Linking You to the Community
About Bickleigh
Bickleigh lies between the valleys of the Plym to the east and Tavy to the west. To the north lies Dartmoor; to the south, where there was once farmland and woodland, now lies suburban Plymouth. Bickleigh straddles these very different environments: the woods and deep valleys along the Plym, the open low moorland of Roborough Down, the tidal shore and farmland overlooking the Tavy and Tamar estuary, and the modern housing estates, out-of-town shopping and high technology industry bordering Plymouth. Bickleigh and Roborough (formerly Jump) villages are ancient settlements, the former dominated by the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin. Much of the parish was part of Roborough Estate, and still has connections to the Lopes family.
Roborough House, now a residential care home
Roborough lies on the main route north from Plymouth to Tavistock. Today only road traffic along the A386 uses this route, but in the past the main railway line to London followed the Plym Valley, running through a series of tunnels and across high viaducts. An earlier horse drawn tramway from Plymouth ran up the valley and out on to the moorland. Also crossing the parish, roughly north-south parallel to the road is Drake's Leat - built in Elizabethan times to supply water to Plymouth from Dartmoor.
Bickleigh Parish Church is a typical of many churches built around Dartmoor. It is not known when the church was founded, but there was undoubtedly a church here in 1288. The parish belonged to Buckland Abbey until the Dissolution in 1539, and was linked with Sheepstor, further to the north.
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The 15th Century tower is the oldest part of the present building, and the font dates from 1589, although an earlier Norman font, unearthed in 1909, is displayed in the church. In 1880s Sir Massey Lopes completed interior renovations, rehanging of the bells and installation of the clock.
The church has close links with the Royal Marines, stationed nearby in Bickleigh, and a number of items have been given by the Marines in memory of fallen comrades. The oak screen at the west end of the nave was given by Parishioners to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
In 1963 Lord and Lady Roborough gave the new east window, reredos and granite altar. Designed by Frank Array Wilson, the theme of the east window and reredos is 'Resurrection'. Above the south door are the gauntlet and helmet of Sir Nicholas Slanning, who died fighting for King Charles, and outside there is a tombstone of great antiquity - possibly the medieval low altar tomb.
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 The presentation of the Dartmoor sculpture, December 2nd 2003 |
Semiconductor
manufacturer X-FAB UK presented the redesigned roundabout located outside
its site at Roborough, which has It has been the employees’ idea that a significant piece of artwork
would enhance the |
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Reece
Ingram’s design was selected as the preferred sculpture. As
it will be standing |
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The Plym valley railway track now a popular cycle route
Maristow House
Tavy estuary below Maristow
Page in preparation.
