Georgeham
Pronunciation is a controversial issue. Traditionalists maintain that there is in fact an emphasis on both the syllables George and ham. Others, usually outsiders not originally from North Devon, believe there to be no pronunciation on the ham, thus making it sound George-um.
The hamlets of Cross and Forda lie between Georgeham and Croyde. Pickwell is part of the parish and lies between Georgeham and Putsborough.
History
Georgeham was first documented in the Domesday Book, where it appears under the name Hama. The village's current name, which first appeared in 1535, followed the dedication of St George's church, the parish church, to Saint George. Prior to 1535, the village was also referred to as Ham St. George and George Ham.
The village gave its name to HMS Georgeham, a Ham class minesweeper.
The artist Margaret Kemp-Welch lived in the village during the 1920s and 1930s and painted a mural in the parish church.
After serving in the First World War, Henry Williamson lived in the village from 1921; in Skirr Cottage he wrote his first published work, The Beautiful Years, as well as his most celebrated work, Tarka the Otter. His grave lies in the village churchyard. Also buried here is the writer and adventurer Negley Farson, who also had a home in the village. His son, the writer and broadcaster Daniel Farson, died here in his father's former home in 1997.
References
- ^ https://www.georgehamparishcouncil.gov.uk/
- ^ "Georgeham and Mortehoe Ward 2011.retrieved 21 Feb 2015".
- ^ http://www.britishplacenames.co.uk/ss4639-georgeham-devon, "British Place Names" Retrieved 15 October 2014
- ^ http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/georgeham_appraisal.pdf Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, "Georgeham Conservation Area Character Appraisal" Retrieved 15 October 2014
- ^ http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/georgeham_appraisal.pdf Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, "Georgeham Conservation Area Character Appraisal" Retrieved 15 October 2014
- ^ http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/georgeham_appraisal.pdf Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, "Georgeham Conservation Area Character Appraisal" Retrieved 15 October 2014
- ^ http://www.britishplacenames.co.uk/ss4639-georgeham-devon Archived 19 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, "British Place Names" Retrieved 15 October 2014
- ^ http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/georgeham_appraisal.pdf Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, "Georgeham Conservation Area Character Appraisal" Retrieved 15 October 2014
- ^ http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/georgeham_appraisal.pdf Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, "Georgeham Conservation Area Character Appraisal" Retrieved 15 October 2014
- ^ http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/georgeham_appraisal.pdf Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, "Georgeham Conservation Area Character Appraisal" Retrieved 15 October 2014
- ^ http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/georgeham_appraisal.pdf Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, "Georgeham Conservation Area Character Appraisal" Retrieved 15 October 2014