Dunsford is a village in Devon, England; it is located just inside the Dartmoor National Park. The hamlet of Butts is sited about one mile to the west; it generally considered to be part of the village, as is Reedy, which is a similar distance to the east.

History

The place name is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Dunesforda, meaning 'Dunn's ford'. The village has a number of traditional thatched cottages; a primary school which has a swimming pool, climbing wall and sports field; one village shop and post office; a tea room and a public house. St Mary's Church, built between 1420 and 1455, is located in the village centre. Dunsford Halt was a station on the Teign Valley Line from Exeter St Thomas to Heathfield station that served the village from 1928 to 1958. Great Fulford House lies to the west of Dunsford; a Domesday manor which has been the home of the Fulford family since at least 1190. The present house was mainly built in the early 16th century and is a semi-fortified mansion house built round a central courtyard. It was the backdrop to the 2014 reality-television programme, Life Is Toff.

Geography

Dunsford Woods nature reserve is nearby, which is managed by Devon Wildlife Trust; it consists of 57 hectares of river valley woodland, heath-covered rocky slopes and fertile flood-plain scrub and grassland. It is known especially for its wild daffodils and six species of fritillary butterfly.

Events

Dunsford holds a village show at the beginning of July every year. Dunsford Amateur Dramatic Society (DADS) produces a pantomime in the village hall in early January. The villagers also hold an annual fancy dress pancake race in the streets.