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High Bickington Parish Appraisal 1992

Looking back - Before we look FORWARD

A History of High Bickington

High Bickington has its origins in the Saxon period or earlier - that is, well over 1000 years ago. The manor of High Bickington is referred to in the Domesday Book (1086) as 'Bichentone'. It belonged to the king and supported 16 plough teams - a definite indication that a village of some size had already become established here.

Over the centuries the village, sustained by the farmland, woods and water resources of the parish, developed into a mainly self-sufficient community.

The market at Torrington would have provided the goods that could not have been produced locally, as well as an opportunity to sell surplus farm produce. This was said to be "an excellent market for meat, poultry, butter, eggs, etc, which for quality cannot be surpassed by any town in Devon". (Billings Directory and Gazetter of the County of Devon, 1857).

This same basic pattern of self-sufficiency persisted until well into Victorian times. Industrially-made goods then started to replace local products. Changes in agriculture, too (imported grain and meat, mechanisation, etc.) led to a decline in the labour needs of the farmers and thus to an exodus of people from the villages to the towns. Emigration to America, Canada and Australia took place from 1850 onwards, with many leaving via the Port of Bideford and from Bristol.

The population of high Bickington rose from 693 in 1801 to a peak of 851 fifty years later. By 1901 it had fallen again to 539 and continued to decline until the 1950's (410) from which point it has risen again to an estimated population of 561 in 1991. (Est. 650 in 2000)

The First World War finally destroyed the older order, not only by taking away the young men of the village but also by opening up the village to the ways of the wider world.

Before we start to analyse the state of the parish in 1992, it is fascinating to look at the way things were about 100 years ago. A detailed picture of the parish at this time can be drawn from two sources: Kellys Directory of Devon (1889) and the 1891 Census.

POPULATION

In 1891 there were 583 people in the parish (288 males, 295 females) living in 124 houses (an average of 4.7 persons in each household). There were also 25 uninhabited houses - a clear indication of the loss of population since the mid 19th century.

FARMING

The chief landowners were the Pincombe Trust (lords of the Manor) and Robert Penny Esq. of Nethergrove. Other landowners were: Thomas Pettle, Henry Mallet Veale, W. Pincombe, J.G. Thorne and George Webber of Burrington.

There were 35 tenant farmers (including such well-known local names as Down, Pidler, Squire, Tucker and Woollacott). With 24 agricultural labourers, 2 cattle dealers, a miller (Richard Pidler at Pully Mills), a veterinary surgeon and a gamekeeper. This completed the list of those directly connected with farming.

TRADES and PROFESSIONS

One hundred years ago the village supported 5 carpenters (2 of whom, Messers. Pidler and Tanton, were also wheelwrights). The 3 stonemasons included one called Gooding. One of the 2 blacksmiths was a Beer, while the other, William Heaman, was also a grocer. (One trusts he washed his hands between jobs!). A thatcher (Clarke) and a sawyer (Symons) were other 'outside' tradesmen.

On the domestic front, there were 3 butchers and 3 grocers. In addition, there were 2 general shopkeepers including one Henry Gooding, descrobed in the Census as "draper, grocer and seed merchant".

Two dressmakers, a tailor and 2 glovers took care of peoples clothing needs, and there were 3 shoemakers, one of whom, William Richards, also ran the Post Office. He seems to have been following a tradition - the 1857 Directory notes that "letters are left at Mr W. Davey's, shoemaker; an extra penny is paid on all letters delivered out of the village".

EDUCATION

The National Endowed School (mixed) had been built in 1856 and enlarged in 1874. It held 135 children, although the average attendance in 1889 was 80. William Ham was the Master and Mrs Harriett Binding the sewing mistress (Mr Binding was the Parish Clerk). The school had an annual endowment of £50 from the Pincombe Trust "for education in this school in the principles of the established church".

RELIGION

Religious life revolved around St Mary's and the Methodist and Plymouth Brethren Chapels. The Rector was rev. Edmond Rochfort Yerburgh MA, who lived at the Rectory (now Beechwood House) "a substantial modern residence, with well wooded grounds, situated on an eminence overlooking the Taw Valley" (Kelly's Directory 1889). (Recently advertised for sale c.£400,00. Still a magnificent property even though the grounds are not so extensive, or wooded as they were in 1889)

TRANSPORT

The North Devon branch railway was no doubt an important means of travel in the 1890's - an alternative to the bumpy roads (No change here then), and horse-drawn carts and carriages. Five railway workers lived in the parish - a signalman, a platelayer, a quarryman and 2 labourers. There were also 2 road contractors.

PUBLIC HOUSES

The Golden Lion in 1889 was run by George Tucker, who in the 1891 Census described himself as maltster and cattle dealer.

The Black Horse was run by Nathaniel tucker who was a farmer and cattle dealer.

At the Ebberley Arms was Josiah Miller, also a cattle dealer.