Heavitree

Heavitree
Devon
The Heavitree pub in Fore Street, Heavitree
Location
Grid reference:	SX938923
Location:	50°43’17"N, 3°30’20"W
Data
Local Government

Heavitree is a historic village and parish to the west of Exeter city centre: formerly a village of itself, it is now an eastern suburb of the city. Before being swallowed, Heavitree was the first significant village outside the city on the road to London. It was the birthplace of Thomas Bodley, and Richard Hooker, and until 1818 was a site for executions.

The village's main thoroughfare is Fore Street, a shopping street which rises sharply to the former execution site of Livery Dole, now marked by almshouses and a small mediæval chapel built of red Heavitree stone. From here, Heavitree Road runs downhill to Exeter city centre, passing St Luke's Hall, part of the University of Exeter, left. Heavitree is also the location of the Royal Devon and Exeter Heavitree Hospital.

Heavitree stone is a type of red sandstone that was formerly quarried in the area and was used to construct many of Exeter's older buildings, including Exeter Guildhall.

Name

The name of the village appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Hevetrowa or Hevetrove, and in a document of c.1130 as Hefatriwe. Its derivation appears to be from the Old English Heafodtreow, meaning "Head-tree. The reason for this name is now known, though because of the known execution site at Livery Dole, it is thought likely, according to local accounts, to refer to a tree on which the heads of criminals were placed, or as a kenning for 'gallows. An alternative explanation put forward by W. G. Hoskins is that it was a meeting place for the Hundred Court.

History

The last executions for witchcraft in England took place at Heavitree in 1682, when the "Bideford Witches", Temperance Lloyd, Mary Trembles, and Susanna Edwards, were hanged. The last execution to take place here was in 1818, when Samuel Holmyard was hanged at the Magdalen Drop for passing a forged one pound note.

In the hundred years from 1801 to 1901, the population of Heavitree grew from 833 to 7,529, reflecting its assimilation into the expanding city of Exeter. It was placed under the city's municipal jurisdiction in 1913.

The church of St Michael and All Angels

The expanding population necessitated the rebuilding of the small mediæval church and the church of St Michael and All Angels was built in 1844–46 to the design of architect David Mackintosh. Its most imposing feature is the west tower, built in 1890 to the design of E. Harbottle. In 2002, a yew tree in the churchyard was included among the "50 Great British Trees" to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. However, it is unlikely that this is the actual tree from which Heavitree gets its name.

The Heavitree Brewery was a local brewer, located in Heavitree; its history can be traced back to 1790. It was the last brewery in Exeter to cease production, continuing until 1970, the brewery buildings were demolished in 1980. The name continues in use as the owner of a chain of pubs in West Country, and Heavitree Brewery PLC continues as a quoted company with its address in Exeter. There is also a linked charitable trust.

Recreation

Heavitree Pleasure Ground

By 1905 there was pressure to provide facilities for the youth of the district who were causing problems in Fore Street in the evenings, so at the end of that year the urban district council purchased four fields from a builder for £3,100 and opened a children's playground on 1 May 1906. The rest of the grounds were landscaped by the Veitch family, and a bowling green and tennis courts followed in 1907. Heavitree Pleasure Ground is still open today and contains a number of leisure facilities.

• Football: Heavitree Social United (a merger of the previous Heavitree United and Heavitree Social Club)

References

• Falla, Trevor (1983). Discovering Exeter 3: Heavitree. Exeter: Exeter Civic Society.