Sunday Memories - Cockington Parish. . . . . . . . .

Autumn Sundays. . . . . . . . . and today my thoughts go to this little church of 

St. George and St. Mary - the tower is the oldest part 1210-1230 -

 close to my old English childhood home.  Above is a postcard of a watercolor

 I enjoy. . . . . . below is a photo I took of the church on an October day when

 visiting some years back. 

I've no plans right now for a visit but have decided it will most

likely be in an early Autumn, my favorite time to be at home.

I hope you are enjoying a lovely Sunday.

Cockington Village History . . . . .

 Continuing our recent afternoon walk through Cockington Village - known now as 

Cockington Country Park. . . . . . . . .

Granddaughter Jasmin and Bob 

 . . . . . . . we visited The Drum Inn, the local pub/restaurant in the village. 
Designed by Edwin Lutyens, perhaps the greatest British architect of the 20th 
century, it opened in 1936 to replace the old village ale house.

One of my aunts was married at Cockington Church and the reception was held 
here, and I recall attending, I must have been about six.

Cockington Court and the cricket pitch where, as a child, I spent many a Sunday 
afternoon picnicking and watch friends of our family play a match - the cricket 
was boring, the picnic food good!
The manor house, focal point of the estate, was built in the 16th century. 
Later, when owned by the Mallocks, friends of Agatha Christie's 

family, she would overcome her usual crippling shyness and perform in 
amateur theatrical productions staged at the mansion.

Cockington Church of St. George & St. Mary.

The 66 foot tower, circa 1210-1230 is the oldest part of the building.

The entry and porch is built into the tower.

The interior of the church today.

The exquisite carved rood screen separating the chancel from the nave.

Stained Glass Windows.

Amazing how a country walk in fresh air and sunshine can make one hungry.

Who would have thought we'd be ready for a real Devon Cream Tea after that 

huge brunch earlier - but we were, and the Weaver's Cottage Tea Shoppe was 
offering the best in the village. The outdoor tables were filled - we waited a short 
while and then were able to grab one and enjoy a good pot of tea, fresh baked 
scones, strawberry jam and real Devon clotted cream - delicious!

Cockington is a special place holding many wonderful memories from 
my long ago childhood years - I will never tire of returning and hope for more
 visits in the future.

Sunny brunch in Cockington, Devon. . . . . . . .

Cockington, known the world over, is a preserved village of stone and color washed 

walls under thatched roofs and is tucked away in a secluded wooded valley at the heart 

of the English Riviera. People have lived here for many centuries. 

Mentioned in the Doomsday Book of William the Conqueror, 

it is clear that a Saxon village was already in existence before that time.

On another perfect morning, we walked to the harbor and took the scenic 
double-decker bus ride along the seafront.

Walking into the village from the area of the arrow (in first pic), we followed the

 'water meadows' with raised walkways over the dancing stream and shallow ponds. 
Rife with swathes of Cow Parsley (Queen Anne's Lace), dragonflies and birds, 
these meadows run alongside the narrow lane into the village. It was a leisurely 
half hour saunter which we all enjoyed.

Soon we reached the farm cottages, some of which have been turned 

into shops, cafes, even a small exclusive hotel

Here I must tell you that Cockington was my 'childhood playground'.

My home was close by, a walk up and down a few steep hills, or sometimes the 

short route through the fields of grazing dairy cows and, with a clamber over a stile, 

it brought me out close to a smelly but always exciting farmyard. 

When the teenage years arrived becoming a farmer's wife was probably 

my dream back then - I certainly never thought about emigrating to America 

and working in Washington, D.C. a few years on!

At the beautiful Rose Cottage Tea Rooms, in the center of the village, we stopped
 for brunch. Bob and Jasmin ordered the 'full English' breakfast (he had been longing 
for one since we arrived in Devon - Jasmin went along with the idea but didn't manage
 to eat much of her loaded plate!). I had the tuna jacket potato with a crunchy side 
salad - everything was very good. . . . . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . and how could it not be when the setting was so lovely and the 

pianist played some great tunes for us.

The gardens surrounding the tea rooms were beautiful. I was thrilled to find the 

property so well cared for, especially as some years back when visiting during the 

recession I had found it looking rather untidy and unloved. Someone must have come 

along and put a lot of work and money into bringing it back.  

More about this lovely historic village coming later. . . . . . 
including the ever wonderful Devon Cream Tea!