…...a world apart

Cockington Village

Walking in to Cockington is like walking back in time. The valley is famous the world over for its atmosphere of a bygone era with old cottages, pastures, woods and Devon Lanes. It is a living landscape which tells a story stretching back centuries, a story of how human beings shaped the land and worked as one with nature to make a living from the valley.

 

Our ancient ancestors had a presence hereabouts well before the birth of Christ but it was the coming of the Saxons some 1300 years ago that was to create the settlement now known as Cockington. Probably one of the Saxon groups landing on the shores of Torbay made their way up this wooded valley looking for a suitable spot to clear and create farmsteads—they provided its original name—Cooca’s tun (Cocca—possible after the group leader or the abundant red soils of the valley and tun for farmstead).

 

At the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 Alric the Saxon was Lord of the Manor of Cockington. The Fitzmartins took the estate and the name ‘de Cockington’ their ownership lasting some 300 years. In 1375 the estate passed to the Cary family. Of note is that George Cary was deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County during Elizabeth 1 reign and defended the area against the Spanish threat. In 1654 Henry Cary sold the estate to the Mallock family having fought for the King in the Civil War. The Mallocks were gold merchants from Exeter. The Mallocks remained owners until 1932.

 

In 1932 the estate was acquired by the Cockington Trust who sold it after building the Lutyens designed Drum Inn to the Prudential Company who eventually passed the Park to the people of Torbay and the Village to the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.

 

The village properties are now mostly privately owned and the upkeep of its unique character is in most part due to the residents pride in their village.