Retirement Properties Spotlight in Shute

Shute is a small village in north-east Devon about four miles west of Axminster with an attractive old church dating from the 13th century. Axminster has a population of about six thousand and is situated in the Axe Valley close to the Somerset border in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is an attractive town and takes its name from the River Axe and the old Abbey Church or Minster. In 1775 Thomas Whitty made the first Axminster carpet in the town, which is a tradition to this day and is the main occupation of the townspeople.