Special things to See and Do in Dalwood Village
The village of Devon is steeped in history with the first known reference to the village in a pipe roll of 1195. The river crossing would have just been a ford for many years and there has been a pub and a Church in the village since Norman times. The village was, and still is surrounded by dairy farms, scattered across the parish. The market town of Axminster is just 3 miles away. It was granted a market Charter in 1206, making the cattle market an important weekly hub for local farmers until it closed in 2006.
Reaching the Village
From Andrewshayes you can walk through the lanes to Dalwood (1.5 miles). It is a bit windy so caution is needed if walking. To drive it’s no more than 5 minutes.
The village centre is small but very pretty. You can enjoy a relaxing break sitting on the bench by the River Cory or take a short walk up river along the local footpaths. In the summer you might even come across a Duck Race and always save the 3rd Saturday in August for Dalwood Fair, a traditional country style fete.
The fair was granted a Charter in 1345 by Edward III (the right to hold an annual fair), which would suggest that Dalwood was a village of some importance in medieval times.
In the centre of the village is the beautiful St Peter’s Church. Built in the 15th Century and restored in 1881 it features some early stained-glass windows. A copy of the Royal Charter granting the fair can also be found hanging in St. Peter’s Church. A footpath leads out from the back of the Church across the fields which makes a nice circular walk back around via the country lanes.
The Tuckers Arms
Fairly recent village history records that there was once 7 ale houses (often a front room of a house) where you could by a pint in Dalwood. However these days only one remains.
The popular Tuckers Arms pub is beautiful and central to the heart of the village. Over 800 years old, it retains it’s thatched roof, original inglenook fireplace and flagstone floors. It is a welcoming place for a meal, a drink in the beer garden or for locals to meet for a game of skittles or a pub quiz.
Out of interest the name derives from the processes needed to improve the woven cloth from the weaver’s loom which still contained the sheep’s natural oils and greases. The fibres also had an open, loose texture. It was the job of the fullers – or, as they were more commonly called in the West Country, the tuckers – to turn this basic cloth into the finished article. This meant cleaning it, shrinking it and then re-shaping it to produce a thickened and textured fabric.
The first step in this process was scouring. To rid it of its grease and other impurities, the cloth was smeared in soap and soda, submerged in water and trampled by foot or put between rollers. (Source the Tuckers Hall). We can assume this would have taken place in the river. Interestingly, just down the road from Andrewshayes is a residence called The Soap House which was once a soap factory.
Burrow Farm Gardens
In the 1970s Burrow Farm was just that, a farm and a house with a small garden. Over the last 50 years owner Mary Benger has had other ideas, and what a remarkable transformation has occurred.
Finish your walk with a cream tea or light lunch or a browse in the small gift shop.
Dalwood Wine
It’s well documented that the Romans introduced wine and vineyards into the South West of England and more vineyards were established in Norman times.
It was a conversation along these lines that led in 2009 to the planting of the first vines for Dalwood Vineyard. This has now developed into a successful boutique vineyard. Wine can be bought online or locally. You can arrange for private tours and wine tasting sessions as well as help out at harvest time.
High Grange
High Grange is run by Sara and husband chef Luke McKay. If you enjoy a foodie experience then this is the place for you. They have converted the garden into a fabulous outdoor woodland kitchen and covered dining area. With ceramic barbecues, a pizza oven, Ofyr, and fire pits, it’s a cooking and eating experience not to be missed
Classes such as cooking the perfect steak and an Introduction to Fire Cookery are hosted by Luke in the beautiful setting. Multi course Feast nights and new Cook Book classes are also extremely popular.
High Grange also host regular reiki evenings, sound baths, yoga and pilates, and creative classes in the Shippen building (outside if its nice weather!) and can arrange private sessions on request. Luke can also provide a fully catered meal for parties either at your venues or at High Grange.
More Things to See and Do in Dalwood
Walking
Dalwood is on the edge of the Blackdown Hills and this is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As well as short walks around the village you can also follow footpaths and country lanes for miles, enjoying stunning views from high points like Danes Hill, or pretty river crossings like Beckford Bridge.
Here’s a link to a walk that starts in Dalwood with a good up hill and down hill and back again. We have a copy of a map showing local walks in the reception so do ask for assistance.
Another option is to cross the Parish border (the main road) and head into Shute Woods where if you are lucky you may even find the old Beacon set on the hill overlooking the Axe Valley.
Loughwood Meeting House
Another fascinating place to discover is Loughwood Meeting House (see the picture in the header of this post).
The first known record of the chapel is in 1653 when a Baptists from nearby Kilmington sought an isolated place to worship. Deliberately built into a hill and surrounded by woodland, it was hoped that at Loughwood, Baptists would be able to meet in safety. The meeting house was at the time positioned on the county border to allow preachers to flee into the neighbouring county when threatened.
By 1969 damp and rot forced church services to move permanently to Kilmington and Loughwood was given to the National Trust. A restoration programme was launched to halt the decay and restore the thatched roof which had been replaced with slate in 1871.
It is only a small place to visit. but if you are interested in English history it is very interesting. Inside there are simple but cheerful pine pews and pulpit. The baptismal pool is positioned beneath the floor, central to the pulpit.
Above the rest rooms is the gallery where musicians would have played during services.
Loughwood was closed during Covid but hopefully will reopen for visits during 2022.
Lots more to See and Do in East Devon;
We hope that you take so time to explore the local village when you are at Andrewshayes. There is so much to see and do around the area, from seasonal events and days out to beaches and attractions.