Halwill is a village and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...

in the

Torridge Torridge may refer to: * Torridge District Torridge is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in north-west Devon, England. Its council is based in the town of Bideford. The district also includes the towns of Great Torringt ...

district, in

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

, England just off the A3079

Okehampton Okehampton ( ) is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. At the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 7,313, which was slightly more than the 7,104 recorded at the 2011 census. Th ...

Holsworthy Holsworthy is a market town and civil parish in the Torridge district of Devon, England, west of Exeter. The River Deer, a tributary of the River Tamar, forms the western boundary of the parish, which includes the village of Brandis Corner. ...

road. About a mile away on the main road is another settlement called Halwill Junction. In 2011 the parish had a population of 930. This name brings to mind the former significance of the two villages, as home to an important railway junction, where the

North Cornwall Railway The North Cornwall Railway (NCR) also known as the North Cornwall Line, was a standard gauge railway line running from Halwill in Devon, to Padstow in Cornwall, at a distance of via Launceston, Camelford and Wadebridge. The line was opened ...

(forming part of a main line railway from Exeter to Plymouth) diverged from the earlier

Okehampton to Bude Line Okehampton ( ) is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. At the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 7,313, which was slightly more than the 7,104 recorded at the 2011 census. The Okehampton built-up area ...

, see

Halwill Junction railway station Halwill Junction Railway Station was a railway station in Halwill Junction, near the villages of Halwill and Beaworthy in Devon, England. It opened in 1879 and formed an important junction between the now-closed Bude Branch and North Cornwal ...

. Portions for the two routes separated and rejoined at Halwill station, giving the villages a much better service than larger habitations in the area. There is a football pitch in Halwill as well as a newsagents, Fish and Chip shop and other shops. The local football team play on the football pitch.

Notable people

William Stanlake William Stanlake (sometimes spelled Stanlack) VC DCM (31 October 1830 – 24 April 1904) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to B ...

, recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

External links

* Villages in Devon Civil parishes in Devon Torridge District {{Devon-geo-stub