Pennymoor’s history as a place of transport and work offers a way to explore the village. An old north–south packhorse route, an inn and the former smithy tell stories of travel and provisions along the way. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in the village, you can combine your stay with an interest in architectural history, church life or folk arts.
Historic Paths and an Inn
The historic crossroads in Pennymoor lies on an old packhorse route that ran north to south from Exmoor to Exeter. Cattle drovers also used it. The route connects the village with a history of travel in which horses and livestock played a part.
The old smithy had room for four horses, suggesting that travellers stayed overnight at the adjoining inn. The route, the accommodation for horses and the inn’s history are therefore connected, though the suggested overnight stays cannot be treated as certain.
The Cruwys Arms is a Grade II listed inn dating from the mid-17th century. Its unusual layout comprises three rooms and a lobby entrance. In 1650, the smith of Pennymoor was allowed to use the house’s oven once a week to cook food. This links the building’s history with a specific insight into how the inn was used at the time.
Churches and Bells
In the area around Pennymoor, the Church of the Holy Cross was built in 1529. A lightning strike and the major fire that followed destroyed its spire in 1689. The upper section of the tower then had to be rebuilt in brick.
The Church of the Holy Cross has an active bell-ringing group that practises on Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Both new and experienced ringers are welcome. If you’d like to join in, check the practice arrangements locally.
The service schedule for May/June 2026 listed a Sunday service at 4:00 pm at Pennymoor Chapel. On the third Sunday of the month, this was replaced by the joint service at Way Village Chapel at 3:00 pm. Check the times locally before visiting. The Congregational Church in Pennymoor was built in 1930–31; before that, services were held in a converted cottage.
Folk Arts and Crafts
The former Parish Revel in Pennymoor later developed into the Harvest Festival. The Pennymoor Singaround invites people to take part in folk arts, including singing, playing music, storytelling and dancing. Its monthly gatherings have been held since 1979.
Roofing crafts are also part of the village’s history. Historically, most homes in Pennymoor had thatched roofs. A master thatcher from Pennymoor made hazel spars, which were used to secure thatch on grain ricks and on house and barn roofs. These historic roof styles add a craft perspective to the traces of the inn and church buildings.
Discover more destinations: Lynmouth, Black Torrington, Newton Abbot, Otterton, Ipplepen, Staverton, Okehampton, Woolfardisworthy.
For the broader travel overview: Devon.
