Run Number: 749: 24th July 2013
Venue: Catherine Wheel, Hemyock
Hare: JB
Hounds: P2L, Why Bother. Liz, Bigbird, Phantom, Ferret, Tenzing. Dormouse. Martini, Sourcers Apprentice, Brusoff, Grasshopper.
Walkers, Bangkok and Floater
Quick briefing from the resident hare, Wasn’t listening as usual, (something about horses and cattle I think) so off we trot left for the pub then sharp right and up thought a field and left (quick pee stop) road and left and down to a cross roads.
On on called up by an athletic Frt. Up we run (well some did) check and after some wondering left through a farm with some young lads asking if we were following the flour (bloody hope so!). Through the farm on to the top field, now this is where I have a problem, do I say that Phantom farted while running or not, humm, best not then.
On left and check more fields, right and down to the re-group. Sweets and much talk about fish ponds, water levels and drainage!
On called and up right and down only to find a check and booby trap (garroting wire well place for the taller amongst us) on right and down, up then bit of road. Check right down through cow field and On Inn and back for a well-earned pint.
Lovely run, many thanks
Now some local history……………..
Hemyock is the largest village on the Blackdown Hills, Devon, which is now designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The parish has an area of about 2350 hectares, and lies on the NW of the Blackdown Hills. The village has a very long history, some prehistoric remains may be found, from about 100 BC to well beyond. In the middle ages local iron ores were smelted in small bloomeries (furnaces) to produce pure iron. In Saxon times a battle was fought at Simonsburrow between the native Britons and King Ime's Saxon army, which put an end (temporarily) to the Kings expansion to the west.
The name Hemyock could have originated from the British stream name "Samiaco" (meaning summer), other authorities suggest a Saxon origin from a personal name "Hemman" coupled with a Saxon word for a bend or a hook (occi).
Hemyock gave its name to the Hemyock Hundred, a unit of 7 parishes, that was an administrative unit of local government during the Saxon period.
After the Norman conquest a castle was built adjacent to the Parish Church, the remains of some towers may still be seen.
Hemyock is a typical upland settlement consisting of a central "town" surrounded by a number of hamlets (Culmdavey, Millhayes, Simonsburrow, Ashculme, Tedburrow, Madford, Mountshayne etc). From the 1500's to the early 1800's much of the parishes wealth came from the production of wool. The population remained fairly constant throughout the 1800's, and until the end of the second word war. Since then a number of housing estates have been built, and our population has increased to over 2000.
Hemyock remains a busy village, we have a primary school, excellent medical facilities, 2 garages, 2 hairdressers, a pub, a building society, 2 shops one with a Post Office, a playing field (soon to become 2), a Parish Hall (soon a 2nd will be provided) and 2 Churches. (Baptist Church and St Mary's)
The Cadbury family, of chocolate fame, originated here.
Hemyock was the terminus of the Culm Valley Railway that ran for about 100 years from our village to Tiverton Junction.
The first mechanically operated butter factory in the West of England was started at Mountshayne in 1886 by 4 local farmers, this was later transferred to Millhayes, and was only closed in the 1990's.
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