civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...

Torridge Torridge may refer to: * Torridge District Torridge is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in north-west Devon, England. Its council is based in the town of Bideford. The district also includes the towns of Great Torringt ...

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

Bideford Bideford ( ) is a historic port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England. It is the main town of the Torridge District, Torridge Districts of England, local government district. Toponymy In ancient records Bi ...

Shebbear Hundred Shebbear Hundred was the name of one of the thirty-two 19th century hundreds of Devon, England. The hundred of Shebbear was organized by the 13th century with many of the parishes of the ancient Domesday hundred of Merton.The

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

of St Mary and St Benedict (Church of England) is part of the

benefice A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...

of the Hartland Coast Team Ministry. This falls within Hartland Deanery, in the

Archdeaconry An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denominations, above that of mo ...

of Barnstaple. This is in the

Diocese of Exeter The Diocese of Exeter is a Church of England diocese covering the county of Devon. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Cathedral Church of St Peter in Exeter is the seat of the diocesan Bishop of Exeter. It is part of the Provinc ...

. The church tower is over 500 years old, with a Norman

stoup A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or other Christian art. It is used in Catholic, as well as many Lutheran and Anglica ...

and doorway. There are monuments to, among others, John William Taylor of

John Taylor & Co John Taylor Bell Foundry (Loughborough) Limited, trading as John Taylor & Co and commonly known as Taylor's Bell Foundry, Taylor's of Loughborough, or simply Taylor's, is the world's largest working bell (instrument), bell foundry. It is locat ...

, the

Loughborough Loughborough ( ) is a market town in the Charnwood (borough), Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England; it is the administrative centre of Charnwood Borough Council. At the United Kingdom 2021 census, the town's built-up area had a popula ...

bellfounder Bellfounding is the casting and tuning of large bronze bells in a foundry for use such as in churches, clock towers and public buildings, either to signify the time or an event, or as a musical carillon or chime. Large bells are made by casting ...

, who was born here. There is also a

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...

chapel in the village.

Services

Butchers shop and Methodist church - geograph

The Butcher's shop closed at the end of 2013. The Coach & Horses Inn is a 13th-century inn and its history is well documented. The village hall is provided for the use of parishioners.

School

Buckland Brewer Community Primary School is a mixed gender, non-denominational school for 5- to 11-year-olds. The school is currently federated with Parkham Primary school with around 90 pupils between them. It is a very small primary school at the centre of the village. The Victorian church school building has been considerably modified and, with a mobile temporary classroom, now provides space for two classes, one for reception and Years 1 and 2, and the other for Years 3 to 6. Most pupils move to

Great Torrington School Great Torrington School is a mixed secondary school located in Great Torrington in the English county of Devon. Previously a foundation school administered by Devon County Council, Great Torrington School was converted to academy status on 1 ...

in Year 7, although some have been known to opt for

Bideford College Bideford College is a mixed secondary school and sixth form in Bideford in the English county of Devon. The principal is Claire Ankers. History It is the only state-funded secondary school in Bideford. On 28 June 2014 the then Secretary of St ...

or one of the local private schools such as Kingsley or Shebbear College. A pre-school operates in the village hall, which caters for the under 5's. There is a close relationship between school and pre-school.

Local transport

A local bus service operated by Stagecoach serves the village, operating to and from

Bradworthy Bradworthy is a village and civil parish in Devon, England, situated north-east of the border with Cornwall. This location has led to it being called the "last village in North Devon" – traveling further west leads to the Cornish village of K ...

,

Bideford Bideford ( ) is a historic port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England. It is the main town of the Torridge District, Torridge Districts of England, local government district. Toponymy In ancient records Bi ...

and

Barnstaple Barnstaple ( or ) is a river-port town and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. The town lies at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool from ...

and other villages.

Sport

Football

The village had a successful football team, Buckland Brewer FC, managed by John Adams. Having formed in 1976, the club is a member of the

North Devon Football League The North Devon Football League is a Association football, football competition based in England, established in 1904. The top division of this league, the Premier Division, operates at level 12 of the English football league system and has bee ...

. The club has won several honours, including: * Division 2 Winners: 2008/9 * Bideford Tool League Cup: 2004/5 * North Devon Challenge Cup Runners Up: 76/7, 94/5, 95/6 * North Devon Intermediate Cup Runners Up: 80/1 * Arlington Cup: 77/8 * Arlington Cup Runners Up: 84/5 * Intermediate II Division Winners: 77/8 The club ran a Youth team from 1996 to 1999, and won the following honours in the North Devon Scaffolding Invitation Youth League: * Under 16 Plate Winners: 98/99 * Under 15 Plate Runners Up: 97/8

Skittles

The village has a skittles club that operates several teams in the

North Devon North Devon is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based just outside Barnstaple, the district's largest town. The district also includes the towns of Ilfracombe, Lynton and Lynmouth and Sout ...

leagues.

Cricket

There is a

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

team in the village. They are not in any league.

Historic estates

Orleigh

Orleigh Court is a

late medieval The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the period of European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period (and in much of Europe, the Renai ...

house built in Buckland Brewer. John Davie bought the building in 1684. It was the birthplace of

John Hanning Speke Captain John Hanning Speke (4 May 1827 – 15 September 1864) was an English explorer and army officer who made three exploratory expeditions to Africa. He is most associated with the search for the source of the Nile and was the first Eu ...

. It was substantially altered in the early 18th century and remodelled after 1869. It was redeveloped for multiple occupancy in the 1980s and is currently divided into approximately twelve apartments.

Vielstone

The estate of Vielstone is the earliest known residence of the influential Stevens family, later of Smythacott in

Frithelstock Frithelstock (pronounced ''Frizzlestock'') is a village, civil parish and former manor in Devon, England. It is located within Torridge local authority area and formed part of the historic Shebbear hundred. The parish is surrounded, clockwise ...

, Winscott House in Peters Marland and Cross, Little Torrington. Henry Stevens (1617 – after 1675) of Vielstone, eldest son and heir of William Stevens of

Great Torrington Great Torrington (often abbreviated to Torrington, though the villages of Little Torrington and Black Torrington are situated in the same region) is a market town in Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to ...

, married Judith Hancock, daughter of John Hancock, lord of the Manor of Combe Martin. Judith Hancock's mural monument survives in the parish church at Great Torrington. In the early 21st century, Vielstone is a modest farmhouse, surrounded by converted farm buildings and new bungalows. It was operated by Atlas Project Team (Holdings) Ltd as a residential home until about 2012 when its standards of care reached unacceptably low levels which resulted in its closure and insolvency. On behalf of the administrator Grant Thornton UK LLP it was offered for sale in 2013 by Webbers estate agents for £900,000, including the outbuildings converted into dwellings, and 6 acres of land.http://webbers.reapit.com/webdetails/TOR130042.PDF

Notable residents

*

Edward Capern Edward Capern (21 January 18195 June 1894), was an English poet, best known for '' The Devonshire Melodist'' and ''Wayside Warbles''. He built up a strong reputation that persisted particularly in his native Devon. Early years Capern was born a ...

, postman-turned-poet, (admired by

Tennyson Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (; 6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was an English poet. He was the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1829, Tennyson was awarded the Chancellor's ...

,

Charles Kingsley Charles Kingsley (12 June 1819 – 23 January 1875) was a broad church priest of the Church of England, a university professor, social reformer, historian, novelist and poet. He is particularly associated with Christian socialism, the workin ...

and

Walter Savage Landor Walter Savage Landor (30 January 177517 September 1864) was an English writer, poet, and activist. His best known works were the prose ''Imaginary Conversations,'' and the poem "Rose Aylmer," but the critical acclaim he received from contempora ...

), lived here in the 19th century *

John Hanning Speke Captain John Hanning Speke (4 May 1827 – 15 September 1864) was an English explorer and army officer who made three exploratory expeditions to Africa. He is most associated with the search for the source of the Nile and was the first Eu ...

, explorer and officer in the British Indian Army, was born here in 1827. He is most famous for his three exploratory expeditions into Africa in search for the source of the Nile. He was the first European to reach

Lake Victoria Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. With a surface area of approximately , Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake by area, the world's largest tropics, tropical lake, and the world's second-largest fresh water lake by surface are ...

, which he named after the Queen. * John Davie, merchant *The

bellfounder Bellfounding is the casting and tuning of large bronze bells in a foundry for use such as in churches, clock towers and public buildings, either to signify the time or an event, or as a musical carillon or chime. Large bells are made by casting ...

John William Taylor (1827–1906) of

John Taylor & Co John Taylor Bell Foundry (Loughborough) Limited, trading as John Taylor & Co and commonly known as Taylor's Bell Foundry, Taylor's of Loughborough, or simply Taylor's, is the world's largest working bell (instrument), bell foundry. It is locat ...

was born here.

References

External links

Buckland Brewer community website
{{authority control Villages in Devon Torridge District