Culmstock

R.D. Blackmore, the author of Lorna Doone, lived in Culmstock for six years while his father, John Blackmore, was curate-in-charge of the parish, and he based his novel Perlycross on the Culm Valley. Octavius Temple, father of Frederick Temple and grandfather of William Temple (both Archbishops of Canterbury), purchased Axon Farm, near the settlement. Octavius went to be Governor of Sierra Leone, where he died in 1834. The family had, however, remained at Culmstock. Blundell's School at Tiverton hosted the boarding years of the latter childhood of Frederick. Harold Sumption (1916-1998), an English advertising executive and fundraiser, was born in Culmstock. ==Transport==

The village was served by a station on the Culm Valley Light Railway, which connected to one of two main lines leaving the south-west peninsula, at Tiverton Junction. The Light Railway ran from 1876 to 1975, though the last passengers were carried in 1963. ==References==