Cockington Village Church.
Set in the beautiful grounds of Cockington Court there has been a church on the ground where the present church stands from Saxon times. The original place of worship was a chapel thought to have been built by William de Falesia a Norman who had many areas of Devon and Somerset given to him after the Conquest of 1066.
The main structure
The first part of the church to be built was the Chancel in c.1069 followed by the castellated tower built in the Romanesque style in c.1236. in 1297 part of the northern isle was added which was further extended c.1400 along with the construction of the west porch parvise. Then prior to 1780 the chancel was added.
The tower stands 66 feet tall and with walls 6 feet thick in places. There are three floors which are believed to have been the accommodation for the priest in residence who would have been provided by the Canons at Torre Abbey. There is a fire place and drain in the first floor floor room (now the bell ringing chamber) which further support this theory.
There is also evidence of it being not just a church tower but a place of refuge from local pirates. By the front door there is an oak beam 6 feet 4 inches long that can be slid across when the door is closed to prevent any attempt to charge down the door and the walls of the tower contain several arrow slits.
www.cockingtonchurch.org/history .
Cockington Village Church.
Set in the beautiful grounds of Cockington Court there has been a church on the ground where the present church stands from Saxon times. The original place of worship was a chapel thought to have been built by William de Falesia a Norman who had many areas of Devon and Somerset given to him after the Conquest of 1066.
The main structure
The first part of the church to be built was the Chancel in c.1069 followed by the castellated tower built in the Romanesque style in c.1236. in 1297 part of the northern isle was added which was further extended c.1400 along with the construction of the west porch parvise. Then prior to 1780 the chancel was added.
The tower stands 66 feet tall and with walls 6 feet thick in places. There are three floors which are believed to have been the accommodation for the priest in residence who would have been provided by the Canons at Torre Abbey. There is a fire place and drain in the first floor floor room (now the bell ringing chamber) which further support this theory.
There is also evidence of it being not just a church tower but a place of refuge from local pirates. By the front door there is an oak beam 6 feet 4 inches long that can be slid across when the door is closed to prevent any attempt to charge down the door and the walls of the tower contain several arrow slits.
www.cockingtonchurch.org/history .