Whitleigh is a district, a rather unremarkable corner of Plymouth , nestled in the county of Devon . It’s also an electoral ward , known as Budshead . For those who care about such things, its borders are drawn with Southway , Honicknowle , West park , Crownhill , and St Budeaux . As of 2017, the population count hovered around 7,870 souls. Not exactly a metropolis, but enough people to generate a certain hum, I suppose.

Education

The educational landscape of Whitleigh is, shall we say, functional. It boasts several primary schools: Woodfield Primary School, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic School, Whitleigh Community Primary School, and the Woodland Community Special School. The latter is, as its name suggests, dedicated to children with learning difficulties or serious physical disabilities, accommodating ages from four to sixteen.

Then there’s Sir John Hunt Community Sports College . It’s gone through a few iterations, previously known as the Community College, and before that, Whitleigh comprehensive (or High) school. Due to the ever-present specter of budget cuts from the local government, it found itself merged with Southway Community College. A rather grim testament to fiscal realities, wouldn’t you agree?

Whitleigh also houses the Woodside Education Centre. This establishment is specifically designed for children facing learning or significant physical challenges. It accepts students from the tender age of four all the way up to sixteen.

Wood View Learning Community

In 2010, a new campus-style facility emerged: the Wood View Learning Community. It occupies the site where the old school buildings on Lancaster Gardens once stood. This modern complex is home to Sir John Hunt Community Sports College, Whitleigh Community Primary School, and Woodlands Special School. Beyond these educational institutions, it also incorporates other community services, including a Youth Centre. The entire campus operates under a federated Governing Body, an arrangement designed to foster collaboration among the three schools. The stated aim is to deliver a high-quality education to all students and to serve as a genuine focal point within the community. A noble aspiration, though one suspects the reality is far more… complicated.

Sir John Hunt Community Sports College

Sir John Hunt Community Sports College serves as the local secondary school, catering to students from eleven to nineteen years of age. It’s on the smaller side when compared to its counterparts in the city, but its integration into the Wood View Campus has endowed it with some rather impressive facilities. In 2010, it finally opened its doors to post-16 education, establishing a Sixth Form. This makes it the last school in Plymouth to venture into this territory. The Sixth Form operates within a consortium that includes Lipson Co-operative Academy and Tor Bridge High . This partnership allows students from all three institutions the opportunity to pursue Level 3 courses across the consortium. A rather sensible arrangement, I suppose, if one is inclined to embrace such collaborative endeavors.

Shopping

The primary hub for commerce in Whitleigh is Whitleigh Green. It’s a precinct that hosts a modest selection of establishments: a small Co-op supermarket, a takeaway (specifically, a fish and chip shop, a classic), a cafe, a hair and beauty salon, a discount store peddling household goods and gardening supplies, a bakery, a butcher (sadly, now closed), a newsagent, a post office, a tattoo parlour, and a pharmacy. Interspersed amongst these are areas of grass and trees, offering a brief respite from the commerce. The recycling facilities that once graced the car park area have, for reasons unknown, been removed. A loss for those who appreciate organized waste disposal, I’m sure.

Religion

The suburb is serviced by three churches. There’s St Chad’s Anglican church, Bethany Evangelical Church, and a Salvation Army church and centre located on Lancaster Gardens.

More recently, the former Whitleigh Christian Centre has been resurrected as Engage Whitleigh. This Pentecostal church, affiliated with the Assemblies of God, also offers community-based conferencing facilities. A rather modern rebranding, one might observe.

Fownes Family

Now, we delve into history, a tangled web of lineage and property. The Fownes family held a significant presence in Whitleigh from the 17th century onwards. The family arms, as recorded for Fownes of Plymouth, Kittery Court & Nethway in Devon and Dunster Castle in Somerset, are described as: Azure, two eagles displayed in chief and a mullet in base argent. Following a marriage and the subsequent inheritance of Dunster Castle, they adopted the arms of the Luttrell family, quartering their own paternal arms.

John Fownes (1614–1646) of Whitley was the fourth son of Thomas Fownes (d. 1638), who held the esteemed position of Mayor of Plymouth in 1619. This John Fownes married Catherine Champernowne (d. 1642/3), the fifth daughter of Arthur Champernowne of Dartington. His son, also named John Fownes (1640–1670) of Whitley, married Mary Northleigh (d. 1669). She was the daughter of Henry Northleigh (1612–1675) of Peamore, Exminster , whose wife was Lettice Yarde, daughter of Edward Yarde of Bradley, Devon. A rather intricate family tree, wouldn’t you agree?

A monument to John Fownes and Mary survives in St Budeaux Church, bearing an inscription that details their lives and the children they left behind:

“In memorie of John Fownes of Whitley Esq: and of Mary his wife Daughter of Henry Northleigh of Peamore Esq: He dyed the 22nd day of Aprill 1670 ætatis 30, She dyed the 18th day of Aprill 1669 ætatis 28 Also Elizabeth their daughter dyed the 31 day of March 1669, Leavinge survivinge children John. Henry Katherine and Mary”

Their eldest son and heir was John Fownes (1661–1731) of Kittery Court. He carved out a political career for himself, serving as a Member of Parliament for Dartmouth from 1713 to 1714. His grandson, Henry Fownes Luttrell , born in 1722 and dying in 1780, adopted the additional surname of Luttrell. He became the proprietor of Dunster Castle in Somerset, served as High Sheriff of Somerset from 1754 to 1755, and also held a seat as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Minehead between 1768 and 1774. A rather distinguished lineage, steeped in land and politics.

Wheal Whitleigh

Near the modern-day Christian Mill Business park, one could once find Wheal Whitleigh, a mine dedicated to extracting silver and lead. The workings of this mine extended westward, tracing a path that roughly followed the present-day Lancaster Gardens. A reminder of the industrial past that often lies beneath the surface of seemingly placid locales.