An hour before noon it exploded in Devon (7)

I believe the answer is:

honiton

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'devon' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'an hour before noon it exploded' is the wordplay.
'an hour' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'exploded' indicates an anagram.
'noon'+'it'='noonit'
'noonit' with letters rearranged gives 'oniton'.
'h'+'oniton'='HONITON'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for honiton that I've seen is " Devon town (lace)".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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