Thurlestone Walk

Right on the edge of the Forder Valley nature reserve are several streets in the Leigham estate named after places in Devon, and among them is Thurlestone Walk.

For those who know the delightful South Hams seaside village, with its thatched cottages, 13th-century church and ancient pub (reputedly containing timbers from a Spanish Armada ship wrecked nearby), the origin of the name Thurlestone will probably be obvious enough.

It sits on the fringe of the beach - the Thurlestone Rock. Thurlestone here simply means 'stone with a hole', and a curious and awesome sight it is, this giant ring of rock.

The first record of the name dates back more than 1,000 years. In 847AD it is referred to as 'oyrelan stane', the first element being an Old English word, 'pyrel', which over the years has become, through various spellings and pronunciations, 'thurle'.

EH 03 July 2001