Cockington
Cockington | |
---|---|
Location within Devon | |
Population | 10,636 (ward 2011)[1] |
OS grid reference | SX8963 |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Torquay |
Postcode district | TQ2 |
Dialling code | 01803 |
Police | Devon and Cornwall |
Fire | Devon and Somerset |
Ambulance | South Western |
UK Parliament | |
Cockington is a village near Torquay, in the Torbay district, in the ceremonial county of Devon, Devon. It has old cottages within its boundaries, and is about two miles from the centre of Torquay. Bus service 62 (Torquay circular) calls at the village five times per day (Mon-Fri) and is operated by Torbay Buses.
History
The village was probably founded 2,500 years ago during the
In 1921 the parish had a population of 279.[3] On 1 October 1928 the parish was abolished and merged with Torquay.[4]
Buildings
There are several
Cricket Pavilion and grounds
The park which is now home to the
Drum Inn
The Grade II listed thatched Drum Inn[5] is the local public house and restaurant in Cockington. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, it opened in 1936 and cost £7,000 to build. Covering 522 square metres, it uses 16th century styled bricks, made in Belgium to Lutyens specifications. The two largest chimney stacks are evocative of the shape of another Lutyens creation, the Cenotaph in London.[6] The Drum Inn occupies the site of a former sawmill and was the flagship project of Cockington Trust Ltd, who were proposing to build a new village.[6] It was the only building they were able to complete before the village was sold in 1946.[7] Originally intended to be called 'The Forge Inn', the name was changed as the Cockington Trust thought it might be 'Predudicial to the celebrated forge in the village'.[6]
The pub sign depicting an Elizabethan soldier beating a drum, is attributed to be from the studio of Dame Laura Knight.[8] The original was painted on a solid sheet of copper and today it hangs on a wall inside the pub, with a facsimile in its place outside.[9] Sir Alan Charles Laurence Whistler, the noted poet and glass engraver presented Sir Edwin Lutyens with a poem titled 'The Drum', engraved on a glass pane that was originally placed in a lounge window.[6] It's now framed and is on display inside the pub.
The Almshouses
The Almshouses consist of seven
Cockington Court
Cockington Court[10] was the mansion house of the Mallock family, and remains the focal point of the estate. Originally built in the 16th century, it has few architectural features remaining from then, but was altered and extended several times, particularly in 1673 by Rawlyn Mallock and about 1820 by the Rev'd Roger Mallock. He had the top floor removed and the interior remodelled. Its historical significance merits great care in maintaining its existing fabric and in ensuring new elements are sympathetically designed.[10]