St Thomas, Exeter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas |
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 Church Road |
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 St Thomas
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| Population | 6,455 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SX9091 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | EXETER |
| Postcode district | EX2, EX4 |
| Dialling code | 01392 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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St Thomas is a lively area in the city of Exeter, England. It sits on the western side of the River Exe. The Exe Bridge connects St Thomas to the main part of Exeter.
This area has many useful places. You can find schools, shops, and places of worship here. In 2011, about 6,455 people lived in St Thomas.
St Thomas is part of a larger area called a "ward." Local councillors represent the people living here. They help make decisions for the community. Currently, Rob Hannaford and Adrian Fullam are the City Councillors for St Thomas.
Long ago, St Thomas was not part of Exeter. It was a separate village called Cowick. Over time, the area grew and became part of the city. Today, the name St Thomas refers to the central part of Exeter west of the river.
You can easily get to St Thomas by train. The area has its own train stop called Exeter St Thomas railway station.
The Historic St Thomas Church
The main church in the area is called the Parish Church of St Thomas the Apostle. It is located just outside the old city walls of Exeter. It is also separated from the city by the River Exe. This church is quite large, even bigger than many churches inside Exeter's old walls.
The original church was built in 1412. Sadly, it burned down in 1645 during the English Civil War. But it was rebuilt quickly, by 1657. Some parts of the old church, like an archway, still remain. The outside of the church today shows different styles of old architecture.
Important Historic Homes
St Thomas is home to several historic estates. These were once large homes or important buildings. Some of them include:
- Bowhay House: You can find this house on Dunsford Road.
- Cleve House: Located on Exwick Lane, this was the home of Thomas Northmore. He was a lawyer and a Member of Parliament.
- Cowick Barton: This building on Cowick Lane used to be a Benedictine monastery. Monasteries were places where monks lived and worked.
- Hayes Barton: This old building dates back to the late 1200s. It is found where Flowerpot Lane and Okehampton Street meet.
- Floyer Hayes: For many centuries, this was the home of the Floyer family. It is located on the east side of Alphington Street.
Famous People from St Thomas
Some notable people have connections to St Thomas:
- George Gliddon (1809–1857): He was an Egyptologist. This means he studied ancient Egypt.
- Walter Skinner (1913–1994): He was a first-class cricketer.
