St Sidwells

St Sidwell's is an area east of Exeter city centre in the ward of Newtown.

Formerly a village in its own right, St Sidwell's grew in importance along with Exeter thanks to its location on the main cart track between Exeter and the high ground of Stoke Hill and the rich farmland of East Devon.

The springs of St Sidwell's were tapped by the Romans for the needs of the city and their water piped via wooden aqueducts to supply their citadel.

The parish is mentioned in an 1865 edition of Charles Dickens' magazine All the Year Round: There was a remote parish—that of St. Sidwell’s—the claims of whose “boys” to the right of citizenship were doubtful.

They were contumaciously called Grecians; but the parish being large, and its warriors numerous, the citizen lads were accustomed to combine against “the outer barbarians,” and the battles raged furiously, and black eyes and bloody noses were left to exhibit the results of the fray.50°44′N 3°31′W / 50.733°N 3.517°W / 50.733; -3.517

Relief of St Sidwell, on Sidwell St, St Sidwells
Watercolour by Olive Wharry circa 1942 of St. Sidwell’s Church, Exeter, after the Blitz. In the early hours of 4th May 1942 a 250kg bomb fell directly on St Sidwells. The church tower was left standing but was so badly damaged that it was pulled down shortly after. A replacement church was built on the site