Hemyock
| Hemyock | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 The village pump in Hemyock | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST137132 |
| Location: | 50°54’45"N, 3°13’43"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Cullompton |
| Postcode: | EX15 |
| Local Government | |
Hemyock is a village in eastern Devon, about eight miles north-west of Honiton and five miles south of the Somerset town of Wellington. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,519, in a parish with an area of about 5,807 acres.
The village stands within the Blackdown Hills, with the River Culm flowing through it.
Hemyock remains a viable village, with a school, medical facilities, one garage, two hairdressers, one public house, one convenience store, one Post Office & store, two playing fields, a Parish Hall, a community centre and two churches.
This was the birthplace of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs. The first Young Culm Farmers Club in England began here in 1921, and it continues to prosper as the Culm Valley Young Farmers Club.
About the village
Hemyock is the largest village on the Blackdown Hills, in the north-west part of the hill, close by the border with Somerset ot the north. Around it, on the Devon side, are such villages as Clayhidon, Dunkeswell, Uffculme and Culmstock.[1]
Hemyock is a typical upland settlement consisting of a central village surrounded by a number of hamlets (incluidng Culm Davey, Millhayes, Simonsburrow, Ashculme, Tedburrow, Madford and Mountshayne). From the 16th century to the early 19th century much of the parish's wealth came from the production of wool. The population remained fairly constant throughout the 19th century, and until the end of the Second World War. Since then a number of housing estates have been built, and the population has increased to 1,519.
History
The village has a very long history and some prehistoric remains may be found, from about 100 BC to well beyond. In the Middle Ages local iron ores were smelted in small bloomeries (furnaces) to produce pure iron.[2] In Saxon times a battle was fought at Simonsburrow between the native Britons and King Ime's Saxon army, which put an end (temporarily) to the King's expansion to the west.
Hemyock Hundred
Hemyock is the head of the Hemyock Hundred of Devonshire. The Domesday Book records that the Hemyock Hundred consisted at that time of the manors of: Awliscombe, Bolham Water, Bywood, Churchstanton (Somerset), Clayhidon, Culm Davy, Culm Pyne, Culmstock, Dunkeswell, Gorewell, Hemyock, Hole, Ivedon, Mackham, Weston.
Hemyock Castle
- Main article: Hemyock Castle
On 5 November 1380, King Richard II granted Sir William and Lady Margaret Asthorpe a licence to crenellate the Hemyock manor house; meaning the permission to fortify it.[3] Hemyock Castle has many similarities with the much better known Bodiam Castle, granted the licence to crenellate in 1385. Over the centuries, Hemyock Castle had many notable owners including Lord Chief Justice Sir John Popham and General Sir John Graves Simcoe the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada in 1792. Sir John is buried at Wolford Chapel near Dunkeswell, which chapel is now owned by the Province of Ontario.
During the Civil War, the castle was held for Parliament, subjected to a brief but brutal siege and eventually slighted to destroy its military value. Parts of the castle walls, towers and moat still remain. They are a scheduled ancient monument. The castle site is privately owned: Visits can be arranged for groups; there are also public open days.
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Churches
St Mary's parish church is next to Hemyock Castle, on the other side of St Margaret's Brook. The Baptist Church is at the top of Station Road.
Industry
The first mechanically operated butter factory in the West Country was started at Mountshayne in 1886 by four local farmers. This became part of St Ivel, and the St Ivel dairy processing plant was where the butter-spreads 'St Ivel Gold' and 'Utterly-Butterly' were produced before production moved away from Devon.
The St Ivel site was closed in the 1990s and has been re-developed for housing.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Hemyock) |
References
- ↑ "Map of Devon Parishes". Devon County Council. http://www.devon.gov.uk/devon_districts_2002_.pdf. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ↑ "History of Hemyock". Hemyock web site. http://hemyock.org/staticpages/index.php/20070119221551294. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ↑ "Licence to Crenellate Hemyock". Hemyock Castle. http://www.hemyockcastle.co.uk/licence.htm. Retrieved 15 September 2008.