Thurlestone Bay. Thurl, or Thirl being an Anglo-Saxon word meaning hole. {{cite web | url=https://www.thurlestoneparish.co.uk/history-of-thurlestone.html | title=History of Thurlestone }}
File:All Saints church, Thurlestone - geograph.org.uk - 1514707.jpg
The village's All Saints church is built of the dark grey local slate. The chancel is early 13th century; the remainder of the church 15th and 16th century.
Thurlestone Marsh
Thurlestone Marsh ({{gbmapping|SX675423}}) is one of three small wetlands south of the village (South Milton Ley and South Huish Marsh are the others). It is formed where a small unnamed stream flows through low-lying flat farmland just inland from Leas Foot Sand, a small beach just to the southwest of the village.
The site consists of a number of reed-fringed pools.
Tourism
Tourism is supported by self-catering houses and a hotel in the village. About 60% of houses in the village are rented out at some time in the year.
Wildlife
In 2002, a 30-year-old female pygmy sperm whale was washed up on Thurlestone Beach.
2005 saw two significant ornithological events (Devon Bird Report 2005):
- In late March and early April, a flock of 68 garganey was offshore in the bay – the second largest flock ever to be recorded in Britain (the largest was a flock of 120 in Kent in the 1950s).
- In August, a least sandpiper, a North American vagrant shorebird only recorded once in Devon previously, was present on Thurlestone Marsh.
Walks
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.chycor2.co.uk/westcountryviews/coastal/thurlestone/thurlestone.htm Images of Thurlestone]
{{South Hams parishes}}
{{Authority control}}