ABOUT WHITESTONE

Whitestone village lies to the west of Exeter and can be approached either by the old Exeter to Tedburn Road and turning right at the Travellers Rest public house, then climbing Hill Lane OR, from Okehampton Road, Exeter, going up Redhills and then straight on for about 3 miles.
The shop and Post Office closed several years ago.  There's one fairly local pub about a mile away - the Travellers Rest on the old Exeter to Tedburn Road.
The village is served by the 173 Bus Service which operates 6 days a week (not Sundays) with 5 services into Exeter and 4 services back to Whitestone.
The busy Parish Hall acts as a hub for the community, hosting the meetings of many of the clubs, groups and societies as well as the meetings of the Parish Council.  Whitestone even has it's own charity making small grants for educational and training purposes to residents of the parish
Whitestone is a delightful rural environment to live in, close to the amenities of a city, yet retaining the tranquillity of a rural residence.

[From White's Devonshire Directory (1850)]
"WHITSTONE, or Whitestone, a scattered village, 3½ miles W.N.W. of Exeter, has in its parish 670 inhabitants, and 4046 acres of land, picturesquely broken into hill and dale. One of the hills commands extensive views, in which Exmouth, Honiton, and other distant places may be seen. The manor was anciently held by the Beaumont, Powderham, and Bohun families. . . . The Church (St. Catherine,) stands on a commanding eminence, and is an ancient structure, with a tower and four bells." 

 

[Extracted from The Devon Village Book, written by members of the Devon Federation of Women's Institutes and
published by Countryside Books.  Click on the link Countryside Books to view Countryside's range of other local titles.]

"Whitestone is a large and hilly parish approximately three miles west of Exeter, with a very scattered population of 650. The parish is like a hand with three fingers extended eastwards, the highest ground being 809 ft above sea level, from where there are extensive views of Dartmoor, north towards Exmoor, eastwards over Exeter and the hills beyond, and south-east down the Exe estuary.  Between the three ridges are deep valleys through which run the Nadder and Alphin brooks.

"The name Whitestone is derived from the ancient saltway which ran from the salt pans in the Teign estuary northwards to Crediton.

"The beautiful little 13th century church of St Catherine of Alexandria stands high on one of the ridges overlooking the village with wonderful views towards Exmouth. In the old days it was a mark for sailors entering the estuary and to this day the church has the right to fly the White Ensign.

"The main part of the village on the old coach road from Exeter to Okehampton, is not old, but there are many beautiful old houses and farms in the parish. The visitor should take time to explore the side lanes and high ridges where every gateway reveals a different view or a hidden valley.

"The famous A. J. Coles, who created the wonderful Devonian character 'Jan Stewer', once owned a farm here and finally ended his days in one of the first caravan homes in Pathfinder Village.

Extract from the centennial video "Whitestone 2000"