Lew Trenchard
Encyclopedia
Lew Trenchard is a parish and village in west Devon, England. Most of the larger village of Lewdown is in the parish. In Domesday Book a manor of Lew is recorded in this area and two rivers have the same name: see River Lew
. Trenchard comes from the lords of the manor in the 13th century. The A30 runs through Lewdown towards Launceston.
who resided there for many years. In 1880 he had inherited the family estates of Lew Trenchard, which comprised 3,000 acres (12 km²), and the gift of the living of Lew Trenchard parish. He was already in holy orders, so when the living became vacant in 1881, he was able to appoint himself to it, becoming parson
as well as squire
. He did a great deal of work restoring St. Peter’s Church, and his home Lew House which has been preserved as he rebuilt it and is now a hotel.
by the parson as part of his programme of restoration
). There is a painting of the Adoration of the Magi by the mediocre artist (Melchior-)Paul von Deschwanden (another copy is at Fribourg). The rood screen is impressive and was designed to resemble the one installed in 1523-24: it is adorned by 23 paintings, 11 of the life of Jesus
and 12 of Westcountry saints, and was completed in 1915.
states that in 825 (adjusted date) a battle was fought involving the "West Welsh" and the "Defnas". it states:- "The Westwealas (Cornish) and the Defnas (men of Devon) fought at Gafulforda". However, there is no mention of who won or who lost, whether the men of Cornwall and Devon were fighting each other or on the same side, and no mention of Egbert of Wessex
. Gafulforda is thought to be Galford
on the banks of the River Lew, the name Galford is thought to be celtic in origin (Gafi a holdfast, and ffordd a road), though some translations render it as Camelford
, some 60 km further west.
, West Country
comedian
, resides in Lewdown.
River Lew
The River Lew can refer to either of two short rivers that lie close to each other in Devon, England.The more northerly of the two rises just south of the village of Beaworthy, and flows east, then turns north to run past Hatherleigh before joining the River Torridge about 1 km north of the town...
. Trenchard comes from the lords of the manor in the 13th century. The A30 runs through Lewdown towards Launceston.
Lew House
Lew House (or Lewtrenchard Manor) was built in the early 17th century (a datestone says 1620) but was altered considerably by the Victorian squire and parson Sabine Baring-GouldSabine Baring-Gould
The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould was an English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications, though this list continues to grow. His family home, Lew Trenchard Manor near Okehampton, Devon, has been preserved as he had it...
who resided there for many years. In 1880 he had inherited the family estates of Lew Trenchard, which comprised 3,000 acres (12 km²), and the gift of the living of Lew Trenchard parish. He was already in holy orders, so when the living became vacant in 1881, he was able to appoint himself to it, becoming parson
Parson
In the pre-Reformation church, a parson was the priest of an independent parish church, that is, a parish church not under the control of a larger ecclesiastical or monastic organization...
as well as squire
Squire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
. He did a great deal of work restoring St. Peter’s Church, and his home Lew House which has been preserved as he rebuilt it and is now a hotel.
Parish Church
The Parish Church of St Peter (originally dedicated to St Petroc) is not of great architectural interest: the upper part of the tower is of granite ashlar and there is a fine series of benchends similar to those found in Cornish churches. There are monuments of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries to many Goulds and Baring-Goulds, including that of Beatrice Gracieuse Baring-Gould (d. 1876), 1879, by Knittel of Fribourg (many of the earlier ones were moved here from StavertonStaverton, Devon
Staverton is a village and civil parish in the South Hams of Devon, England consisting 297 households and a population of 717 .The village has one pub/inn called 'The Sea Trout' which is located in the heart of the village....
by the parson as part of his programme of restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
). There is a painting of the Adoration of the Magi by the mediocre artist (Melchior-)Paul von Deschwanden (another copy is at Fribourg). The rood screen is impressive and was designed to resemble the one installed in 1523-24: it is adorned by 23 paintings, 11 of the life of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and 12 of Westcountry saints, and was completed in 1915.
Battle of Gafulford
Galford near Lewdown is assumed to be the site of the Battle of Gafulford in the 9th century. The Anglo-Saxon ChronicleAnglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
states that in 825 (adjusted date) a battle was fought involving the "West Welsh" and the "Defnas". it states:- "The Westwealas (Cornish) and the Defnas (men of Devon) fought at Gafulforda". However, there is no mention of who won or who lost, whether the men of Cornwall and Devon were fighting each other or on the same side, and no mention of Egbert of Wessex
Egbert of Wessex
Egbert was King of Wessex from 802 until his death in 839. His father was Ealhmund of Kent...
. Gafulforda is thought to be Galford
Galford
Galford can refer to:* Galford, a place near Lewdown in Devon, England, the site of a battle between Cornish and Devonian forces in the early 9th century...
on the banks of the River Lew, the name Galford is thought to be celtic in origin (Gafi a holdfast, and ffordd a road), though some translations render it as Camelford
Camelford
Camelford is a town and civil parish in north Cornwall, United Kingdom, situated in the River Camel valley northwest of Bodmin Moor. The town is approximately ten miles north of Bodmin and is governed by Camelford Town Council....
, some 60 km further west.
Notable residents
JethroJethro (comedian)
Jethro is the stage name of British stand-up comedian Geoffrey Rowe, based in Lewdown in Devon. Rowe was born in 1948 in St Buryan, a village in west Cornwall....
, West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, resides in Lewdown.