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The Old Convent
Council Offices
8 Broad Street
OTTERY ST MARY
EX11 1BZ
A JEWEL IN THE HEART OF DEVON
Ottery St Mary Parish one of the oldest and most historic towns in England, sheltered by rolling hills and surrounded by picturesque villages - Alfington, Escot, Gosford, Fenny Bridges, Fairmile, Metcombe, Wiggaton, Tipton St John and West Hill.
The Parish occupies mainly the valley of the Otter from which it takes its name, but it reaches east and west to higher ridges from which there are superb views over a luxuriant countryside. William of Orange dined here in Ottery in 1688 on his way to London to claim the throne from James II.
Ottery St Mary has proved to be inspiration for a host of literary greats down the centuries. Many have lived in Ottery, some holidayed, many remained - writers such as Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, John Keats, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Rudyard Kipling, Tennyson, Shelley, Oscar Wilde, and of course Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who was born here. His Father was both a Vicar and a School Master here in Ottery St Mary.
Ottery St Mary is also the setting for a large part of W M Thackeray's famous novel "Pendennis". Larksbeare, a residence in the parish of Ottery then occupied by his stepfather, is where Thackeray used to spend his holidays when at Charterhouse, and may be taken as the "Fairoaks" of the story. Escot, nearby is probably "Clavering Park" whilst "Clavering St Mary" is Ottery itself.
Ottery St Mary has also featured in the Harry Potter books as Ottery St Catchpole.
The Town offers a variety of goods and services to surrounding areas. A large part of the town is included within the Conservation area which includes parkland.
Ottery St Mary has a purpose built sports hall and a variety of recreation facilities. Other facilities include a Library, the King's School, Coleridge Medical Centre and Hospital.