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| 1. Index | 9. Environment |
| 2. Background | 10. Services |
| 3. Map | 11. Transport |
| 4. History of High Bickington | 12. Information |
| 5. Trades and Professions | 13. Religion |
| 6. People | 14. Amenities |
| 7. Housing | 15. Sport & Leisure |
| 8. Education | 16. Local Government |
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THE BACKGROUND In June 1992 a total of 226 Appraisal questionnaires were distributed one to every household in the Parish. In addition, households which included children under 11 years were offered a Children's questionnaire for each child to complete. These were collected during the following weeks. No fewer than 171 households -- a splendid 75 per cent! -- returned their questionnaires and 25 children returned theirs. The questionnaires were then analysed and this Summary is being circulated to every household in the Parish.. Copies will also be sent to the Parish Council, Torridge District Council, Devon County Council and other interested parties. A complete list of individual comments and the full statistics are available through the Parish Clerk. We hope that having obtained the views of High Bickington parishioners on a wide range of local matters, this Appraisal will help to bring about improvements and so enhance our everyday lives.
0UR grateful thanks to the many people who have helped with this Appraisal Particularly to:-- Thanks also to Greg and Linda Cannon for allowing the collection box in their shop and to High Bickington Parish Council and the Community Council of Devon for their financial support.
Last and not least, thanks to everyone in the Parish who completed and returned their questionnaires.
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LOOKING BACK -- BEFORE WE LOOK FORWARD A HISTORY OF HIGH BICKINGTON High Bickington has its origins in the Saxon period or earlier -- that is, well over 1000 years ago. The manor of High Bickington is referred to in the Domesday Book (1086) as "Bichentone". It belonged to the King and supported 16 plough teams -- a definite indication that a village of some size had already become established here. Over the centuries the village, sustained by the farmland, woods and water resources of the parish, developed into a mainly self-sufficient community. The market at Torrington would have provided the goods that could not have been produced locally, as well as an opportunity to sell surplus farm produce. This was said to be "an excellent market for meat, poultry, butter, eggs, etc., which for quality cannot be surpassed by any town in Devon". (Billing's Directory and Gazetteer of the County of Devon, 1857) This same basic pattern of self-sufficiency persisted until well into Victorian times. Industrially-made goods then started to replace local products. Changes in agriculture, too (imported grain and meat, mechanisation, etc.) led to a decline in the labour needs of the farmers and thus to an exodus of people from the villages to the towns. Emigration to America, Canada and Australia took place from 1850 onwards, with many leaving via the Port of Bideford or from Bristol. The population of High Bickington rose from 693 in 1801 to a peak of 851 fifty years later. By 1901 it had fallen again to 539 and continued to decline until the 1950's (410) from which point it has risen again to an estimated population of 561 in 1991. The First World War finally destroyed the old order, not only by taking away the young men of the village but also by opening up the village to the ways of the wider world. Before we start to analyse the state of the Parish in 1992, it is fascinating to look at the way things were about 100 years ago. A detailed picture of the Parish at this time can be drawn from two sources: Kelly's Directory of Devon (1889) and the 1891 Census. POPULATION In 1891 there were 583 people in the Parish (288 males, 295 females) living in 124 houses (an average of 4.7 persons in each household). There were also 25 uninhabited houses -- a clear indication of the loss of population since the mid-19th century. FARMING The chief landowners were the Pincombe Trust (lords of the Manor) and Robert Penny, Esq. of Nethergrove. Other landowners were: Thomas Pettle, Henry Mallet Veale, W. Pincombe, J.G. Thorne and George Webber of Burrington. There were 35 tenant farmers (including such well-known local names as Down, Pidler, Squire, Tucker and Woollacott). With 24 agricultural labourers, 2 cattle dealers, a miller (Richard Pidler at Pully Mills), a veterinary surgeon and a gamekeeper this completed the list of those directly connected with farming.
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TRADES and PROFESSIONS One hundred years ago the village supported 5 carpenters (2 of whom, Messrs. Pidler and Tanton, were also wheelwrights). The 3 stonemasons included one called Gooding. One of the 2 blacksmiths was a Beer, while the other, William Heaman, was also a grocer. (One trusts he washed his hands between one, job and the next!). A thatcher (Clarke) and a sawyer (Symons) were other "outside" tradesmen. On the domestic front there were 3 butchers and 3 grocers. In addition, there were 2 general shopkeepers including one Henry Gooding described in the Census as "draper, grocer and seed merchant". Two dressmakers, a tailor and 2 glovers took care of people's clothing needs, and there were 3 shoemakers, one of whom William Richards also ran the Post Office. He seems to have been following a tradition -- the 1857 Directory notes that "letters are left at Mr. W. Davey's, shoemaker: an extra penny is paid on all letters delivered out of the village". EDUCATION The National Endowed School (mixed) had been built in 1856 and enlarged in 1874. It held 135 children, although the average attendance in 1889 was 80. William Ham was the Master and Mrs. Harriett Binding the sewing mistress (Mr. Binding was the Parish Clerk). The school had an annual endowment of £50 from the Pincombe Trust "for education in this school in the principles of the established church". RELIGION TRANSPORT The North Devon branch railway was no doubt an important means of travel in the 1890's -- an alternative to the bumpy roads and horse-drawn carts and carriages. Five railway workers lived in the Parish -- a signalman, a platelayer, a quarryman and 2 labourers. There were also 2 road contractors. PUBLIC HOUSES The Golden Lion in 1889 was run by George Tucker, who in the 1891 Census described himself as maltster and cattle dealer.
The Black Horse was run by Nathaniel Tucker who was a farmer and cattle dealer. At the Ebberley Arms was Josiah Miller, also a cattle dealer.
The Commercial Hotel (next to what is now the Post Office) is listed in the 1857 Directory, with William Down as beer retailer and timber merchant. OTHER INHABITANTS One must not forget the village policeman P.C. Mair, nor the "sick nurse" Miss Alford. There was also an insurance agent by the name of Mitchel, a groom/gardener called Heale, a coachman called Sexton and several servants and maids. Finally, one wonders how Lt General Percy Fortescue Gardiner of High Bickington House, late of the Indian Staff Corps, fitted into this predominantly agricultural scene? Or Francis Baring Short of Seckington, Edward C. Norrish of Little Silver and Mr. Gerrard of Kingford? Perhaps we shall never know! READ ON TO DISCOVER WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HIGH BICKINGTON IN 1992....
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