Rockbeare facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rockbeare
St Mary with St Andrew, Rockbeare
Rockbeare
Population	914 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	SY0242295464
• London	196 mi (315 km)
Civil parish	Rockbeare
District	East Devon
Shire county	Devon
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Exeter
Postcode district	EX5
Dialling code	01392
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Exmouth and Exeter East
Website	http://rockbeareparishcouncil.co.uk
List of places UK England Devon 50°45′00″N 3°23′00″W / 50.75°N 3.383333°W / 50.75; -3.383333

Rockbeare is a small village and a local area (called a civil parish) in the East Devon region of Devon, England. It's located close to Exeter Airport and the city of Exeter.

The name "Rockbeare" doesn't mean "rocks" or "bears." It actually means "rooks in the grove of trees," which sounds much nicer! The parish includes smaller areas like Marsh Green, Pithead, Allercombe, and Little Silver.

Rockbeare is a farming village found on the main road between Honiton and Exeter. The land is split almost equally between fields used for growing crops (called arable land) and fields for grazing animals (called pasture). There are also about 200 acres of common land. In 2011, about 914 people lived here.

Rockbeare has an important old church called St Mary with St Andrew. It's a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very special historic building. There's also a local football team, Rockbeare Rangers FC. Another very important building is Rockbeare Manor, which is a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.

Rockbeare's Past: A Look Back in Time

Early History and Old Buildings

Historically, Rockbeare was part of an old area called East Budleigh Hundred. The population changed over time, with 419 people in 1801 and 404 in 1901.

Rockbeare Manor, also known as 'Rock Wood', has a long history. It was given to Matilda, Countess of Gloucester, by the Bishop of Bath and Wells during the time of King Edward III. Later, it belonged to an abbey (a type of monastery) called Canonsleigh Abbey. When the monasteries were dissolved, the Sainthill family took ownership. The first house was built around 1760-1770. Around 1820, the house was updated and made simpler, possibly by an architect from Exeter named Kendall.

What jobs people had in Rockbeare in 1881

A chart from 1881 shows the types of jobs people had in Rockbeare. Most people worked in farming or services. Many also had jobs that weren't specifically listed.

Rockbeare Court, which is next to the church, is a simple old house from the Georgian period. The church itself (St. Mary's) was almost completely rebuilt in 1888.

Roman Connections in Rockbeare

Did you know Rockbeare might have been a Roman settlement? Archaeologists from the University of Exeter found new clues about how people lived during the Roman period in this area. They found old features in the ground and many pieces of Roman pottery. They also found goods made locally.

Metal detectorists Jim Wills and Dennis Hewings first found these items. They reported their discoveries to archaeologist Danielle Wootton. All these finds suggest that the Romans influenced the people living here a long time ago. It makes us wonder if the Dumnonii, the local tribe in Devon, kept their own traditions or became fully Roman.

Rockbeare's Location and Weather

Climate and Temperatures

Rockbeare, like the rest of the UK, has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild winters and cool summers, with rain throughout the year. Because it's in the south, it's one of the warmer parts of England. The weather information comes from the Exeter Airport climate station.

Rockbeare's Economy

Most local businesses in Rockbeare are found along London Road. There used to be a quarry (a place where stone is dug out) called Rockbeare Quarry. It produced gravel, cement, bricks, and tar until 1986.

An old map of Rockbeare

The Cranbrook Development

Cranbrook is a new town being built just north-west of Rockbeare. There's a big plan to develop this area, and it could include parts of Rockbeare parish.

The idea for Cranbrook is to create a new community that uses less carbon and is close to good jobs. It aims to encourage people to use public transport and reduce the need for cars. The goal is for Cranbrook to become a modern market town. It would also connect with other nearby developments like Skypark and Exeter Science Park. They also plan to build eco-friendly homes and affordable housing for young families.

If these plans go ahead, Rockbeare and Cranbrook might merge. However, Rockbeare residents are strongly against this. They would have to give up land for 820 new homes, a primary school, a cemetery, and sports facilities.

Community Life in Rockbeare

Rockbeare is surrounded by the beautiful rolling hills of Dartmoor. The Rockbeare Manor is a popular place for weddings, parties, and other events. St. Mary's with St. Andrew's Church is the main church in the area. The old Independent Chapel near the quarry is now Marsh Green's village hall.

Getting Around Rockbeare

Exeter Airport is only about 2.9 miles south-west of Rockbeare. You can catch a bus from the airport to Exeter city centre every hour. These buses are run by Stagecoach.

The new town of Cranbrook has a train station. From there, you can catch trains run by South Western Railway to places like Exeter, London Waterloo, and Gillingham.

Education in Rockbeare

Rockbeare Church of England Primary School opened in 1872. In July 2012, the school was inspected by Ofsted and received a "Good" rating.