A medieval parish church, historic farmhouses and rural paths give Black Torrington several things to explore during a stay. If you are interested in architectural history, St Mary's is a notable highlight; the paths and surrounding landscape offer a different focus.
St Mary's: architectural history in several layers
St Mary's is a small, well-preserved Anglican parish church in Black Torrington. It has medieval origins and is largely a Perpendicular Gothic building, but also shows signs of Norman origins. The chancel dates from the 14th century, while much of the rest of the building was constructed around 1500. The transept may represent the remains of a 14th-century building.
The details also tell of different building phases. The south aisle has a fine wagon roof with carved ribs, bosses and wall plates. An unusual 18th-century partition separates the aisle from the chapel. There is also an octagonal 15th-century granite font; its stem is decorated with trefoil panels. The chancel, the rest of the building and its furnishings thus offer different points of reference in time, rather than assigning the church to a single period.
Bells and community life
St Mary's has six bells with a ground-floor ringing frame. The St Mary's Ruby Hand Bell Ringers meet weekly at the church to play their restored set of handbells. Anyone wishing to learn bell ringing is welcome to drop in on a practice evening; check the latest notices before you travel.
Regular services are held at St Mary's. Notices are displayed on the noticeboard at the road entrance. There is also an informal café-style service with coffee and refreshments. If you plan to attend this particular service, check the date before travelling.
Historic houses and local history
The farmhouses’ architectural history spans several centuries. East Graddon Farmhouse dates from around 1500. An addition from the mid to late 16th century is considered likely; alterations followed in the early 17th century. It is regarded as a well-preserved late medieval farmhouse with an unusual plan. Hole Farmhouse dates from the 16th century, was altered in the mid-17th century and later extended in the 17th or 18th century.
Higher Braundsworthy Farmhouse also dates from around 1500. Additions were probably made in the early 17th century, followed by extensions in the 19th century. The house retains high-quality architectural features from several periods; its interior was only slightly altered by modernisation in the 20th century. Beara Court, meanwhile, is a country house that Lucius H Reichel had built between 1873 and 1890 on the site of an earlier house. It is considered a rare surviving example of a Devon landowner's mansion, with associated outbuildings and gardens.
The war memorial commemorates eight local servicemen who died in the First World War and six men who fell in the Second World War. It is a well-crafted granite cross on a patch of grass, approached by shallow steps with rounded kerbstones. The bowl barrow 80 metres northwest of Windmilland Cross stands prominently on a ridge and is relatively well preserved. It may have later been reused as the site of a windmill, giving its name to the nearby wayside cross.
In the area around Black Torrington is also Black Torrington Bridge, a road bridge over the River Torridge. Its origins are thought to date to the 17th century; it was substantially rebuilt in the mid-19th century and again in the 20th century.
Rural paths and landscape
Black Torrington is regarded as a rural community in a beautiful setting, surrounded by farmland and woodland. A section of the Ruby Way runs through the village; the parish also has public footpaths and bridleways. Alongside the buildings, paths and landscape are therefore other themes to explore during your stay. If you are looking for a hotel, you could first consider whether church and architectural history or rural paths should be the focus of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Noss Mayo, Horrabridge, Stoke Canon, Exbourne, Meshaw, Umberleigh, Exebridge, Woodbury.
For the broader travel overview: Devon.
