Back to the past...this time to somewhere people have been living for the past 2500 years...

Cockington, near Torquay, can date its human connection back 2500 years to the time of the Iron Age- we know this because of the remains of two Iron Age hill forts found on the top of the Cockington Valley. Hill forts are a a type of earthwork, made up of walls with external ditches around the outside and meant to give protection to the people inside as they defended the area against invaders-with the early Iron Age hill forts these would have been early Celtic people, like the Picts and the Scots.

Hembury Castle, Buckfast on Dartmoor

is another example of a hill fort. Photo per kind favour of Wikipedia.

Cockington doesn't appear in much written about the area until Saxon times when it appears that a village was built near the current inn by Alric the Saxon- this was then developed and passed own through different families until it reached Roger de Cockington- hence the name- in 1048.

Cockington now is most interesting for its historic buildings, wonderful arts and crafts in action and the beautiful, unspoilt parkland around the village and the pub.

Things to look out for- the pub- the Drum Inn- is a Grade II listed thatched building, which was originally designed by one of the most famous English architects of the 2oth century, Sir Edwin Lutyens. Buildings are 'listed' in the UK if they are considered to be of special architectural and historic interest and many homes are listed by local councils worried about losing our architectural heritage. Lutyens is well known for his modifying of traditional styles to fit the then modern era and designed many country houses, as well as monuments and even Liverpool cathedral in the UK.

the Drum Inn- per kind favour of TripAdvisor- look out for the twin chimney stacks.

He was also a key architect in designed government buildings in the New Delhi, which would later be the seat of government in India.

Cockington Church is another wonderful place to visit- around 1000 years old- and with a pulpit made from wood taken from one of the Spanish ships from the Armada which ran aground in Torbay. The church is in two parts- one much older than the other- when you come back tell us which one was which and how you knew!

The Cockington Forge dates back to the 11th century and contains some gruesome items that are no longer in common use- look out for these!

Crafts featured include ironmongery, glass-blowing, slate-making, jewellery-making and woodcraft- so look no further for your souvenirs. Don't forget to taste the locally-made honey- yum!

Enjoy your excursion- yet another free excursion for those students booked in with us for January and February on the New Year Special Offer 2022.