Spreyton

For Spreyton in Australia, see Spreyton, Tasmania.

Spreyton is a small rural village just north of Dartmoor in Devon, England. Spreyton is famous for its connection to the tale of “Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all”. The character Cobley came from and is thought to be buried in Spreyton. Some^[who?] believe that, if Uncle Tom Cobley did exist and did travel to Widecombe fair, he would have travelled from Spreyton.

Spreyton
Spreyton Location within Devon
Population	380 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	SX6996
District	West Devon
Shire county	Devon
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Crediton
Postcode district	EX17
Dialling code	01647
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Central Devon
List of places UK England Devon 50.75537°N 3.84312°W / 50.75537; -3.84312

Spreyton was mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) as ""Spreitone" in the ancient hundred of Wonford ^[1] and in 1236 as "Sprotton". The first element of the name is the Anglo-Saxon word from which "spray" is derived, "spray" meaning "twig" or "brushwood".^[2]

There is a small primary school, Spreyton County Primary School, serving the village and the surrounding area. The Tom Cobley Tavern is the village pub, placed on the main street in the village. There is also a parish church, which holds the grave of 'Tom Cobley' within its churchyard.

The parish church of St Michael is built of granite ashlar and stands on a hill. The wagon roofs of the nave, aisle and chancel are medieval; the roof of the chancel has an inscription dated 1451. The Norman font is octagonal.^[3] The church is notable for its medieval ceiling boss depicting three hares with shared ears.^[4][5]