High Bickington
Encyclopedia
High Bickington is a small rural village (population approximately 700 people) in Devon
, England. It is set in the picturesque North Devon landscape, between Exmoor
, Dartmoor
and Bodmin moor
. The village is situated some 9 miles from Barnstaple
, 10 miles from South Molton
, 8 miles from Great Torrington
and 33 miles from Exeter
.
The village is situated on the valley top, almost 600 feet, 190M above sea level, overlooking the river Taw valley, and has spectacular unbroken views across the valley towards Exmoor.
of 1086. Before the Norman Conquest, the manor belonged to a Saxon nobleman, Britric, nicknamed Meau ('the fair'), who also held rights to the land revenues of Gloucester and extensive estates in the West Country. He spurned the advances of Matilda
, the Duke of Flanders' daughter, who later as Queen of England imprisoned Britric and eventually had him put to death. All his lands passed to her, including Bichentona, Clovelly
, Bideford
, Winkleigh
and Tiverton. The lands were later inherited by Matilda's son, William Rufus, who became William II of England
).
William gave Bichentona to Robert Fitzhamon
whose daughter was later married to Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
, illegitimate son of Henry I.
At around 1150 the manor of High Bickington came into the possession of the Champernownes of Umberleigh. Lady Joan Champernowne gave some of the lands to the Lodges family. Hugh de Loges held the manor of Buckington Loges during the reign of King John, (1199-1261). This was later inherited by William Boyes in 1364, although by this time the lands around the village had been divided between several others including Holt, Clavil, Snape, Stowford, Corpsland, Burvet and Wotton, whose names still survive today in hamlet, farm and field names around the parish.
From about 1400 onwards, owners were selling off parcels of land. The Church manor of Corpsiland, south of the present village high street, and included the property still known as Parsonage, was held by the parson up until 1800. The Bassetts of Umberleigh inherited lands from the Champernownes while the Pyncombes of North Molton acquired large areas around the Parish from around 1500 onwards. The last of them, Mrs Gertrude Pyncombe, in her will of 20 January 1730, founded a charitable educational trust from which grants are still made to local children.
The population of the Parish/village was given as 17 families, around a hundred people, at the time of the Domesday Book, this rose to a peak of 851 people in 1851. By 1901 this had fallen to 539 and continued to fall until the 1950s to around 410. Since this time the population has steadily risen as a result of recent development, now stands near its 1801 level.
Agriculture has always been and still is the main industry in the Parish. In times gone by the village was almost self-sufficient for its needs, but in modern times with the advent of the motor car most business now takes place away from the village in local towns such as Barnstaple, Bideford, Torrington and South Molton. The village still retains a Post Office, Shop, Doctors Surgery, School, golf course and two Public Houses.
The village is also served by mobile services for fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and of course the council library service. Most other services can be found in and around the village, such as builders, carpenters, painter/decorators, plumbers etc. The village has a football team, cricket team and various pub-sport teams.
High Bickington still remains largely unspoilt and retains much of the character of an isolated rural country village, including many thatched cottages, cobbled pavements and narrow streets which along with the peace and quiet of the area can easily give the visitor an impression of life over the last few centuries.
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 is set in the picturesque North Devon landscape, between Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
, Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
and Bodmin moor
Bodmin Moor
Bodmin Moor is a granite moorland in northeastern Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is in size, and originally dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history....
. The village is situated some 9 miles from Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
, 10 miles from South Molton
South Molton
"Molton" redirects here. Or see Molten or Moulton.South Molton is a small town in Devon, England. It is part of the North Devon local government district. The town is on the River Mole. According to the 2001 census the civil parish of South Molton had a population of 4,093.The town was one of...
, 8 miles from Great Torrington
Great Torrington
Great Torrington is a small market town in the north of Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to the River Torridge below...
and 33 miles from 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...
.
The village is situated on the valley top, almost 600 feet, 190M above sea level, overlooking the river Taw valley, and has spectacular unbroken views across the valley towards Exmoor.
History
With its origins in Saxon times (around 650), or earlier, the manor of High Bickington is referred to as 'Bichentone' in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086. Before the Norman Conquest, the manor belonged to a Saxon nobleman, Britric, nicknamed Meau ('the fair'), who also held rights to the land revenues of Gloucester and extensive estates in the West Country. He spurned the advances of Matilda
Matilda
-People:* Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England* Matilda , list of people named Matilda* Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror* Matilda of Tuscany-Media and entertainment:* Matilda , by Roald Dahl...
, the Duke of Flanders' daughter, who later as Queen of England imprisoned Britric and eventually had him put to death. All his lands passed to her, including Bichentona, Clovelly
Clovelly
Clovelly is a village in the Torridge district of Devon, England. It is a major tourist attraction, famous for its history and beauty, its extremely steep car-free cobbled main street, donkeys, and its location looking out over the Bristol Channel. Thick woods shelter it and render the climate so...
, Bideford
Bideford
Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
, Winkleigh
Winkleigh
Winkleigh is a small village in Devon, England. It is best known outside Devon as the birthplace of Inch's Cider. Inch's Cider was bought by Bulmer's, who then closed the plant down...
and Tiverton. The lands were later inherited by Matilda's son, William Rufus, who became William II of England
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
).
William gave Bichentona to Robert Fitzhamon
Robert Fitzhamon
Robert Fitzhamon , or Robert FitzHamon, Sieur de Creully in the Calvados region and Torigny in the Manche region of Normandy, was Lord of Gloucester and the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan, southern Wales...
whose daughter was later married to Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert Fitzroy, 1st Earl of Gloucester was an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England. He was called "Rufus" and occasionally "de Caen", he is also known as Robert "the Consul"...
, illegitimate son of Henry I.
At around 1150 the manor of High Bickington came into the possession of the Champernownes of Umberleigh. Lady Joan Champernowne gave some of the lands to the Lodges family. Hugh de Loges held the manor of Buckington Loges during the reign of King John, (1199-1261). This was later inherited by William Boyes in 1364, although by this time the lands around the village had been divided between several others including Holt, Clavil, Snape, Stowford, Corpsland, Burvet and Wotton, whose names still survive today in hamlet, farm and field names around the parish.
From about 1400 onwards, owners were selling off parcels of land. The Church manor of Corpsiland, south of the present village high street, and included the property still known as Parsonage, was held by the parson up until 1800. The Bassetts of Umberleigh inherited lands from the Champernownes while the Pyncombes of North Molton acquired large areas around the Parish from around 1500 onwards. The last of them, Mrs Gertrude Pyncombe, in her will of 20 January 1730, founded a charitable educational trust from which grants are still made to local children.
The population of the Parish/village was given as 17 families, around a hundred people, at the time of the Domesday Book, this rose to a peak of 851 people in 1851. By 1901 this had fallen to 539 and continued to fall until the 1950s to around 410. Since this time the population has steadily risen as a result of recent development, now stands near its 1801 level.
Agriculture has always been and still is the main industry in the Parish. In times gone by the village was almost self-sufficient for its needs, but in modern times with the advent of the motor car most business now takes place away from the village in local towns such as Barnstaple, Bideford, Torrington and South Molton. The village still retains a Post Office, Shop, Doctors Surgery, School, golf course and two Public Houses.
The village is also served by mobile services for fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and of course the council library service. Most other services can be found in and around the village, such as builders, carpenters, painter/decorators, plumbers etc. The village has a football team, cricket team and various pub-sport teams.
High Bickington still remains largely unspoilt and retains much of the character of an isolated rural country village, including many thatched cottages, cobbled pavements and narrow streets which along with the peace and quiet of the area can easily give the visitor an impression of life over the last few centuries.