Shebbear facts for kids

Shebbear (pronounced SHEB-eer) is a village and civil parish in the Torridge area of Devon, England. It's a small but interesting place with a long history and some unique traditions.

A Glimpse into Shebbear's Past

Shebbear has been around for a very long time! It was mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086. Back then, it was the third largest settlement in North Devon. It had 76 households, which was quite a lot for the time.

What Does the Name Shebbear Mean?

The old Saxon name for Shebbear was "Sceftbeara." This means "Spear-shaft Wood." This name gives us a clue that the area might have been important for making spears or other wooden tools long ago.

Shebbear's Old Administrative Area

Shebbear was once the center of something called the Shebbear Hundred. This was a historical administrative area. It included the land surrounded by the River Torridge on three sides and even the island of Lundy.

Who Are the Shebbeare Family?

The village shares its name with the Shebbeare family. This family owned land in the area for many years. A famous member was John Shebbeare, who was a political writer in the 1700s.

Places of Worship in Shebbear

Shebbear has a rich religious history with several important buildings.

St Michael and All Angels Church

The church of St Michael and All Angels is an Anglican church. It stands right in the middle of the village. Parts of the church, like the main hall (called the nave) and the area around the altar (the chancel), are very old. They date back to the 12th century. The south doorway is from around 1180 and shows Norman design. You can find similar doorways in other nearby villages.

The Bible Christian Church

In 1815, William O’Bryan started the Bible Christian Church in Shebbear. The first chapel for this group, called Lake Chapel, was built in the village in 1817. The Bible Christians also founded Shebbear College. For almost 200 years, there was a religious split between the Methodist and Anglican communities in Shebbear. In 2009, a special event was held to bring the two groups together.

The Mysterious Devil's Stone

One of the most unique things about Shebbear is the Devil's Stone.

What is the Devil's Stone?

The Devil's Stone is a very large rock. It sits on the village green, right outside St Michael's church. It's not a local rock, meaning it came from somewhere else. Some people think it might have been moved by a glacier a long, long time ago, even though the area wasn't covered by glaciers.

The Turning of the Stone Tradition

Every year on November 5th, something special happens. At 8 pm, the village bellringers gather to turn the Devil's Stone. This tradition takes the place of typical bonfire night celebrations in Shebbear.

The Legend of the Devil's Stone

Local stories say that the stone was dropped on the Devil during a fight with the archangel Michael. The stone supposedly fell on the Devil, trapping him underneath. The legend explains why the stone is turned each year. It's believed that it takes the Devil a year to dig his way out from under the rock. When he finally gets out, the villagers flip the stone over, trapping him again!

If the stone isn't turned, bad things are said to happen to the village. For example, during the Second World War, the stone wasn't turned one year. This was either because of wartime blackout rules or because many men were away fighting. After a few days of bad news in the village, people decided to turn the stone anyway.

There are other versions of the story too. Some say the Devil dropped the stone on his way to another village. Others believe it was a foundation stone for a church that moved by magic.

The Devil's Stone Inn

The village pub, The Devil's Stone Inn, is named after this famous rock. Some people even say the inn is haunted!

Learning in Shebbear

Shebbear has several schools for children of different ages.

Shebbear Community School

Shebbear Community School is a public primary school. Children from 4 to 11 years old attend this school.

Little Bears Preschool

For younger children, there's Little Bears preschool. It's located within the grounds of the community school.

Shebbear College

Shebbear College is a private school. It welcomes students from 3 to 18 years of age.

Famous People from Shebbear

Several notable people have connections to Shebbear:

• Ernest Walter Martin: A writer and historian, born in Shebbear in 1912.
• John D. Prior: A trade union leader, born in Shebbear in 1840.
• Rev. William Strong Hore: A clergyman and botanist who was the vicar of Shebbear from 1855 to 1882.
• James Thorne: A leader of the Bible Christian Church, born in Shebbear in 1795.
• Graeme Ackland: A physicist who attended Shebbear primary school and college.

Shebbear's Twin Town

Shebbear is twinned with Balleroy, a town in France. This means the two towns have a special friendship and often share cultural exchanges.

Images for kids

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  Turning the Devil's Stone, 2005

See also

In Spanish: Shebbear para niños