Origin of Morchard Bishop
Morchard’s name reflects its long history; originally called ‘Morchet’ from the Celtic words ‘mor’ [big/great] and ‘coed’ [wood]. Centuries later it was sold to the Bishop of Exeter giving rise to the name Morchet Episcopi, which became Bishop’s Morchard and relatively recently Morchard Bishop. The majority of the village remained under the ownership of the Bishop of Exeter until 1908 when Tatepath Farm, The London Inn (then known as the London Hotel), 49 houses/cottages and various parcels of land were auctioned off.
The earliest evidence of settlement
Excavations have revealed the earliest evidence of settlement in the area in the form of a Celtic site at Rudge, west of the village. Pottery from this site was found to be nearly 2,000 years old. Anglo-Saxons settled in the area after 661AD following their successful routing of the hill fort at nearby Posbury.
The Morchard landscape
Morchard is situated in the heart of Devon between Dartmoor and Exmoor , almost midway between the north and south coasts. It is surrounded by unspoilt hilly farmland comprised of a multitude of fields separated by ancient Devon banks.
Industry in Morchard
This division of the landscape originates from the C14 th and C15 th land enclosures that led to the creation of many small (primarily dairy) farms and small hamlets. This produced a class of landless labourers who were dependent on wages. Weaving developed later, bringing greater prosperity to the village by the late C18 th / early C19 th. The female members of households also undertook dress and lace making. By this time Morchard had developed a high degree of self-sufficiency evidenced by the wide variety of tradesmen who had developed in the village.
Decline of Industry
The woollen industry subsequently declined, mainly as a result of the loss of access to the continental markets because of hostilities with France . In addition, the mechanisation of the Honiton Lace industry drastically reduced the extent of local production. Added to this, a rapidly expanding population all led to increased ‘poor relief’, with many children being apprenticed to farms and also to the heads of wealthier families. The construction of new roads and the railway in the mid C19 th diverted traffic that previously travelled through the village on what was originally the Saxon route between Barnstaple and Exeter . These factors all contributed to a decline in the fortunes of the village.
Population
The population of Morchard Bishop currently stands at around 1,000; a significant fall from the 1,854 recorded some 150 years previously in 1851. Both figures contrast markedly from the figure of 780 in 1961. The additional housing stock available in later years coupled with the lower population figures has caused a dramatic fall in the average number of people living in each household. In 1750 the average number of people living in each house was 8.9; this figure had fallen to 2.7 some 220 years later.
Architecture
Like many local villages, Morchard has a rich architectural history reflecting the economic and social changes experienced since medieval times. The earliest surviving building in the parish is believed to be Rudge, situated in the south west of the parish. Despite appearing to be a fine C19 th house, Rudge actually dates to around 1380.
Heritage Landmarks
The Church
The church (The Church of St Mary the Virgin) is the most prominent building in Morchard. The present fine building probably dates to the late C15 th but was significantly altered in C18th and C19th . The site, the highest point in the village, had previously been occupied by a church or oratory, perhaps since Saxon times. Perhaps uniquely, a meteorite struck the church tower in 1952, causing some structural damage.
Fore Street
The row of C18th cottages on the east side of Fore Street is the longest row of thatched cottages in Devon , possibly the West Country. Previously the cottages have housed a variety of shops/trades but are now all private houses.
Morchard School
Schooling in Morchard can be traced back to 1733 and the founding of what became known as the ‘ Blue School ‘. The present school was established in 1872 on glebe land and was initially known as the National School . The school has been twice extended in recent years and is now a thriving Voluntary aided C of E Primary School. The most famous ‘old boy’ is Ernest Bevin, who attended the school in 1889.
Memorial Hall
The Memorial Hall was built between 1931-1932 although the decision to build it was taken some years earlier following the end of WWI. It was originally built to benefit ex-servicemen and also for the use of village organisations and was the envy of adjoining parishes when it opened. Prior to the building of the Memorial Hall, most of the village functions were held in the Reading Room in Fore Street , now part of Beggars Roost.
London Inn
As its name reveals, the London Inn was originally a coaching inn and was sited on the old coaching route between Barnstaple and London . The inn dates back to C16 th and for many years has been the only remaining public house in the village; it has an excellent reputation for its food and fine ales.
Barton House
The Churchill family, which was headed by the Earl of Portsmouth, built Barton House in the 1830s. The family also lived at Eggesford House and at Hartsbourn in Hampshire. The family owned a great deal of land locally, most of which was auctioned off in 1939. The Army commandeered the house for the duration of WWII and after this it housed several homeless families. The house was subsequently unoccupied before it was acquired and restored by Mr and Mrs Yendell (Snr).
War Memorial
The Earl of Portsmouth unveiled the War Memorial on 11 July 1920 to commemorate the 24 local men who did not return from ‘The Great War’. The memorial later incorporated an inscription in memory of the local
servicemen who died on active service in WWII. Nearby can be found the recent memorial to the 13 men who died when their two Halifax bombers collided and crashed in the Morchard area in 1944.
Beech Hill House
Beech Hill House was originally built in 1707, before being restored in 1810, and then extensively remodelled in 1896. Rev. Charles Comyns Tucker previously owned the property; he was Lord of the Manor and Rector of Washford Pyne with the hamlets of Higher and Lower Black Dog. Since 1983 Beech Hill has been the home of a community of people who se objectives are environmental/ecological who are well integrated into many activities in the village.
The Methodist Chapel
The Emanuel Chapel was built in 1846 however ‘non-conformity’ has been recorded in Morchard as early as 1811 when Agnes Greenslade’s house was licensed as meeting place for Wesleyans. In the late 1920s the caretaker’s cottage adjacent to the chapel was demolished to allow the Sunday School Room to be built.