Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for MEAVY

MEAVY, a village and a parish in Tavistock district, Devon. The village stands on the river Meavy, near Sheepstor hill, 2½ miles SE of Horrabridge r. station, and 6 SE by S of Tavistock; is surrounded by romantic scenery; has a post office under Horrabridge, Devon, and an inn; and is a resort of anglers. The parish contains also the village of Loveton. Acres, 3,289. Real property, £2,047; of which £75 are in quarries. Pop., 269. Houses, 49. The property is divided among a few. The manor and much of the land belong to Sir M. Lopes, Bart. Remains exist of an old mansion, which was the residence of Sir Francis Drake. Sheepstor hill, a greag mass of sparkling granite, figures conspicuously in the landscape, and contrasts strikingly to neighbouring woods and verdure. An oak, supposed to be as old a s the time of King John, stands at the village; measures 27 feet in girth; and is so decayed and worn in the trunk as to form an archway nearly 6 feet high. A bridge spans the Meavy; and a well preserved ancient granite cross, about 9 feet high, is in its neighbourhood. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Exeter. Value, £210.* Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The church is early English; was recently restored; and consists of nave, S aisle, transept, and chancel, with porch and tower. There are a Baptist chapel and a parochial school.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a village and a parish"   (ADL Feature Type: "populated places")
Administrative units: Meavy AP/CP       Tavistock RegD/PLU       Devon AncC
Place: Meavy

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