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3.0       OUTLINE HISTORY

 

Early History

                  Although the good soil and proximity to the sea and its riches may well have attracted early communities to Cockington, the archaeological record is sparse. However the field name Castle Park and Castle Lane suggest the presence of an early earthwork enclosure and finds of stone tools nearby indicate a prehistoric presence (1).

 

1086           Cochintona is the name of the manor given in the Domesday Book. Its meaning has been interpreted as the enclosure or homestead of Cocca’s people (2), or to refer to the red, coch, soil. The name implies a settlement dating at least to the Saxon period.

                 

                  William holds Cockington himself. Alric held it before 1066. It paid tax for 3 hides. Land for 13 ploughs. In lordship 5 ploughs; 14 slaves; 1 hide. 18 villagers and 6 small holders with 7 ploughs and two hides. Meadow, 25 acres; pasture, 50 acres; woodland, 50 acres.

                  1cob; 8 cattle; 159 sheep; 42 goats.

                  Value formerly and now 50s.

                  Of this land Alric held 1 virgate of land in Dewdon. It paid tax for as much. Value formerly and now 10s. This land has been added to the above and William holds it as one manor. (3)

 

                  William de Falaise was one of the major recipients of land in Devon after the Norman Conquest. In 1089 the barony of Dartington passed from William to his stepson Robert Fitzmartin (d 1158)(4,5).

 

1113-5        Robert Fitzmartin endowed St Dogmael’s Abbey with several churches and the Capella de Kokintone (6). This appears to be the earliest reference to the chapel. It has been suggested that there was a Saxon church and that the Norman church, or chapel, was constructed using Norse measurements (7). According to the statutory listing the tower of the church of St George and St Mary at Cockington dates to the thirteenth century, the rest is mainly fourteenth and fifteenth century, much “restored” in the nineteenth century (8).  The massively built tower contains a first floor room with fireplace and latrine, considered possibly to have been an anchorite cell, or the room for the priest who serves the morrow mass (9).

1125           Robert Fitzmartin gave Cockington to his son, Roger who became known as Roger de Cockington (4). He excluded the chapel and two ferthings of sanctuary land, which had been given to the Abbey and Convent of St Dogmael, Pembrokeshire (9).

 

1199           Rogerus de Cokinton was fined (10). In 1203 the chapel of Kokynton is recorded as being ceded to the Abbot of Torre (6), and it remained a chapel of ease under the parish church of Torre until 1882, when it became a parish church in its own right (6). Barker has suggested that the ponds at Cockington were originally monastic fishponds of the twelfth century (11).

 

1214           Alicia de Cokinton, late the wife of Roger de Cokinton made a dower claim for land in Cockington; Roger, the son of the said Roger deceased, was at the time an infant in the custody of Wm fils Martin (10).

 

1242           Rogerus de Cokinton held lands in Cockington of Nicholas Fitzmartin of Dartington (10). In 1266 Protection for Henry de Kocinton is mentioned (10) and in 1285 Roger de Cokington held Cokington for one fee of William Martin, and by William Martin of the King and in 1286 Roger de Cokinton holds 11/6 fee in Cokinton of Nicholas son of Martin of his Honour of Dertinton (12); the following year he was summoned to fight against the Welsh (10).

 

1295           Lucy, daughter of Roger de Cockington was baptised (10), she is considered to be the Lucy who married Walter de Wodeland, the future owner of the estate (13). Between 1303 and 1307 Roger de Kokyngton held Cockington for 11/6 fee (12) and between 1304 and 1307 he represented Devon in parliament (10).

 

1316           At about this time Roger de Cockington, knight, died, his son James inherited Cockington (14).  Between 1324 and 1326 James de Cokyngton was recorded as a man at arms, appointed sheriff and governor of Exeter Castle.  In 1327 Sir James de Kokinton was appointed Keeper of the Port of Dartmouth and references to his appointments continue through the 1330s and 1340s (10).

 

 

 

 

                  Between 1330 and 1345 there is reference to Henry and William de Cokyntone and confirmation of the grant of water from Sherwell Brook to Torre Abbey; Seymour has suggested that the extension of the north aisle of Cockington Church was built as a chantry for William de Cokyntone  (6).

 

1346-9        James de Cokynton is recorded holding land in Cockington in the Honour of Dartington, late of Roger de Cockington (12), he had a son John, who died childless between 1336 and 1351 leaving James without a male heir (13). Devon Fines show the gift of Cockington by James to Walter de Wodeland; although it is not entirely clear, it is thought that de Wodeland had married James’s sister Lucy and that James had thus acknowledged de Wodeland as his heir; Cockington was leased back to James for life, at the yearly rent of a red rose (13).  James died in about 1349 and his brother-in-law Sir Walter de Wodeland, an Usher of the Chamber to the Black Prince, received the Manor of Cockington in 1351 (14).

 

1352           Free Warren and the right to a market and fair on Monday was granted to the lord of the manor of Cockington (15).

 

1374           John Cary (1337-1395), who became Lord Baron of the Exchequer, acquired Cockington from the widow of Walter Wodeland (16). He had been appointed to consider coastal defences against a possible invasion, and may have encountered Cockington in the course of this work.

 

1386           Tor and Cockington, as part of the Honour of Dartington, were committed by the crown to John de Holand on the death of James, Lord Audley, who had inherited from his Fitzmartin mother (10; 13). The year after Sir John Cary was attainted for his support of the deposed King and forfeited his estate… lands in…Cockyngton were formerly held by John de Cary and Thomas de Cary and were taken into the hands of Richard II by reason of a judgement against John de Cary in Parliament (17).

 

1388           The forfeited lands, including Cokyngton, were given to John de Holand. earl of Huntingdon, who was also re-granted the Manor of Dartington, which likewise had been initially committed to him in 1386  (10).

 

1395           Sir John Cary died in Ireland, still in exile (18). All his goods which had not been forfeited were granted to his widow Margaret and son Robert (10).

 

1400           Following the execution of John Holand, letters patent granted the forfeited lands to Robert Chalouns (17).

 

1418           Sir John’s eldest son Robert Cary petitioned unsuccessfully for the return of his father’s estate including Kokyngton in 1402; the lands were eventually restored to him by Henry IV in 1418 (19).

 

1430           Robert was succeeded by his son Philip.

 

1436-7        Court Leet records include fines for the depasturing of cattle in the Lord’s meadow and hogs in the Lord’s garden, and the taking away of boughs from the Lord’s wood without licence (20). Philip Cary died in 1437, and his son William (1437-1471) succeeded him as a minor (21). It appears that his mother, Cristina Cary, née Orchard, retained control of Cockington, as many of the estate records continue to refer to the lady’s property and activities (22), or it may have been hers for life by dower.

 

                  She took over the running of the estate with the help of a bailiff and, apparently, her brother, as in 1437 accounts included an item for 34 men employed making a hedge and ditch round the lady’s wood, by order of Richard Orchard (22).

 

1439/40       An account roll for the estate shows that the Carys used Cockington as a summer residence at this time, spending their winter’s at Orchard, Cristina’s family property in Somerset (23).

 

                  Close studies of this document have revealed that Cockington included a hall, probably a great hall open to the roof, a chamber block probably under the same roof, a detached kitchen, a gatehouse and a stable (23). A building called le abbay is also mentioned, possibly the chapel which belonged to the abbot of St Dogmaels. Activities recorded include quarrying, cider making and fishing; the quarry rent being 12d suggests a small operation (23), the cider and fishing being apparently larger.

 

                  The names Langegardyn and Southgardyn are taken to refer to orchards, as they certainly held apple and fruit trees; and the fact that the Cary’s kept their orchards in hand after the rest of the demesne had been leased is thought to indicate pride in the orchards and their product (23). The Pound House was clearly well-used by the owner and its use by tenants was permitted when not fully in use.

 

                  It is clear that as well as collecting rents and dues from tenants' fishing, including a Seine fishery, the owner’s own fishing was another benefit, with salting being recorded (23). The boat at Livermead was given new oars and ropes in this year, nets were replaced and mended, and it seems the Seining was a joint venture between lord of the manor and tenantry (23).

 

                  Items in the accounts included 10s received from John fflour for the lease of a water mill which he newly built, with full repairing and maintenance at his own expense. The Langemede was cut for hay and its bank was made; the Langegardyn and Southgardyn were cut for hay; there was no income from pasture of wood, or pannage of pigs …because there were no acorns; no cider was sold or rent received for the press; 40s was received from the sale of wood; 5s  received from treasure trove of a noble. Expenditure included payment of one pound of pepper… to the lord of Dertyngton for chief rent, 18d, thatching on the lord’s house, the stable and le abbay; hedging and banking; purchase of salt at Dartmouth and a new fishing net; Hire of men to hedge around the lord’s garden, 2s; Hire of one man to mow the lord’s hay there in the garden, 8d. Turning over the same hay, collecting it up, stacking it in the field and carrying it to the house, 16d; Hire of one roofer and his servant roofing on the hall, chamber, gate-house and kitchen, together with lime, nails and laths brought for the same…17s; Collecting apples and fruit in the gardens, by piece work, 6s (24).

 

                  Also from 1440, there is reference in bailiff’s accounts to Higher Garden, at the North part of the Lady’s Court, Middle Garden or Grutte [Great] garden, to the South of the Court, and the Lower Garden (25).

 

1444/5        The chapel of Cockington is recorded  belonging to the abbot and convent of the Benedictine  monastery of St Mary the Virgin and St Dogmael. (10). This points to a continuing link with the Fitzmartin holdings, which included extensive lands in South Wales.

1449           The orchards were partly replanted (24).

 

1461           Accounts showed a lock for the large new gate of the lady’s wood, 8s (22); and no return from the Lower Garden because it is assigned for the horses of the steward, bailiff and other officers of the lady arriving there this summer (22). This suggests that the summer use of Cockington Court continued, as Fox suggests it had in the 1440s. Cider making also continued, with payments for picking apples, working the press and watching it; eight pipes being made in this year, and the press being let to others as well as making it for the Court (22).

 

1463-4        reaping, storage and carriage of half an acre of meadows in Longmead for the use of the lady when there, 2s 6d (22).

 

1469           The Abbey and Convent of Torre secured the chapel of Cockington by payment to St Dogmael’s Abbey, and continued to hold it until the Dissolution (4).

 

1471           A supporter of the Red Rose, William Cary was beheaded after the Battle of Tewkesbury and attainted, the Cockington estate was again confiscated and granted to Sir Thomas Bourchier (6).

 

1485           The estate was recovered from the new monarch by Robert Cary (1457-1540),William’s son by his first wife Elizabeth Paulet. He had lived at Clovelly during the attainder and continued to use it as his main residence (26).

 

1490           Robert Cary, a pilgrim to Compostella, remodelled the church, or chapel of ease, at Cockington (27). Cockington chapel is recorded in the reign of Henry VIII as Torre Mohun cum capella de Cokyngton (28).

 

1530           A bailiff’s account of 1530 mentions the field name Castle Park, possibly an indication of an earlier earthwork enclosure here (1).

 

1539           Torre Abbey and the chapel at Cockington were surrendered to the King during the Dissolution.

 

1540           Robert Cary left Cockington to his second son by Jane Carew, Thomas (1505-1567), who became a prominent statesman during the reign of Elizabeth I (29).

 

1560-1        The lands of the Rectory and church of Torremoham and the chapel of Cokkyngton were granted to Thomas’s son George Cary for 21 years (30).

 

1567           Thomas was succeeded by George (1541-1617). After an early career setting up defences against the Armada and dealing with Spanish prisoners at Torre Barn, George Cary became an eminent statesman and Lord Deputy of Ireland. He amassed a considerable fortune and extended his estates, including the purchase of Stantor, adjacent to Cockington and contributed to funding for the settlement of Virginia (31).

 

                  In this year the manor of Cokynton and Shylston alias Chylston  were described as containing  50 messuages, 20 tofts, 1 windmill, 2 watermills, 1 dovehouse, 50 gardens, 1,500 acres of land, 80a meadow, 300a pasture, 160a wood, 40a furze and heath  (32).

 

1572/3        Letters patent granted the Rectory and church of Torremoham and the chapel of Cokkyngton…withal the rights and members formerly of the dissolved monastery of Torre and all messuages, buildings, stables, dovecotes, gardens .. (marshland and trees only being excepted) for the life of George Carye Junior (33), and was granted again to George senior in 1606 (30).

 

                  George Cary junior (1562-1599) was a soldier and was killed in Ireland, leaving his father with no male heir (34).

 

1575           Saxton’s map of Devon marks Cockington (figure 2).

 

1577           A date stone of 1577 survives on the south-west wing of the Court, in commemoration of the completion of the rebuilding (8).

 

1585           Sir George Cary requested of Lord Walsingham a warrant for a buck from Odiham Park (35), but its destination is unclear.

 

1588           The Court Leet records that George Bennett lopped two elms in the Lord’s fence at Loxbery…Grace Collyns had pollarded five elms growing in her fence at Churcheway… Otho Rendell lopped an elm in his fence at Cossome and Christopher Olver pollarded an ash tree growing upon the Lord’s land at Cockington Wood-head (36).

 

1607           A description of the holdings of George Cary, Knight, in the manors of Cockington, Chilston and North Lewe included 90 messuages, 4 mills, 2 dove houses, 100 gardens, 1000a land, 100a meadow, 70a pasture, 120a wood, 1000a furze and heath (37).

                 

1609           Sir George Cary founded seven almshouses for the poor, to the north of the Court, each with a distinct little herb garden enclosed with a wall (38), an annuity was paid from the Cockington and Chelston Manors for the almshouse occupants (39).

 

1615           An apprentice blacksmith or striker, Anthony Hopping, is recorded at Cockington, working at the Forge with Davey the smith; in 1691 a man of the same name had lately owned a schopp and dwelling house and close of land called Nussery (40). The Daveys were still the smiths, living at Rose Cottage, in the nineteenth century (see 1931).

 

1617           Sir George Cary died and left his estate to his brother John, and on his death to his nephew George, who inherited in 1622 (41).

 

1625           Records of the Courts Leet and Barony of Cockington between this year and 1677 include many presentments for failure to repair ditches (42) and  Abraham ?Turner was also brought for failure to keep a pool in repair (43). The Lord of the Manor also had the right to prove probate and wills for those dying in the Manor of Cockington which was a valuable right. The goods and chattels, often including fishing equipment such as William Adams’ newe Pilchard nette, provide glimpses of life on the Cockington estate and of its community (44).

 

1634           A marriage settlement agreed by George Cary of Cockington, esquire on the marriage of his son Henry to Amy Saltram included Moiety of the capital messuage, capital barton and demesne lands of Cockington and Chilston and the parsonages and rectories of Tormoham and Cockington, worth £400 per annum (45).

 

1640           A Bargain and Sale between George Cary of Cockington and Henry Cary of Cockington included The Mannor, barton and demesne lands of Cockington and Chilston, the Rectory and Parsonage of Cockington and Tormoham (46).

 

1641           A lease refers to ½ of a dwelling house in Cockington called the Church house and a plot of ground or herbegarden adjoining (47). The site of the Church House is thought to lie under the Drum Inn gardens.

 

1643           George was succeeded his son by Henry (1613-1665). In true Cary style, he gallantly backed the losing side in the Civil War, being knighted by Charles I at Crediton in 1644, defending Kingswear until surrender in 1646 and seeing Cockington yet again sequestered (48). He was pardoned in 1647 but fined £1,985, about a tenth of the value of his estate. In the face of mounting financial problems, Sir Henry Carie of Cockington, Knight, mortgaged the Manors of Cockington and Stockland, Dorset for £4,500 to Henry Staplie and Malachi Dudeny of London (49). In this year he was also one party in a conveyance of free fishery in the Dart and free fishing in the Deep Sea against Paignton in Torbay to Staply and Dudeny (50).

 

1652           The Manor of Cockington and the Mansion House, Barton and demesne lands in Cockington with all appurtenances, reversions etc were leased for 99 years by Staply and Dudeny to Robert Cary of Cockington and William Parker of London, and in the third part, Sir William Waller of Winchester Castle and Henry Cary of Cockington (51).

 

1654           The Manors of Cockington, Chilston and Stantor, as described in a recovery between Dudeny, Cary and others, included 60 messuages, 10 tofts, 4 mills, 1 dovehouse, 110 gardens, 1660a of land, 160a of meadow, 340a of pasture, 36a wood, 330a of furze and heath, as well as rents and the rectory of Tormoham and Cockington (52). Pike, citing another document of this date, gives 56 gardens and 56 orchards (38). A deed in poor condition and partly illegible, describes the leases and copyholds of Cockington and Stantor including dwelling and field names, but has no accompanying plan to show exact locations (53). Houses are often simply referred to as dwelling house, or cottage, but Greenwaies Barton and  Church House are named. Various mills are listed the George Pitts held the Customary Mills, two Mills and a treble Mill; John Barnes held one tenement and a mill called ffulfords Mill; Richard Bickford held a tuckingmill and divers quillots [small pieces of land?]. The tithing barne and a poundhouse are also mentioned and a bakehouse. Anthony Hopping appears again, holding a close, cottage and one close containing half an acre. Elizabeth Mathew held a farm house, cottage and Barn. There are also various gardens, landyards, orchards, a willow bed, a plot of waste.

 

                  Many field names are given, some were jointly held. On the Cockington manor Portaway, Seaway, Archers, Longmeade, Higher Seaway, Lower Seawaies, Loxpark, fforemeade, Woodpk, Hennipen, Hollocombe and Pittpark, Pullens Close, Coprvane[?], Bowehay and Hortacorne, Lappercombeclose, Watercombe, Coateyeate.

 

                  A schedule at the end of the deed lists what appears to be the land of the capital messuage:

                  Capital messuage… office Stables Barns Shippins  poundhouse ffishponds [-] gardens and courts  10 acres

                  Little Park 0.6a

                  The Clapper[?] with the Pigeonhouse therin and Aish beads [ash beds?]  0.2a

                  The Ladie Park 0.7a

                  Castle Park 0.6a

                  ?    Barton 0.13a

                  Dewe Park 0.7a

                  Scadson --- 0.46a

      The M-------  [Mowhay?]0.120a

                  Hellinghay with the fishponds therin  0.7a

                  The Lower Meadow 0.4

                  The great meadow  0.41/2[4½] a

                  The higher Meadow 0.11/2 [1½] a

                  The hophaie and little part of a meadow adjoining 0.1a

                  Watercombe meadow  --a

                  Combepk  0.6a

                  Oak Barton 0.24a

                  Cowbarton 0.16a

                  Cockington Wood 0.90a

                  The C—pke 0.36a

                  The greate Barton 0.20a

                  The Lowe Barton 0.20a

                  The ffurze Barton or Cherry barton 0.12a

      ----- pk  0.7a

                  The northern oakbarton 0.13a

 

                  Sir Henry Cary had given up his attempts to keep Cockington and, with his wife Mary, was arranging to sell the Manors of Cockington, Chilston and Stauntor alias Stantor with all rights and appurtenances to Roger Mallacke of Hevytree, Esq. for £10,300 (54). It may be that the deed detailed above is connected with the sale. Roger Mallock, an Exeter goldsmith, also paid Sir William Waller’s interest in the property off with £5,100 (55).

 

1655           A further indication of the depth and complexity of the Cary debts is given by an Acquittance in the Exchequer in which John Sotherton and Nathaniel Riche paid £70 for the farme of the Manor of Cockington with the Capital messuage and barton there and all the other estates of George Cary seized into the hands of the Crown in the reign of James I by reason of George Cary’s indebtedness to the King in £3000… (56).

 

1657           An inventory of contents was taken, though in very poor condition, it includes reference to apples and pairis…hopps, apple trees…haircloth in malthouse, possibly the horsehair cloth used in cider making (57).

 

1658           Sir Henry Cary now of St Malloe, France was still sorting out his finances, being released from debts on the estate (58). In this year also the Court of the Manor learnt Cockington Mill’s higher mill poole to bee in decaye for wante of riddinge and cleansinge the same, by means whereof the walter[water] doth overflowe the same (59).

 

1659           A survey records 37 houses and the Court in Cockington and one mill (38). In this year the Warren, containing 60 acres, was let to Peter Parnell and his son Thomas the tenants were to have furses and connyes and to leave the walls and fences in their then state of repair (59). Furze was commonly used as fuel for bread ovens.

 

1673           Extensive remodelling of the Court was undertaken by Roger’s son Rawlin Mallock I (1648-1691). The centre block was rebuilt, the mediaeval kitchen encased to create a north wing matching the south wing, the three-storey building faced onto a walled courtyard with a large gateway (38). The new wing bears the date 1673 and the initials RM.

 

1674           The Hearth Tax  records Cockington Rawlin Malleck esq 21, a sizeable residence (60).

 

1675           Roger Mallock died and was succeeded by his son Rawlin (I).

 

1676           A settlement at the time of the marriage of Rawlin Mallock to Elizabeth Collens, daughter of John Collens of Chute Lodge, Wiltshire, included the manors and Lordships of Cockington, Chilston and Stantor and all that meadow called the Great Meadow in Cockington (61).

 

1680           At about this time lease was granted at Cockington alias Flowers’ Mills including a Smythes schopp, part of a tenement called 8 acre and a close called the Nussery (62).

 

1687           Rawlin Mallock was party to a lease of 4 closes called The Little Close (or plott of ground by the Northgarden) The Great Markham, The Great Close[-] South and Loxberry, all together containing 15 acres; house with appurtenances, viz the Kitchinge and 2 chambers over the same, the Long Roome within the Kitchinge now divided into 3 little Roomes, the little stable adjoyning to the said Kitchinge on the forepart and Wester end of the Barne together with the orcharde adjoining unto and lying behind the said barne and called the Northern Orcharde (63).

 

1688           Rawlin Mallock I was one of a group of gentry who welcomed William of Orange on his landing at Brixham (64).

 

1691           In this year Rawlin Mallock died in 1691 and was succeeded by his son Rawlin (II) (1681-1700). A survey  records a dwellinghouse called the Marry, and herbgarden and orchard…a close of land called the Nussery…a Dwellinghouse, orchard and 2 parcells of land called the Parcke … (65).

 

1696-7        A hoard of worn and clipped silver coins of this date were found in a ploughed field near Cockington in 1981 (1).

 

1699           Prince, writing at about this time, described Cockington Court-house; an antient but pleasant seat… As for the manor of Cockington, that became the purchase of Mr Mallack, a rich merchant of the city of Exon, whose son Rawlin Mallack Esq., sometime justice of the peace for this county, and a member of parliament, new builded the house, enclosed the park, wall’d round a warren and large gardens, fitted up the ponds, and made it as gentile and commodious a dwelling as most in the county (Prince, 185). He described the almshouses as having a ground-room, and a chamber over, with a little distinct herbgarden enclosed with a stone wall (66). Prince commented that the heir, another Rawlin, a son by a second marriage, was now residing at Cockington House aged near eighteen (66). However, he died a minor (64) and was succeeded by his cousin also Rawlin Mallock (III) (1666-1749). Rawlin III was a patron of the Turf, and the owner of a racehorse stable, with a stud on Dartmoor, and reputedly involved in smuggling with Cary of Torre Abbey; he sold off many of the sixteen livings he had inherited in order to pay his debts, some of which were also inherited and others accrued (64).

 

1734           Joachim Gilbert was paid for making of A pump of seaventy on foot At twelve pence per foot £3 11s. This well being fifty six foot deep the pump is seaven foot Above ground and three g---- four foot And half, three noses of three foot and a half (67).

 

1735           Rawlin Mallock had a bill from Joan Gardner for 500 cabbage plants, onion seed, carrot seed, and Lick seed (68), and from T Goad for man and 2 horses to carry clay…47 hogsheads and half of lime (69).

 

1736           A lease between Mallock and Philip Michelmore on part of Cockington Barton instructs the planting of Hemp, flax or rapeseed… application of 200 loads of well rotted dung on the meadows… which must not be cut more than twice a year… fallow or clover to follow Barley and Oats (70).

 

1737-8        William Humphry was at work putting up pales in ye old warring…taking down hollow trees…fixing ye hollow tree to ye Stamp…in the Cherry Garden…Mending ye Great Gate…making the Lantron… pales against the hous ground…about the flood hatch… in ye wood making a windlis[windlass]… pales in the warring…fixing the Coller of the pound…mending door in ye little warring…mending cheeswring… making a Butt…making a thing to powder wigs upon…fixing of the apple chamber… fixing of the pump…mend the Roller…Repair door in Pleasure Garden… Dung pots and Derns [doorframes] to Rosemary garden (71).

 

1738           A right to tithes gives a picture of the productive land of the Mallock estate. They included all corne and graine, Pease, beans, grass, seeds of grass, flax, hemp and seed thereof, lambs Wooll, calves, calves reared, colts reared, young swine, hoggs, cyder, apples, cowes milk, ewes milk, geese and feathered fowles, Pigions eggs, sea fish, honywax of Bees, hopps, Roots of all kinds and coppice etc., payable  out of Robert Ball’s tenement, a meadow called the Abbey meadow, Bickford’s tenement, Stephen’s Tenement and Loxbery (72).

 

1746           Rawlin Mallock became adminstrator of the goods of his late daughter Margaret Champernowne, widow of John Champernowne, a younger son of Dartington Hall, during the minorities of her children Margaret, Rawlin, Ann and Henry (73). In 1766 the son Rawlin Champernowne (1725-1774) succeeded his uncle and was the last of the male line of Champernowne to inherit Dartington Hall (74).

 

1747           In September John Jarman, mason, was commissioned by Rawlin Mallock junior, to build a stone wall eight feet high in the great warren in Cockington parish at ten pence per perch… to be finished by Xmas next and… to put cobb on the dry wall from Toby’s house down to the next pond and from that pond upwards against  Chinkey well as it shall be marked out at the beginning of the work…and the cobb is to be eighteen inches high on one side and a foot high on the other side (75). The wall at the head in the warren near Toby’s house is eight yards and 14 feet long including two feet for the end of the wall and eight feet and half high which makes 75 perch and a qtr. The two walls measure 30 yards long & 18 inches high on one side and 12 inches high on the other side which makes …112p & 3y (76). Jarman was also to receive money to buy cyder etc.

 

                  In November he was Footing the wall in the Folly court (77). A receipt for work done on walls between October and December 1747 was issued in January 1748. This would appear to be a deer park wall, interestingly Mallock’s nephew by marriage Arthur Champernowne of Dartington Hall had commissioned a new stone deer park wall a decade earlier (74).

 

                  There are several account books for the middle years of the eighteenth century, which shed light on the management of the estate, its crops, woodlands and garden, and on building works and repairs. John Allen was cutting trees for pidgeon court..about the pales on the backside warren…making a frame for the warren and mending the Door and window in the garden (78). John Allen agreed to pale out the two sides and Lower end of the Lower pond at hellinghay at 2s 6d p yarde. The pales to be three feet and half high and two inches and a quarter in the clear. That summer he was also making the mouse traps for the plumb garden…about the pales…mend hutches in warren and warren and other gates. (79).

 

                  In December he was at Wenberry [Wembury?] abt the sale of the Deer (80). Widecomb was to reed half of the Gateshead 9d (81).

 

1749           Rawlin Mallock III died and his son Rawlin IV (1708-1779) inherited Cockington. From 1748 to 1750 John Adams billed the estate for carpentry, including stopping windows and rayling pales in Warren near the Barn … squaring posses[posts] in Coppice and putting them in Oak barton, Cow barton and other places… Timbering little house in little warren …at ye warren about the gate Sticklepath head… about the Soles [ploughs] and wheelbarrows … About the cribs in Linney above the Church (82).

 

                  In the same period, Widdecomb’s maid began to work in ye garden; Sarah Light was employed in the garden and on the land weeding, raking hay, gardening and courts…driving out mud from pond (83) and weeding horse beans oakbarton… peeking apples…weeding plumb garden… carrying cyder… peeking chasnuts… at pound house…breaking apples…peeking stones and drawing turneps in warren…leafing pease (84)… cleaning the green court…Dartington with cobs/colts…in the vineyard…carry water to the kiln…weeding warren… (85). Widdecomb himself and his horse were rolling chasnut wood…rinding trees (86). There was also work, mending seat before the stable and about the Foxhouse in warren…mend slide…mend doors to little house in garden (87). Richard Hole, Hellier [slater], was repairing wall and helring stable in Warren (88).

 

                  The Taprel family all worked on the estate and their account for 1749 to 1750 reveals the hard work of the labourer’s annual round (89). Among their tasks Elizabeth, the mother, was picking stones and snails, weeding garden and in the fields, washing bottles, working in the vineyard  and was clotting in Tackfield and warren…binding beans… milking…drawing turneps and setting them…gathering and washing potatoes and leafing pease…carrying cyder to Will in the warren…looking after the turkeys …keeping birds in warren.

 

                  Thomas, the father, was driving mud… plowing harrowing…driving horses…at the fore yard….pound house… driving dung…keeping birds…driving sheep to Dartington …keeping sheep shorten….

 

                  The Taprel Boys were driving furse, driving mud, dung, hay,..plow, stones…cleaning courts and pease barn carrying dung and pease helms.

 

                  Taprel Daughter was at warren; carrying stone; watching pease; housing wheat, driving wheat, housing barley, harvest, keeping fowles, boyling furnace, carrying mud..driving horses at Foryard [the horse engine?] peeking apples…boiling the Dogs furnace..keeping the Door…keeping the gate…sweeping the courts…handling hoard apples and cyder apples…carrying water to masons in warren.

 

                  John Gaskin was ridding gutters in the meadows in November, gardening…threshing pease and beans, hulking apples, binding wood and furse in Clapper orchard and Linney…Railing for the Deer…freathing for Deers… freathing warren wall against preston ground…digging earth for mason…rooting French nut trees [walnuts]… about the apple trees (90). As well as payment in cash the workers on the estate received payment in beef, mutton, wheat, shoes and other comestibles (86).

 

1750           William Humphry was  sawing Lintern and putting the up in Blue Room, possibly the blue room of the pleasure house. He was also making a Skrew and Wharrow for the pound…doors to Cherry garden…mending derns [doorframes] for Cherry  garden…mending stair in apple chamber (91).

 

1751           Humphry was mending door of pleasure garden and working on the new stable(91). Elsewhere, slat, stones carried to Cockington almshouses upon esqr Mallaks account and in all six thousand and half in seven shillings a thousand £2 5s 6d (92). Also this year Rawlin Mallock and John Floud of Exeter made an agreement on the catching and selling of rabbits from Cockington, presumably from the Warren. This led to controversy over the number supplied and their condition…some being green as opposed to sweet, and some being charged for but not delivered (93).

 

1753           It appears that Rawlin Mallock IV was considering raising funds. A letter of his to a Mr Walker extols the virtues of Cockington There is a very good ancient Built house fitt for any gentleman on the Barton of Cockington. Also on ye same a wood of 30 acres well stored with a great number of oak Trees and the more valuable because but a mile from the Sea.

 

                  The Deer park in the barton of Cockington consists of 100 acres, it is stocked with 120 Deer which may be purchased with the Estates. Also there are 7 fishponds well stocked with Carp and Trout. There is a Rabbet Warren on this Barton with walls all round for the space of 2 miles wch wall cost about 200£ and there is a Pleasure house on the Top of the warren that has a fine prospect of Sea and Land and particularly of all Torbay only at a mile distance… and the privilege of proving all wills of the tenants of Cockington, a large Royalty for wrecks, and a most beneficial income from the tythe of fish. The whole Estate all together esteemed as compleat an estate as most in England (94).

 

1754-5        Accounts include payments for Torkey for Currant stocks…many days spent freathing for Deers…keeping the bullocks from the apple trees and hay… letting up and ridding out of furze…Planting trees in rickyard and Far Pond Warren…hurdle making…making pits and planting vines…making cobb… in plumb garden ripping down wall and taking away ivy…planting fibbard [filberts?]…work in flower garden…in flower garden border and making duck nests…planting currans- Little warren…planting apple trees…1/2 day fencing for deers…pleasure garden about the border…Rosemary Garden and plumb garden…vineyard hewing plants…Little Warren skinning border…skinning ground for the pippins…Little Warren about The Walk…turning ground in pleasure garden…whole month in Pleasure garden Cherry garden and Little Warren…thatching on wall of pigs court and wall between kennels and plumb garden…water to plumb garden and poles to Cherry garden…cutting of thorn for freathing…mixing lime…raking leaves…fetching dead horse [for kennels?]… plum garden wall… pointing vineyard wall…about ye gates again in warren and by pleasure house and fitting hutches in little warren…digging Cherry Garden for beans…in garden and tend Winster…freathing out withy plot…raking ferns in  9 Acres, warren and Coppice… (95).

 

                  There are references to work at or to garden features or buildings such as carried 5 or 6 Fowles to pleasure House to Broadsands to get stones for a grotto …carrying stones to Pleasure House…carrying poles to Pleasure House, and in August washing ye Pleasure House…at the warren by Pleasure House repairing a dry wall (95).

 

                  Also in 1754 Toby Hosgood [Toby’s house?] was leading horses to plow in vineyard and carrying earth and dung to the plum garden (95).

 

1756           Accounts include half a day hunting the deer (95).

 

                  The coastal position of Cockington had many advantages, as well as the views and the supply and tythe of fish, water transport was by far the most efficient at the time, and heavy and bulky goods could easily be shipped to Livermead and brought up to Cockington. This applied as much to illicit cargoes as to the coal, cullem, lime and timber mentioned in the accounts.

 

                  The Navy’s need for oak for shipbuilding was probably also in Mallock’s mind as he wrote of the proximity of his woodlands to the water. Repairs to boats and making and dying sails and nets were often referred to, as well as work on Mallock’s ship The Loyal Vernon undergoing repairs at Dartmouth in 1756, and work on the fish cellars at Livermead.

 

1757           By 1757 Mallock was mortgaging the manor and Lordship of Cockington and the Great Meadow there to John Newcombe of Exeter for £6000, taking out various other bonds and mortgages and in 1761 transferring one mortgage to John Parker of Boringdon (96).

 

Sand was carried to the Pleasure house and thatching was taking place at the stables, 43 Nitches Reed were being laid at Warren Lynny and 97 Nitches reed at Wood Barn; wood and broyle were cut and carried (97). Shundle stones were taken for the Brewhouse, Fowles house, kennel and warren, (95).

 

1758/9        William Humphry submitted itemised accounts for his work as a carpenter, woodsman, boat builder, wheelwright and maker of vehicles (98)...taking down trees for Spoks for Weals and sawing fellows…Myself about the Carremarry to draw ye Deer, making an exele to ye Deer Cart, about the wheels of the little carrymerry…about the chease [chaise] and the Timber  Carriage.  He also made a Screw for the pound…a Safe to hang the deer, worked in the Warrin abt ye Birdhous…Me and Sam about the house in the Little Warrin…four days about the Cow Cumber Frames…rest of year cutting wood, glass doors at little House and much work at New Stable…me Sam and Will taking up the palisades in the Green Court…one day about the Pleasure Boat  and there was work about the racehorse stable and new stables and putting piggins in the old stable (99).

                 

                  In 1759 an agreement was made to knock down one Roundhouse now standing next to the old stable (100).

 

                  Henry Bully's accounts from 1758 - 1764 also submitted his account for work as a carpenter and woodsman, leaving a glimpse of the woods and timber on the estate and the variety of building works at the Court and on the estate, particularly at the pleasure house, to which Rawlin Mallock had referred in 1753 (101).

 

                  Crosscutting and nubbing Trees in Chestnut Wood…laying planching[planking]  Wood House…crosscutting and nubbing Timber to draw to waterside…about ye house in plumb garden…making up the wier for the Lizard Box…mending hutches… felling and sawing stuff in higher mead for the Horse boat… felling Timber for the roof of stable.

 

                  … felling timber for new stable… felling stuff to make Cornish for ye Stable…one plank of Elm saw’d for Stable Ruff. but used at warren barns floor 15’ 6”…another plank for helinghay pond 15’ 6”…felling three trees and crosscutting to finish the Ruff[roof]… making a shoulder piece for fish buckets…two days about the mowstand…felling stuff in Cockton wood for inside of stable…making frames for Orange Trees…fixing out the frames and mendd pump…making chaise wheels…

 

1760           …about the glasses for the garden… Three glasses for the garden @ 3s 6d.  He had John Weeks sawing the great chestnut piece in Wood lane for three days and did more wood work for the stable and the Cornish, carried out repairs in the mansion and at the almshouses and repaired various vehicles including the Kerry merry and chaise. The gates and doors of Toby’s house were also attended to. He was taking of cupola pleas: hous and in December covering the place where the cupola was, which may have been connected with an item for 32 feet of lead.

 

1761           required wheels for the three wheel but…cutting stuff for Rough[roof] of great barn…Rough of the kill-house…scaffolds for the Dwelling House and Limepots…Cullem pots…Crock covers…pigges yoakes…putting up lead and  Sodering it…making short ladders for Helliers. Some of these suggest that repairs were being carried out at the mansion. Outdoor repairs included pales by great Barn door…gates at Livermead…and standard to Tallet door

 

                  Bully was also busy sawing beams for New house in the warren… putting up rough in the New House Warren…sawing Rafters for Warren House… about the Sole and saising at Warren New House.

 

 1762          .. planching the new house in Warren… taking the Rough down of great Barn… colouring the Cornish…measuring the new coach house Rough… about  pidgeon frames and rabbit hutches… ye Boat for ye pond per agreement…2boards used about the pleasure boat.

 

                  At the pleasure house at ps house abt ye lead…putting four square of glass to the pleasure house… Bully and Cook at pleasure house laying pitch over top of Cellar and Cupola…21’ 8” of glass to the little house by pleasure house… 2 large squares of crown glass for the little house on the south side of the pleasure house…stopping leaks in the leads @ House and pleasure house.. putting hapses [hasps] and repairing door of pleasure house…at pleasure house about the leads and the pump and bell of parlor.

 

                  Painting parlor may also refer to the pleasure house, as may Leading of 2 lights in 2 casements and putting of Barrs in 3 window frames. The new house by ye barn was also being glazed at the time with 6 large Quarrels of glass and 6 Lesser, as was the  Little house Sticklepath head.

 

 

 

                  At the pleasure house a mason was at work in 1963, Mr Mallock had of Henry Bully the Cistern at Pleasure House for which he was to have the value in Timber…and he was putting up ye Cistern. The roof of the pleasure house proved a problem into the winter, Sodering the lead at pleasure house…part of day at pleasure house when it was said the lead had leaked…at pleasure attending with Pillon/Pillow to alter the Roof p:house.  Hanover and Adams were sawing rails and pales and posses at pleasure house and Bully was  fetching deals from Topsham and Torkey and wood was felled and sawn for the linhay and warren (101).  Mallock’s  steward was keeping a daily journal which includes items for dung for the pease…Hot Beds…colly-flower seed…pig salted…Sea Sand two Seams sifted in a wheat sieve to be carried in Baggs…Hair 2 Peck…Earth 4 Butts…36 bags Lime…24 Hogsheads at Mr Lees Kiln…Hav[w]er seed…Mr newberry for Bark. It also covered shooting parties and a trip to Exeter Races, given the existence of a racehorse stable this may have been to take Mallock’s horse to run (102).

 

In 1764 Bully was mending Hutches and other jobbs in great warren, obtaining two Buckskins £1 2s 6d, finishing the Leaves over the pigs Trough and about Ferret hutches. However the majority of the items relate to further work at the pleasure house: help carking [caulking] the top of the pleasure house…sodering leads of p;house…sawing 10 Deals and lying in the planck stairs and the parlor floor and blue room…colouring the pales of the p:house…colouring the screen and pasting[?] on Chest… 2nd time colouring ye Screen…sawing and working oak pipes for Top of ps house walls… colouring the bottom of the walls in the parlour of p; house…For making a chimney piece in parlor of pleasure house £10 4s 6d.  (101)

 

1765           Donn’s Map of Devonshire shows the Court, Church and village (figure 2 ).

 

1766           Depositions in connection with a dispute over tithes state that there were upwards of 30 orchards planted in the parish of Cockington covering some 40 acres of land (103).

                 

                  During the 1760 and 1770s a number of mortgages and bonds suggest that there was a need to raise money (104; 105).

 

1768            A lease refers to Poundhouse meadow…a little orchard or garden called the South garden…inclosed close at the Higher end of Wood lane and adjoining the Parkgate (106).

 

1769           A note requesting 1/2oz Collyflower seeds…Early Batterevey [Batavia lettuce?] …Early Sugar Loaf… Early ?Leeks seed (107); a bill for orders of hops and malt, a frequent occurrence (108) and another for ½ groce bottles and crate…2 wine pipes (109) point to home production of beer and wine. An account in November was for work about Asparagus Bead (110).

 

1770           Edward Lock cut 300 freath and Seasle, his man and boy spent 1 day about Garden Wall (111).        Orders of seed in the 1770s include clover and Pease, beans and carrots etc, and Dutch turnip seed and parsnip seed (112).

 

                  An eighteenth century document describes to a Tanyard erected by Thomas Ley, at which Jacob Ley was the tanner, wherein there is as large a trade carried on as in any yard in Devon (113).

 

1773           Rawlin Mallock leased to Jacob Ley of Cockington, tanner, a messuage tenement and herbgarden, 2 orchards called the Home Orchard and Millpark Orchard and several fields or closes of land called the Markhams, the little greenway, the furse park, the Hilly Close, the Bramble Park, the Tanpit Meadow, the great park, the little park and Neck’s Tenement… the little Markham now converted to a Orchard (114). Six years later Jacob Ley the tanner had a lease which included an orchard and willow plot (115).

 

1775           A lease tells of an early barn conversion:  a cottage or dwelling house with a barn now converted to a dwelling house, a herbgarden and a orchard and nursery containing ½ acre and 3 fields called Stonesground in Cockington (116).

 

1777-8        Ned Lock’s account for work in 1777-78 included fencing for the Deer..cutting Eivey [fodder?]… cutting witheys…,fencing out the Deer…letting water out of ye meadow…freathing and cutting ivey…cleaving wood…caring broyle…caring furze…and much walling in little and great warrin and  mending hages (117). In the same document John Parnel was accounting for work thatching the haymowe…the Kennel walls and the Barn. In the same year William Adams carried out extensive reglazing of the mansion and provided laths for the Necessary House (118).

 

                  Hanniball Murch  charged for bleeding and drenching 23 dogs(119), suggesting that the kennels were for a pack of hounds.

 

                  William Humphry appeared still to be working on the estate, preparing for cider making in the autumn  me an Will tacking don of a Tre for the Runner for the pound…me an Will an John putting in the Runner…cutting don of a Spill an nut for the pound… making Tumblers for the pound (120). Some twenty years earlier he had made a new screw for the pound.

 

1778-9        William Elston was supplying plants…beans…pease…spinidge seed…carrots seed…Dutch turnep seed and Parsnip seed (121).

                 

1778/9        Rawlin Mallock IV died, and (122) left Cockington to his cousin the Rev Samuel Mallock (123).

 

1779           A lease of Stantor and 2 barns, I shippen and 3 orchards adjoining, one of which orchards is at the eastern end of a close called North Broad Park; also a courtilage of land containing 3a, and a ½ part of a close adjoining the courtilage (which is called the Gren) called Souther Complehays,…a close called Easter Windeates,..a cottage and fields belonging called the Corn Acre, the Shortacombe, the Bowhay, the Deer Park and latchers Field, 3 fields (13 a)…fields called the Churchway, the Ithacombe, the Greenway and the Foxhole containing 18a and in Cockington all those fields called the Great Close by South, the Higher Portorway, or Buller’s Field and the Middle Portorway (10a) (124), further added to by Pondparks, North Broad Park, 28a, Great Honiford, Honifords Meadow, Scaddons, Higher Honiford, Little Honiford, the Meadow (125).

 

1783           The plantsman, botanist and nurseryman Robert Sweet was born on the estate and went on to career of distinction, working at nurseries in Stockwell with Malcolm and Chelsea with Colvills (126). His half-brother James was a partner in the firm of Miller and Sweet of Bristol (127).

 

1786           Rev Samuel Mallock died, leaving the estate to his son Roger (1771/2-1846), a minor.

 

1788           The trustees of Roger Mallock of Cockington, Esq, an infant under the age of twenty-one years prepared for the sale of 490 oaks growing in Cockington Wood and marked with red paint (128).

 

1790           The trustees sold 435 oak trees marked with white paint and growing in Cockington Wood (129).

 

1793           Roger Mallock gave a 14 year lease to Thomas Tozer of Stantor for Stantor and part of the Barton of Cockington ie the Great Orchard, or Clapper Orchard, the 2 meadows at Livermead, Dew Park, Lears Barton, Oat Barton, Middle Barton, Higher Cow Barton, Lower Cow Barton, Coombe Barton and the Higher Wood or Gallows Gate Field; also a large piece of land formerly a park and which lately has been a rabbit warren and is now called the Great Warren, a dwelling house, Barn, orchard and field near the Warren Gate part of Manscombe Tenement, Livermead field and a field at the back lately belonging to the Manor Mill (130).

 

                  The Rev John Swete visited Cockington during his tour of the Torbay area (figure 3).

 

                  This brought me quickly to the scatter’d Village of Cockington, and striking a little from the road I was pursuing, I past through a mean-looking gateway and at once had in view before me Cockington House and the Church on the rising part of the hill contiguous to the gardens of the Mansion: this being surrounded by old walls and trees had a rather picturesque look which induced me to make a sketch of it.

 

                  - the Edifice consists of a front with three stories having two projecting wings, which with walls that not long ago stood before it  assumed the form of a quadrangle. It appears a large pile and of some respectability:- the scite is low between hills, surrounded by trees – and  from the ruins of old walls lying around, wears a rather forlorn aspect, it is better seen at a distance! From a little green, by the road side leading to Totness it hath a very picturesque look: and with its Church and tower exhibits a pleasing rural Scenery (131).

 

      The following year he wrote I skirted what had been the Park at Cockington, lying high and forming a ridge of elevated ground, at the eastern point of which were the ruins of a Summer house which had the command of all the delightfull scenery of Torbay and its environs. This piece of ground, now dispark’d comprises about 100acres, and hath been just let as a farm to be broken up.

 

                  The House now appear’d in view and I could not help regretting that the Master of so fine an Estate comprising the Manor and the whole Parish of Cockington which stranded on Torbay, from Mr Carys within a mile of Payngton, should yet when he took possession find that Estate so encumber’d and mutilated by leases, as not to have remainng a sufficient competence to support the Old Mansion, and to maintain somewhat of the style which it had always, during a possession by the Martyns and Carys been accustom’d to see (132).

 

1795           A watercolour sketch (figure 3) by Archdeacon Froude, (whose daughter married into the Mallock family), shows the old pillars of a courtyard in the foreground, and on the left a low wall with a gateway into the pleasaunce, this wall continued from the pillars as far as the north wing of the house. The buildings on the right are outbuildings, stables, kennels (133). The picture shows the house before the removal of the third storey. The open iron gate and low walls had replaced a gatehouse and high walls (38 and figure 3). There are also other cottages and outbuildings to the north-east of the church, which were, like the almshouses, demolished in the remodelling of  about 1820.

 

1796           A 14 year lease was given to Philip Michelmore including orchards 7 fields and closes part of the barton of Cockington, ie Helenhay Orchard (except the ponds therein) Chestnut Orchard, Coomb Park, Cockington Wood, little Wood, Oak[t]wood, Chestnut wood, Great Stocks Barton, Little Stocks Barton, House Barton and Oak Barton (134).

 

1801           A Plan of the Parish of Cockington with part of the Parish of Marldon (189; figure 4) shows the Court with its own intimate parkland and an extensive walled garden divided into six plots. Beyond this walled garden is large orchard.

 

                  This is the first detailed record of the estate landscape and appears to record some elements of a mediaeval landscape, together with later enclosures of the deer park and warren.  The scattered village set amidst orchards is striking.

                   

1802-4        The Ordnance Survey surveyor’s drawing (figure 5) does not show any significant differences from the 1801 map.

 

1806           Richard  Polwhele was impressed;  At Cockington, so famous in elder days, the fine manor and park are still conspicuous…the seat of the Caries for divers descents, a family that have flourished in great esteem, and have taken deep root, whence many noble branches are budded forth, and by transmigration planted themselves elsewhere (123).  At present Cockington-House belongs to Roger Mallock, esq. Whose father, the Rev Samuel Mallock, in 1799, received it by will from his cousin…Rawlin Malloc or Mallach (123).

 

                  Polwhele went on,  early topographers…seldom alluded to landscape beauty, but some of them hint at it in regard to Cockington (123).

 

                  Following the rise in agricultural land prices in the late eighteenth century Roger Mallock was shrewd enough to get rid of the deer and turned most of his parkland into farms (134), as Swete had noted. Mallock also built Livermead House and Livermead Cottage, occupied by his friends Lord St Vincent and Sir John Colbourne; otherwise despite a failed proposal for a pretentious and symmetrical watering place… Cockington remained a quiet and undisturbed Arcadia (134).

 

1808           Charles Vancouver published his study of the agriculture of Devon, describing the land in the parish of Cockington a very large proportion of excellent tillage and rich pasture land: this is generally found lying upon a Dunstone rubble, in which frequently occur large bodies of limestone (135).  In the same year Cockington Wood was leased with the liberty of burning lime in Stantor Quarry at such times as Roger Mallock shall appoint (136).

 

1810           Sir George Cary’s almshouses were taken down and rebuilt outside the park (1); outbuildings were also removed.

 

1809           The Ordnance Survey Old Series (figure 5) shows a similar configuration to the drawing on which it was based.

 

1816           A rental agreement with Abraham Beavis includes the items No hedges to be made except in Honifords…lime burnt at Stantor kiln…corn in Cherry Barton and Bully’s Field…wheat in Higher Barley Park…turnips in old Stantor Barley Park: clear by 15th April 1817…Cherry Barton to be stocked with good seeds and to be unstocked at Xmas (137).

 

1817           An uncompleted survey, suggesting a picturesque landscape and walks around the estate, but omits distances which were apparently intended to fill empty columns.  Places mentioned include Lawn gates… the S walk in the Warren… Barn to the walk by the Corn-ricks…the walk through the plantation at the back of the Warren… walks leading by the Warren Walk to Manscombe…Walk by the warren walk to the top of the hill Helen hay orchard…the walks through Helen Hay to the bottom of the ponds…the middle walk to the Warren…the end walk in the Do [Warren] (138).

 

                  On the reverse is written The walk from the house by Manscombe Barn and by the new gate through the back part of the Warren through eastern nine acres to the gate by the leat in the upper part of the 9 acres to the leat/seat in the 4 acres, through the walk leading to the Corn Ricks and in the old plantation to Manscombe; this is dated 2.3.17 (138).

 

1818           Abraham Beavis’ account includes drawing stone for mason…drawing sand and lime…drawing coals and dung… plowing  oatwood 6d per Acker…seeds sown in the Cowbarton 90lb clover 15lb Trifoil  Six Booshels and half of ewer[?] seed (137).

 

1820           The Court which had formed one side of a square, entered between two towers… surrounded by a deer park of four or five hundred acres was extensively remodelled by Rev Roger Mallock. My grandfather destroyed the forecourt…a range of antique offices…removed the top storey and replaced it with a dwarfish parapet (134).

 

                  In the same year Mallock reserved the rights to timber, mining, hunting and hawking in a lease of Starks messuage and tenement (139). Further leases refer to the Park wall (140) and a tenement with the Cider Pound, Threshing Machine Fields or closes of land (141).  In  1822 despite his building activity Mallock was concerned about the state of the economy and its effects How do you feel in this time of dismay. Peace and prosperity will ruin us all, there must be something radically amiss when two of the greatest blessings man can have shall cause us ruin (142).

 

                  He is credited by Elizabeth Mallock  with having made the drive which goes down past the ponds, …built the lodge at the bottom opening out into Livermead Lane. Her memoir of about 1900 continues There used to be orchards where the drive now is. An old gardener, by name Dart, was here at the time and he used to say that he had planted the cutting with ferns, but his master asked him what on earth he wanted to stick all those things in for. He also planted the snowdrops which have spread to such beauty and profusion. Before these alterations were begun there used to be a strawberry garden where the large clump of horse chestnuts and other trees is -  on the lefthand side of the drive as you go down – just by the fork branching off to the Lodge and down the drive (143).

 

1823           A Road Closure order  enabled Mallock to close Manscombe Lane to Torquay Road (144) (figure 6).

 

1824           A lease of fields, orchards and closes of ground…Cow Barton, Cherry Barton, Higher and Lower Oak Barton, Hirre {Higher?] Barton, Chestnut Wood, Chestnut Orchard, Bowhay Orchard, Bowhay and Little Orchard was granted for five years (145).

 

1827           The Reverend Mallock mortgaged the Barton of Cockington and the Inclosure known as the Warren or Park as well as dwellings in Cockington and the Barton of Stantor, other parties to the mortgage included John Hext of Restormel Park (146).

 

1828           A lease instructs on the rotation of crops and includes crops in Chestnut Wood, which therefore must have been arable by this date. It also forbids the breaking up of any orchards. (147).

                 

1838           A Road Closure Order was made adjoining the Lower Lodge  in association with diversion of the lane from Livermead Sands to keep traffic to the village from the grounds (148),(figure 6). At the entrance to the grounds, an eminently picturesque lodge (Higher Lodge) with a rustic verandah on tree-trunks supporting the thatched roof, and Gothic windows with straight-sided heads instead of arches. Built shortly before the road was altered in 1838 (149). However this seems not to have been in place by 1846.

1840           The Torbay Road was constructed, beginning the invasion of Cockington’s tranquility.

 

1846           The Tithe plan for Cockington was produced (figure 8), but is disappointingly lacking in detail in the area of the Court; the apportionment is similarly lacking in information for that part. The Rev Roger Mallock held 1016 acres in the parish, including 25 acres of orchard and gardens, 587 acres of arable, 294 acres of meadow and pasture and 60 acres of wood (150). However, the plan does seem to deny the completion of the lodges and new drives planned since 1823.

 

                  Roger Mallock died and was succeeded by his fourth son Charles Herbert Mallock.

 

1848           The construction of the railway and Torquay Station encroached upon the Cockington  estate, signalling further development.

 

1850           White described Cockington Court as set in a well-wooded lawn (151)

 

1854           Cockington lane was described in Croyden’s Handbook for Torquay This lane is one of those cool, shady roads… shut in on both sides by high luxuriant hedges and rows of tall elm trees, which often meet above and overarch the path… The sides of the road crowded with flowers inumerous, while the gates which open upon them at intervals afford peeps, more or less extensive, of the surrounding scenery, all equally verdurous and fertile (152).

 

1858           A map of the estate of this date is known to have existed, but cannot be traced (190).

 

1860           WH Mallock, a grandson of Roger Mallock, commented on Cockington as he knew it as a boy  when my father was born …  it was the heart of the neighbourhood remotely and even primitively rural, and fifty years later when I can first remember it, its immediate surroundings were unchanged… on the Cockington property…few dwellings existed which had not been there in the days of Charles II.   (152).

 

1861           Cockington Court was described as pleasantly situated in a finely timbered domain (154).

 

 

 

1864           The Ordnance Survey first edition 25" (figure 10) shows the Court much as before, but the walled kitchen garden is much reduced since 1801, having been replaced by mature orchards.  Most dramatically, the new drives and lodges have been completed, the almhouses removed from the front lawn, and the whole Court landscape separated from the village by plantations.  As well as the original almhouses, four cottages bounding the lawn have been removed, perhaps explaining the delays.  There is clear evidence for the creation of a private landscape.  Notably a new sawmill and mill pond loom over the village, but are screened from the lawn.

 

1869           Cockington was described The estate presents a great variety of picturesque scenery, and the panoramic landscapes with which it everywhere abounds are unrivalled (155).

 

1873           Charles Herbert Mallock junior (1840-1875) inherited the estate from his father, but only lived until 1875, when his brother Richard (1843-1900) succeeded, who  was then absent from Cockington studying agriculture until 1878, his mother and sisters lived there while Thornhill Brake was being built for them (143).

 

1878           After resistance to any development, the first villa, The Corbyn, was built in Cockington (38). Amongst those listed in the Post Office Directory was William Davey dealer in cider, indicating the scale of production from the Cockington Orchards (156).

 

                  The diary of Arthur Mudge, a relation by marriage of Richard Mallock (157) shows him much involved in sporting and gardening activities. In the first year he had helped to shoot 1115 game birds and animals, including snipe, rail, plover and woodcock. He and his wife worked in the gardens with the Mallocks, and he was involved in works to improve the shooting and water supply.

 

                  In the spring of 1878 he was planting laurels behind Easterbrook Lodge…working on greenhouse… went to Skadzon to show Peek the plan for the reservoir…went taking levels with Rich for the rain to supply the tank at Skadzon…still cutting laurels (down drive)…cut down Cupressus Macracarpa (the other side of the lower pond) so as to open out the view… planted magnolia outside lower lodge… went to Skadzon where levels are being taken for new ram.

 

                  On the birth of Charles Herbert Mallock, a Thuya lobbii was planted, following the family tradition to commemorate a baby’s birth.

 

The Mudges laid out an archery ground to the right of the church path. Arthur complained about the poor partridge shooting during the autumn, and shot at Greenaway… round Skadzon, []Brake… and through Ten Acres and Skadzon.

                  In October he walked down to Charlie’s to see his greenhouse…saw new greenhouse [ ] is putting up for him…made plans for greenhouse which I am going to build at Cockington…walked to Mrs Mallock’s  house Thornhill Brake – planted 12 firs and left boy to plant spruce between them…at Cockington there was some excitement turning away some people who for the second time had come with bags to pick up chestnuts.   November and December saw whole day cutting paths through brake… cut paths with keeper through Ten Acre Brake…finished paths at 10 acres and 18 acres and began Skadzon… went to work out new plantation in Cherry Barton… cutting paths through Skadzon…cutting paths with keeper thru Paignton Brake…working on greenhouse… began clearing the laurels round the ponds, making a path or opening by the lower one and knocking the place into some shape… spent the whole day down the drive below the pond cutting out laurel and making opening to show the various firs at the back…tried new root blasting machine with fair success…put out pheasant boxes. 

                  He also mentions the men began putting up Rich’s new water wheel, the existence of a field of rape above Lady Park and skating on the Mill Pond.

 

1879           Work carried on with the greenhouse, ordered 7 vines from Devon Nursery Gardens… marked out foundation and vine border…cut away laurels by lodge… cut laurels down by ponds.… whole day cutting down elder in Church Plantation…taking down old house by alms houses…fixed 4lbs powder and 2lbs in one corner and effected a breach… attacked house again…pulling up cut elder and making up fence around the church side of Church Plantation…Planted rhododendrons in Church Plantation- put down 200 of them.

 

                  In the grounds a boys garden is mentioned and he went down to lower end of centre pond and began to make steps up to the coach house… finished steps and cut paths round ponds. Went to Skadzon and saw water works- they have extended the piping to the Little Warren.

 

      In the autumn we proceeded to cut down 30 trees which Rich had marked in the P----plantation…saw about paths by the ponds…about making a new outfall for the centre pond and raising the water… having trouble with the ram…went to Thornhill Brake and planted trees for Mrs Mallock… went to ponds and planted ferns; and there was more work on the greenhouse.

 

1880           …planted 6 rhododendrons about the ponds, and clumps of Hydrangeas near the church path. Went with Richard to work out place for 2 cottages he proposes building on part of the site of the old house that we blew up. Planted an oak tree where church path begins (157). 

 

                  Mr Ben Richards became the head gardener living at Higher Lodge from 1900 to 1916 (158).  He described the lodge gate at that time as an old gate with a latch but no lock, and no wicket gate at the side, it remained like that until 1927(159).

 

                  Richard Mallock apparently met a lady and the Mudge diaries have no further entries about work at Cockington. The present layout from the old bridge to the lower Lodge has been attributed to Richard Mallock and Arthur Mudge (160).  The lady may well have been Elizabeth Emily, whose memoir of Cockington during her husband’s life casts light on the latter part of the nineteenth century (143).

 

1881           Elizabeth Emily records This winter we began to make the tennis ground – above the old croquet ground – to do so we had to cut away a great quantity of bushes…and some trees -  thus letting a quantity of light and air into the house.

                  …the snowdrops were lovely down by the ponds. We began doing what we did ever after – moving them from under bushes and spreading them – and bringing some up about the tennis ground and plantation. … There were very few daffodils then – a large patch in Yonder Lawn  of Lent Lilies – and just a few of those tender, musk scented, creamy “Cernuus” above the lower pond and by the top pond, which I was told Dart had planted long ago (143).

 

1881-3        Cockington, which had long been a civil parish, became an ecclesiastical parish, and a rise in population at about this time is apparent due to increasing development (9). The church underwent partial restoration…at the sole cost of Richard Mallock esquire (161). The tannery was destroyed by fire and Lanscombe House was built on the site (11).

 1882          Elizabeth Emily’s journal notes in March Tennis ground marked out and played on first time…. 29th April Great gale blowing all day…We lost over 120 trees. Two big elms in the rookery were blown down. …; a walk with D… up to the summerhouse and nailed up creepers. They all died in the winter – the East wind too cold for them.

 

                  The family of parents and children worked in the grounds together, clipping laurels on the drive and planting.  Roger planted an oak tree in the front lawn. It was a young tree grown from an acorn which Mrs Mallock brought from Algiers in 1875. It is the tree nearest to the ditch which runs round the little plantation to the left looking towards the sea from the house (143).

 

1883           In April the journal notes a man… about draining and cleaning out the ponds and planting primroses on the slope below the tennis ground. Later in the year  More time spent at the ponds seeing after the work there…Path made to Higher garden and back road being re-made. Path across from Almshouses and Lodge also done at this time…Laurels by old drawing room being cut down (143).

 

                  Richard Mallock was MP for Torquay; WH Mallock recalls electioneering on his behalf, addressing a crowd from a wagon with a world of apple-trees in front of me and a thatched barn behind (142).

 

1884           Westley’s Tourist Guide described Cockington the ancient and thatched-covered cottages wear a very rustic appearance and the rich clusters of luxuriant roses and myrtles that partially cover them, fail to conceal the ruinous condition of many, which appear to be considered beyond repair (162).  This assessment is reflected in the earliest known but updated photographs of the village and Court (figures 14 to 16) with one cottage propped up by poles, and later demolished. 

 

1888           Extensive repairs to the almshouses were carried out (38).

 

1890           Cockington Court was described as a large stone mansion, in a well-wooded lawn (163).

 

1900           On the death of Richard Mallock his son Captain CH Mallock inherited. (38).

 

1906           The Ordnance Survey second edition  25” map (figure 12) shows less development in the decades since 1864 than before.  The sawmill had developed further as a timberyard.  The depletion of the village's orchards is matched by a new commercial fruit farm with some loss of historic hedgerows.  Changes in the layout of cottages in the village also reflect demolitions and limited rebuilding, but the most notable changes are, in fact, incursions of development bounding the estate.

 

1917           Major Mallock died in France; his son RH Mallock was a child of ten on his inheritance. Death duties may well have been responsible for the preparation of a schedule of trees for sale included 203 elms, 16 ash, 2 oak, 9 chestnut, 10 beech, 7 silver fir, 9 horse chestnut and 10 sycamore. These came from several parts of the estate, including the Front Lawn (elm, beech, sycamore), Yonder Lawn (elm, ash, beech, sycamore), the Private Drive (ash), Lower Pond (ash), near Higher Lodge (beech), Warren Field (beech, sycamore a clump of five) and various plantations, including Manscombe, Raggs and Church Plantation where stood all the chestnut and the silver fir (164).

 

1919           Cockington is described as the seat of Mrs Mallock, but it was later leased to Mr J.H. Charlesworth (165; 38).

 

1927           Mr Richards, the head gardener, described the replacement of the Higher Lodge  Gate in November, during the tenancy of Mr Charlesworth, as a main gate with a wicket gate each side slightly nearer the public road than the old gate. Two rows of rick stones were put along the road between the gate and the public road to prevent the parking of vehicles (159).

 

1928           R H Mallock celebrated coming of age at Cockington (38). The village and parish of Cockington were taken into the municipal borough of Torquay (166).

 

1929           A dispute arose over the right to public access to the church across the grounds of Cockington Court. R.H Mallock obtained an order banning visitors from using the Churchway from Higher Lodge (167). He asserted that, particularly since the Great War, there had been increasing numbers of visitors, as opposed to parishioners, making their way to the church This order will exclude from the grounds vast numbers of people who visit Torquay during the summer and look upon Cockington Court as one of the attractions of the place (167).

 

                  In the same year there was a rumour that Cockington Forge was to be sold, dismantled and taken to America. Correspondence in The Times concluded England will not be England if this destruction is continually permitted (168; 169). Fortunately there proved to be no truth in the rumour, but the national coverage indicates that the Forge was widely known and appreciated at time when notable landmarks were being shipped abroad.

 

1931           The Churchway case went to court where local people claimed that there was a right of access to the church; the proceedings were keenly reported in The Times and the Western Morning News. Witnesses included William Caroe FRIBA, FSA, architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, Charity Commission and a number of cathedrals, who had, 1930, designed the new inner west door and screen (170). Others were Helen Mary Mallock, aunt of the defendant, Miss Catherine Mallock, aged 78, Mr Richards, also 78, the head gardener from 1880 to 1916, and Mathilda Ann Eggleden ages 81, of the almhouses, whose father William Davey had been the blacksmith at the Forge (171; 172). The case failed and was dismissed with costs. Miss Helen Mallock had also said in her evidence that a lime tree was planted along the path to the church whenever a child was born to the family (173).

 

1932           RH Mallock sold the bulk of the Cockington Estate to The Cockington Trust Ltd, whose purpose in  purchasing the estate was to develop and dispose of such estate, to lay out land for building purposes etc (174).

 

Cockington Court, the park and some meadows were leased by the Trust to Torquay Borough Council for 999 years; the freehold of the mansion and park was subsequently acquired by Torquay Corporation for £50,000, enabling the park to be opened to the public (166).

 

                  The Trust aimed to preserve entire and unchanged the ancient amenities and character of the place and in developing its surroundings to do nothing which may not rather enhance then diminish its attractiveness (149).

 

1934           It was the Trust’s intention to create a model village, inspired by eighteenth century planned village design, and Edwin Lutyens was commissioned by the Trust to remodel Cockington (Trebilco). An advertisement in the Paignton News for 31st October by The Cockington Estate claimed You want the Best Sites – we have them (175).

 

1935            A brochure was produced to advertise the proposed village, but although twenty thatched and limewashed buildings were envisaged, only the Drum Inn was built and its design was not completed (149). The Inn, its garden steps and Lutyens signpost, with the sign itself by Dame Laura Knight, and the K6 telephone box of 1935 are all listed buildings (8).  The grounds to the Court were described as one of the chief attractions to-day is the lovely combe with its triple chain of lakes, surrounded by noble trees which spring from a semi-natural garden of rhododendrons, camellia and azalea shrubs which sometimes in this genial climate forget that they are shrubs and rise to a height of 40 feet or more; an entrancing form of “wilderness” (176).

 

1938           The remains of a cobbled path were found at a depth of ten feet during drainage works by the south-east corner of the chancel of Cockington church, this was considered to have led to the original almshouses and Torre Abbey (160).

 

1939           Torquay Corporation acquired a large part of the estate, some 680 acres (177). Over 600 acres, excluding Cockington Village and the Sherwell Valley were sold for development in a high class manner not but in conformity and complete harmony with its natural beauties (178).  Housing was built at Chelston, Broadpark, Livermead and Preston, but the advent of the Second World War seems to have curtailed development.  During Second World War Lord Rothermere’s art collection was housed at Cockington (4). On 13th February 1943 two bombs fell 110 yards from the church, destroying the east and south windows (179).

 

1946           Sales particulars described   Cockington a more perfect gem of natural beauty would be hard to imagine… the three lakes set at different levels, and entirely surrounded by a glory of rare flowering shrubs and mammoth rhododendron trees (180).  The Prudential Assurance Company bought the village, including the Drum Inn, from the Trust by private treaty before the auction (181). The house was subsequently used as a café and ice cream factory (38).  Press coverage at the time deplored the lack of initiative shown by the Corporation since their acquisition The Corporation’s policy in regard to Cockington has been one of inertia and lack of imagination (182).  The view that Thank heaven something has happened to preserve Cockington from Torquay was hastily rebutted by Torquay, with an attack on the BBC’s commentary and the erroneous impression… created by the vendetta which a section of the London Press is waging against the town (183).

 

1950-1        A new avenue of limes was planted at Cockington to commemorate the GAAT conference held at Torquay (184).

 

1954           Hoskins described Cockington Cockington Court is a house of the 16th- and 17th- cent. date, delightfully placed in a small park (166).

 

1960           Bert Germain wrote his memoirs of fifty years as a professional gardener in the Torquay area and included observations on Cockington in the earlier twentieth century (185).  He described that fine Old Garden of Cockington Court:

                  … one of the finest Collections of Gooseberries…many of the Fruit Trees, of which I were quite able to recognize quite easily by their Growths, came from the world renowned Firm of George Bunyard, considered to be the finest Fruit and Fruit Tree Experts of the past century…The walled garden was well filled with fan trained Peaches and Nectarines, and Cherries and Figs, on the other side of the Wall, was a really fine Collection of Cordon Pears.

                  Their was also a very fine Orchard, of which Mr Richards [Ben Richards, the head gardener, who retired in 1916] was especially proud and fond of, apples particularly noted were Cornish Gillyflower, Emperor Alexander and that wonderful variety Pine Apple Russet, with its silvery foliage, and its Bronzed Fruits, tinged with Blue, a sight really worth seeing, and also another which stood out for its wonderful size, was that tremendously handsome Apple Emperor Alexander. It needed seeing to believe.

 

While their were not a lot of Flower Beds, their were quite a lot of Herbaceous Borders, and these made a grand Display of Bloom, and also suppled the Big House, and also the Church, with Cut Flowers…Another thing which Mr Richards was justly proud of was the Arum Lillies in large Pots. Another thing that grew and flowered at Cockington Court very fine was the Princess of Wales Violet, another great favourite of the Mallock Family, and which usually flowered from late Autumn, thoughout the Winter, and into late Spring, and what fine flowers were gathered, with their lovely perfume.

                  …a very great attraction, for many years has been the Rhododundrums, and what a Sight , which have been admired by thousands of Visitors, from all over the World, and…admired by many are the lovely Blue Ceonothus, and the Burberris Durwenii, with its shiny leaves, and its Bronze like Flowers. These could be seen growing below the Game-keeper Cottage, near the lower entrance to the Court Grounds…

 

                  the two World Wars… robbed us of many young Men, that  would have been, both Proffessional Head Gardeners and Horticulturalist.

 

                  Germain approved of the work of the Torquay Corporation since its purchase Great changes have taken place at Cockington Court, since it has been taken over by the Corporation, and great Improvement made, particularly with the Gardens Grounds.  The New Rose Gardens are a very fine addition,…and also the many Flowering Trees and Shrubs that have been added, have made a very great improvement to the whole layout.

 

                  Another that has added much interest and enjoyment, is the Cricket Pitch, and what a lovely setting it makes, almost surrounded by beautiful trees, and the Court house in the back ground.

                  In looking back over the Years, their is no doubt that  on entering the Grounds of Cockington Court, with its trees and Green meadows, with the mansion in the background, was a Country Sceen to be enjoyed…and for many years to come (185).

 

1964           Further Cockington Estate land was sold, on freehold ground rents (38).

 

1991           Cockington was used as a base by Devon Rural Skills Trust (186) and opened to the public in 1991.

 

1994           Richardson describes the grounds The grounds are magnificent, both in presentation and in their standards of maintenance. Around the court itself and the nearby church of St George and St Mary are mature avenues and specimen trees, a wide variety of shrubs and a formal walled garden. To the south-east, with tunnel-access beneath the Totnes Road, the ornamental parkland is dominated by a series of connected large ponds below Hellinghay Plantation, with colourful displays in season of rhododendrons and gigantic bog plants. At the entrance to the grounds is a picturesque lodge, with a rustic veranda on tree trunks supporting the thatched roof (186).

 

2000           Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust was established, which now manages Cockington estate, and at the same time was granted the remaining landlord's rights over the village, long leases having been disposed of by Prudential Assurance.

 

 


 

4.0       ANALYSIS

 

4.1       The Mediaeval Landscape

 

The early mediaeval landscape is only slightly recorded.  At Domesday the landscape was a mixture of meadow, pasture and woodland, grazed by sheep, goats and a few cattle.  Otherwise there is little apart from mention of sanctuary land associated with the chapel in the twelfth century.

 

                        The field pattern shown on the Parish plan of 1801 suggests that some strip fields were later enclosed with hedges which fossilised their shapes, particularly on the valley sides.  The pattern of small irregularly shaped fields rising to larger ones on and near the hill tops to the west and south suggests subsequent phases of enclosure, taking in open land in the post-mediaeval period.  Walter de Wodeland held the right to free warren from 1352, but this is the only clue to the landscape for the quarter century before his widow sold Cockington to John Cary in 1374.

 

4.2       The Carys 1374 - 1654

           

The Carys were skilled at backing the losing side, and lost Cockington in 1387 and 1471 and were ruined by their support of the Royalist cause in the Civil War.  In the quieter periods between these events, they lived as active members of the local gentry, some reaching national standing as Elizabethan statesmen and kinsmen of the Queen.  They were also connected with Powderham Castle through marriage to the Courtenays and to Dartington Hall through Cockington's status as part of the Honour of Dartington, held by the Fitzmartins and later owned by the Champernownes.

 

Glimpses of the landscape of the late mediaeval, Tudor and Stuart periods are possible from surviving estate records, some of which have been closely studied.  In the mid fifteenth century the Lord's garden, Lord's Meadow and Lord's Wood of Philip Cary are cited.  During the minority of his son and management by his widow, more detail has been extracted by Sparkes and Fox. The Lady's wood was hedged and ditched in 1439/40 and in 1461 a lock was provided for its large new gate.  The Langegardgyn and Southgardyn were cut for hay and the South garden was also an orchard.  Orchards were important for the considerable production of cider and the poundhouse was kept busy.  John Fflours watermill was newly built.  Langemeade was cut for hay, as was the Lord's garden, both being hedged.  Garden here means orchard, as apples and other fruit were collected from the gardens.  Higher, Middle or grutte garden and Lower garden are mentioned.  The garden and field names could be said to imply a significant phase of enclosure and development by Philip and, later, Christina, Cary as a mid fifteenth century landscape, the layout of which can be traced to this day.

 

4.3       Tudor and Stuart Cockington

 

                        The rise to prominence of Thomas Cary (1505 - 1567) and his son George (1541-1617) during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I led to the amassing of a considerable fortune and increased estates.  It is likely that the family wished their property to reflect their status and, indeed, the present Court includes fabric dating to the sixteenth century including a datestone of 1577, suggesting that a major phase of building was completed by George Cary at this time.

 

            Sir George purchased the adjacent Stantor, and the estate of Cockington and Chelston extended to over 2000 acres, including a windmill, two watermills, a dovehouse and fifty messuages and gardens, as well as fish cellars at Livermead.  Sir George was absent in Ireland for much of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century and, although he requested a buck from Odiham Park in 1585, there are no other records of the existence of a Tudor deer park.

 

            References to existing dwellings and a forge suggest that closer survey of the surviving estate buildings might reveal fabric of earlier date than currently supposed.

 

            Sequestration and fines led to the sale of Cockington after the Civil War in 1654.  At this time as well as over two thousand acres of land there were four mills, one dovehouse and one hundred and ten gardens on the estate, the last elsewhere described as orchards and gardens.  Though many field names are given in a deed of this year, no deer park is mentioned or suggested.  The Court had office, stables, barns, shippons, a poundhouse, fishponds, gardens, courts and a pigeonhouse.  An inventory of 1657 indicates orchards for apples and pears and hop growing.  To mortgagers like Malachi Dudeny, Cockington must have seemed an estate ripe for plucking.

 

4.4       The Arrival of the Mallocks

 

            The Exeter goldsmith Roger Mallock and his descendants set about remodelling and repairing their estate. The Warren is first mentioned in 1659, leased for furses and connyes with repairing duties to the walls and fences but the lack of earlier references may simply reflect its retention in-hand. The Court was extended in 1673, and Prince records in 1699 that it was Rawlin Mallock who had enclosed the park, walled round a warren and large gardens and fitted up the ponds. The garden walls are considered to date to the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century and it would seem that the warren wall was built between 1654 and 1659; Mallock also appears to have refitted some existing ponds. However, almost another century passed before the deer park wall was built to create a deer park proper.

 

4.5        Georgian Cockington: as compleat an estate as any in England

 

            The record of leases and accounts changes from repair to redesign in 1747, when the deer park wall was commissioned.  The deer park was stocked the following year with some deer apparently coming from Wembury.  In succeeding years accounts include regular railing and freathing for deer and collecting ivy for deer; in 1753 a letter from Rawlin Mallock IV refers to a hundred acre deer park stocked with 120 deer.  By 1779 the deer had gone and in 1793 a lease describes a large piece of land formerly a park, lately a rabbit warren called Great Warren.  The deer park neatly survives only as long as Rawlin Mallock IV controlled Cockington, from 1749 to 1779.

 

Plentiful records from the mid-eighteenth century show building and repairs not only to the Court but also in the developing pleasure gardens. Reference is made to a Rosemary Garden, pidgeon court, Folly Court, plumb garden and to a warren and a little warren. During the period 1748-50 there appears to be more development of the buildings and gardens: Warren barn is mentioned, as are a little house in the warren, green court, a vineyard, a little house in the garden and Clapper orchard, a pleasure garden, cherry garden and repair materials for the almshouses. The estate staff were harvesting chestnuts, apples and plums, sweeping courts and planting walnut trees.

 

 

 

Rawlin Mallock IV’s letter of 1753 suggests that he considered that he had created as compleat an estate as any in England, with thirty acres of wood well stocked with oak trees, his deer park, seven fishponds, a rabbit warren with a perimeter wall two miles in length and a pleasure house with fine views. The pleasure house was being washed (white or colour washed) in 1754 and was extensively repaired and or refurbished in the 1760s. Accounts show that it had a cupola, windows, a little house with glazing on its south side, a cistern, rails, pales and posts, oak pipes on the top of its walls, a chimney piece, a cornice, a parlour and was coloured blue.  By 1794 Swete reported that it was ruinous.

 

Between the 1760s and the end of the century mortgages and the sale of many trees suggest the need to raise money. The Mallocks had discovered, like the Carys, the cost of living at Cockington. By the time Roger Mallock inherited in 1786, Stantor had been leased, including part of the disparked deer park. The deer park, summer house and the landscape so praised by Rawlin Mallock had risen and fallen from use in half a century. As Roger Mallock returned more of the estate to agriculture Swete commented on the apparent reduction of a once great estate, but both Swete and Polwhele were still struck by the picturesque beauty of the Cockington estate.

 

4.6        Nineteenth Century Cockington

 

Roger Mallock undertook remodelling of the Court and its environs, reducing the house in size and reducing the clutter of out buildings.  Fortunately the estate plan of 1801 records the estate before much of this activity. He later removed the almshouses and demolished farm buildings close to the Court. A survey of 1817 gives details of the walks and paths around the estate, perhaps indicating plans to remodel routes.  Between the 1820s and 1840s Mallock obtained permissions to re-route roads away from his house, and by means of a tunnel under the road and lodges on the re-made drives he sought to exclude the public from his grounds and his view. The Tithe map of 1846, the year Roger Mallock died, shows the limited extent of the changes achieved since 1801, and it seems that it was left to his son to finish the new, but reasonably modest, parkland landscape setting to the Court. 

 

The two lodges show the influence of the Village Picturesque and designs by Nash, George Repton and pattern books by architects like P.F. Robinson (187).  However the Mallocks did not grasp the full picturesque potential of the village.   In contrast to the Williams family at Bridehead and Littlebredy, where barriers between the village and pleasure ground were removed, and the village consciously remodelled as part of the landscape (188), Roger Mallock deliberately removed the village from the Court's landscape and used lodges as part of a barrier.  Neither is there evidence that the rustic cottages (as at Selworthy Green, Somerset) were remodelled to become more picturesque.  Indeed, the later autotypes and family records confirm that the rustic poverty of the villagers was real rather than romantic.  Only the relocated Almhouses were built afresh.  The new landscape was picturesque, but the village seems not to have played a major part in Roger Mallock's landscape.

 

Through the later years of the nineteenth century the number of orchards was reduced and part of the enclosed garden gave way to pleasure gardens by the 1860s. Contemporary descriptions refer to the picturesque scenery and finely timbered character of the estate. By the 1870s the grounds seem to have been overgrown and Richard Mallock and his family set about clearing overgrown laurel and plantations, and replanting trees and rhododendrons. They also refurbished the ponds in Hellinghay, re-made drives and walks, re-established vines and blew up some cottages. The ruinous state of many of the cottages in the 1880s is proven but, by then, Cockington was already becoming a tourist attraction for booming Torquay, and the epitome of the cover to the Clotted Cream Fudge box.

 

4.7        The Twentieth Century

 

At the turn of the century the orchards and plantations had been further reduced and there was a major sale of timber trees in 1917, probably as a result of death duties. An extensive fruit farm was established by this time. Bert Germain’s memoirs recall the fine fruit grown on the estate, as well as the beautiful flowers and shrubs in the dying years of the Mallock ownership of Cockington. The Mallocks attempted to resist the rising tide of visitors and development but finally gave way in 1932 selling the majority of the estate for development, the Trust company transferring the Court and park to Torquay Corporation.  The precise reasons for the cessation of the Lutyens model village development remain unclear, but may reflect the Trustees' realisation that the development conflicted with their stated aims to preserve the character of the place.  The Corporation then took over the core of the estate, but wider areas were sold for development in 1939; it is some of these which now mar the village's setting.  After the war, the village was sold to the Prudential.  Bert Germain was complimentary about the Borough Council's management of the gardens, and this has been sustained since.

 

The village, however, had a more typically chequered career during the later twentieth century, characterised by letting of cottages on long leases for either residential or tourist business use; some disposals by sale; and, more recently, by progressive modernisation of cottage gardens and conversion of farm buildings for residential use.  This sometimes subtle suburbanisation of the village landscape has been matched in the wider landscape by the removal of hedgerows for the commercial fruit farm, prior to its abandonment; the loss of working farms from the village, and their replacement by stables, extensive horse grazing and abandonment of some fields to scrub.

 

Torbay Council has recognised these problems, the erosion of the very landscape and historic fabric which visitors come to Cockington to enjoy.  Torbay Council and the Prudential formed an active partnership to address some of the problems faced by the estate, and the Court, its grounds and much of the vernacular architecture remains intact and the village is now protected by Conservation Area status. The Council established the Coast and Countryside Trust to improve conservation of the village and the landscape, and the Trust then commissioned this report primarily to identify how the landscape setting can be reinstated and sustained. The need to conserve the village is recognised by residents and businesses alike and the Prudential reverted the remaining landlord rights to the village to the Trust in 2000.