Dunchideock
Encyclopedia
Dunchideock is a small civil parish
on the north eastern slopes of the Haldon Hills
in Teignbridge
, Devon
, England. It covers an area of 392 hectares (970 acres) and lies about 6 km (3.7 mi) south-west of Exeter
and 11 km (6.8 mi) north-east of Bovey Tracey
. The parish, with a population of 262 in 2001, has no compact village, but consists of scattered dwellings.
The name Dunchideock is one of the few place names in Devon of Celtic
origin. Recorded in Domesday as Donsedoc, the two parts of the name derive from dun (fort) and coediog (wooded), which, according to W. G. Hoskins, refer to the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Cotley Castle
.
The parish church is dedicated to St Michael and is Grade I listed. It originated in 1308 at the latest, but the present church building, built of red sandstone, was started in the late 14th century. It has been partially rebuilt and restored many times. There is a good font dated to around 1400, some notable carved bench-ends, roof-bosses and rood-screen; and several memorials, most notably to Aaron Baker
, who rebuilt the chancel aisle in 1669, and Stringer Lawrence
. The theological writer Bourchier Wrey Savile
was rector of Dunchideock with Shillingford St. George
from 1872 to his death in 1888.
Within the parish was the former Haldon House which was the home of Robert Palk
. Mostly demolished in the 1940s, the remaining wing is now the Best Western
Lord Haldon Hotel. Also in the parish is Haldon Belvedere, a triangular tower on top of Haldon
that was built by Palk in 1788 in memory of his friend Stringer Lawrence.
Archie Winckworth, the former owner of Dunchideock House, posted a memoir about the village and its history, including an account of its buried treasure. The cellars of Dunchideock House are fancifully supposed to contain a treacle mine
.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
on the north eastern slopes of the Haldon Hills
Haldon
The Haldon Hills, usually known simply as Haldon, is a ridge of high ground in Devon, England. It is situated between the River Exe and the River Teign and runs northwards from Teignmouth, on the coast, for about until it dwindles away north west of Exeter at the River Yeo, just south of Crediton...
in Teignbridge
Teignbridge
Teignbridge is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Newton Abbot.Other towns in the district include Ashburton, Dawlish and Teignmouth...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. It covers an area of 392 hectares (970 acres) and lies about 6 km (3.7 mi) south-west of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
and 11 km (6.8 mi) north-east of Bovey Tracey
Bovey Tracey
Bovey Tracey is a small town in Devon, England, on the edge of Dartmoor, its proximity to which gives rise to the "slogan" used on the town's boundary signs, "The Gateway to the Moor". The locals just call the town "Bovey" ....
. The parish, with a population of 262 in 2001, has no compact village, but consists of scattered dwellings.
The name Dunchideock is one of the few place names in Devon of Celtic
Britons (historical)
The Britons were the Celtic people culturally dominating Great Britain from the Iron Age through the Early Middle Ages. They spoke the Insular Celtic language known as British or Brythonic...
origin. Recorded in Domesday as Donsedoc, the two parts of the name derive from dun (fort) and coediog (wooded), which, according to W. G. Hoskins, refer to the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Cotley Castle
Cotley Castle
Cotley Castle is a large Iron Age Hill fort near Dunchideock in Devon and close to Exeter. It occupies a significant hilltop at 220 metres above sea level, just to the north of Great Haldon, part of the same ridge of the Haldon Hills....
.
The parish church is dedicated to St Michael and is Grade I listed. It originated in 1308 at the latest, but the present church building, built of red sandstone, was started in the late 14th century. It has been partially rebuilt and restored many times. There is a good font dated to around 1400, some notable carved bench-ends, roof-bosses and rood-screen; and several memorials, most notably to Aaron Baker
Aaron Baker
Aaron Eli Baker was an English colonial agent of the Honourable East India Company, holding Presidency positions in Bantam and Madras in the 1640s and 1650s. Baker made a fortune in the East India trade.-Madras period:...
, who rebuilt the chancel aisle in 1669, and Stringer Lawrence
Stringer Lawrence
Major-General Stringer Lawrence was an English soldier, the first Commander-in-Chief, India, sometimes regarded as the "Father of the Indian Army"....
. The theological writer Bourchier Wrey Savile
Bourchier Wrey Savile
Bourchier Wrey Savile was a Church of England clergyman and theological writer.-Biography:Savile, second son of Albany Savile, M.P. for Okehampton, who died in 1831, by Eleanora Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Bourchier Wrey, 7th Baronet, was born on 11 March 1817...
was rector of Dunchideock with Shillingford St. George
Shillingford St. George
Shillingford St. George is a village on the outskirts of Exeter, East Devon, England. It is about 5km south of the City of Exeter.-External links:...
from 1872 to his death in 1888.
Within the parish was the former Haldon House which was the home of Robert Palk
Robert Palk
Sir Robert Palk, 1st Baronet was an English cleric and politician. He is mostly known for his involvement with the British East India Company and his term as governor of the Madras Presidency.-Early life:...
. Mostly demolished in the 1940s, the remaining wing is now the Best Western
Best Western
Best Western International, Inc. is the third largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free...
Lord Haldon Hotel. Also in the parish is Haldon Belvedere, a triangular tower on top of Haldon
Haldon
The Haldon Hills, usually known simply as Haldon, is a ridge of high ground in Devon, England. It is situated between the River Exe and the River Teign and runs northwards from Teignmouth, on the coast, for about until it dwindles away north west of Exeter at the River Yeo, just south of Crediton...
that was built by Palk in 1788 in memory of his friend Stringer Lawrence.
Archie Winckworth, the former owner of Dunchideock House, posted a memoir about the village and its history, including an account of its buried treasure. The cellars of Dunchideock House are fancifully supposed to contain a treacle mine
Treacle mining
Treacle mining is the fictitious mining of treacle in a raw form similar to coal. The subject purports to be serious but is an attempt to test credulity. Thick black treacle makes the deception plausible...
.