Lympstone, East Devon

Lympstone

• Small settlement on the east bank of the River Exe estuary
• 15km South of Exeter

Natural Charctersitics 

• Small valley cut by Wotton Brook, through red breccia cliffs, marking edge of the Exe estuary.
• Extensive tidal mudflats extend into estuary, about 1.5km wide at Lympstone
• Small beach of pebbles and gravel run along the foot of the cliff

• Saxons - established Lympstone after they forced out original Celtics of the region 
• Norman conquest,  transferred to the succesion of French families (De Traceys and De Courtlands)
• 13th century - Lympstone was a number of small ports operating under administration of Exeter (coastal and cross trading links)
• 19th century- Shipbuilidng thrived, but as scale of ships increased, industry ceased
• Estuary - used for fishing and shellfish industry (mussles in particular)
  • Boats went out to North Atlantic from Lympstone to catch cod and hunt whales
• 1840s - beginning of tourism, where wealthy people of Exeter and East Devon were attracted to live by the sea
• Mid nineteenth century - Expansion of built environment, accomodate for new visitors 
  • But still remained a small village
• 1861 - arrival of railways improved connectivity regionally and nationally
• Time space compression - shellfish industry to grow into wider market and local residents could travel to the main regional centre of Exeter
• 20th century - Changes when it became a dormitory settlement of Exeter. 
  • Remained a strong sense of community to this day

Demographic Face

• Top heavy age structure 
• Ethnic profile is homogenous 
• West Country domniate by agriculutre and tourism, providing few job oppurtunities in 1960/1970 for immigrants
• Starting to change - second and third generation migrants assimilate socially and economically 

Socio-economic profile of place

• Average household size 2.3%,compared to 2.4% for England
• Car availablilty 12.7% compared to 25.6% in England
• Bad or bad health 4.1%, compared to 5.6% of England
• Aged 16 and over with no formal qualifications 14.1% compared to 22.5% , England

Cultural Face

• Cultural year is based upon Christian year - Christmas and Easter key times in calender

Political Characteristics 

• Parish council - 11 elected people on local governing body Lympstone is an area with 2 district councillors and 1 country councillor.
  • They have various powers and duties - focused on local matters, e.g. lighting roads, providing communties with facilites and equipment like fields and village halls
  • Express views on planning applications in house bulidings and extensions 
  • Powers are limited as district of East Devon and county council of Devon exists above parish council
• Palimentary constiteuncy has electorate of over 72000 and return 1 MP

Build Environment

• Undergone some changes
  • Former low order shpos have been converted to residences
  • New housing constructed - large houses on cliff top of village periphary
  • Heart of village has strcit planning rules and locals protect architecture

Shift in national economy towards services and growing significance of knowledge economy has had positive effect

Over a thirdof employed residents are classified as managers, directors, senior officials or professional occupations.

Part of the flow into Exeter region of employment in services and knowledge based firms has increased

The Meterological Office moved from Reading to Exeter in 2003

• At the tme, single largest move of IT  equipment in Europe
• Provided strong economic stimulus ro region, bringing knowledge based jobs

Tertiary employment seen growth in higher edcuation sector, including growth in universiaty staff about 3000 staff, major hospital and regional headuarters of firms and organisations in services and high tech.