St. Michael and All Angels

Loxbeare is a very small Devon village and parish, that lies approximately 4 miles north-west of its nearest market town of Tiverton.  Settlement of the parish pre-dates 1086, as Loxbeare was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Lochesbere and the name is believed to have derived from a "wood or grove of a man named Locc".  

Loxbeare Manor was anciently held by the TROBRIDGE, RICHARDS and CUDMORE families (White, 1850).  He tells that in 1850 nearly all the land in the parish was owned by Sir. T. D. ACLAND, Lord of the Manor at that time.  He actually lived about 12 miles away at Killerton House, just outside of Broadclyst.

St. Michael and All Angels Church

Loxbeare's parish church is called St. Michael and All Angels and is believed to date from the Norman period too.  It still retains some of its orginal features, including its Norman doorway and tower.

Kelly (1893) gives the following description of Loxbeare church:

"The church (dedication unknown), which stands 635 feet above the sea level, is a plain but ancient edifice of stone, chiefly in the Decorated style, and consisting of chancel, nave and a massive western tower of Norman date, containing 3 ancient bells, dating from the time of Henry VI... the church has a Norman doorway and a few mural monuments..." (p. 317)

With MAUNDER ancestors from this parish I hope to visit Loxbeare in the not too distant future and and take some pictures, but for the time being you can view a picture of the lovely Norman parish church of St. Michael and All Angels by visiting  Loxbeare in Richard's Church Album

Parish Life

In 1893, Loxbeare had a very small church of England school to accommodate 25 boys and girls, although average attendance there, was only around 16 pupils.  The school mistress at the time was Mrs Agnes STEWARD. (Kelly, 1893)

Loxbeare only appears to have had one public house, the Royal Oak.  Below are the publican's in 1850 and 1893.

Like many other Devon parishes, farming was a predominant occupation in the parish.  White (1850) lists seven farmers in the parish.   Kelly's (1893) tells us that the chief crops grown in the parish were wheat and barley and that some of the land was in pasture.

Sources

JOD's Genealogy Graphics