Chagford

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Map sources for Chagford at grid reference SX700875

Chagford is a small town on the north-east edge of Dartmoor, in Devon, England, close to the River Teign. The name Chagford is derived from the word chag, meaning gorse or broom, and the ford suffix indicates its importance as a crossing place on the River Teign. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,466.

[edit] History

Archeological remains confirm that a community has existed here for at least 4,000 years. In historical times, Chagford grew due to the wool trade and from tin mining in the area, and in 1305 was made a Stannary town where tin was traded. A cattle market in the town survived until the 1980s.

The tin trade is reflected in the parish church of St Michael the Archangel. It features carved roof bosses, similar to those found at St Pancras, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, including the tin miners’ emblem of three rabbits. The church was dedicated in 1261 although little remains from this period. The tower dates back to the 15th century. The building was restored in 1865 and extended during the 20th century.

Chagford church contains a memorial to Mary Whiddon, dated 11 October 1641, whose death is thought to have been one of the inspirations behind R D Blackmore’s novel, Lorna Doone. Although his novel is set on Exmoor, the author may have been moved by a local legend about Mary who, it is claimed, was shot dead on her wedding day, as she came out of church. The climax of Lorna Doone involves such a shooting, but in this case the heroine survives.

Whether this actually happened is unclear. Mary's tomb records that she died 'a matron, yet a maid' ('a married woman, yet a virgin'). On the other hand, 'maid' was a common term in Devon for a 'girl' and the inscription may just mean that Mary died young ('although married, still just a girl'). The only contemporaneous record is her undated will, in her married name, so unless her maiden name was also Whiddon she did not die on her wedding day.

A Wesleyan Chapel (est. 1834) was replaced by a Methodist church built in 1861, which closed in the 1990s and is now in secular use. Victorian directories list a Baptist church (established 1829), but long since disappeared. However, the 'Bible Christian Chapel' (est. 1844) continues to flourish as 'Chagford Gospel Church', and a newly-built Roman Catholic church was opened in 1963.

A 16th century building called Endecott House, on the edge of the town square, was given this name in the early 1990s in honour of Pilgrim Father and governor of Massachusetts, John Endicott, or Endecott, who lived in Chagford before leaving for the New World. A former house, the building has been in community use for many years, including use as a village school, and now houses a meeting hall.

[edit] Modern day

Today Chagford is a thriving community with an unusually wide range of shops for a town of this size. The two large hardware stores in the town square have been run by the same two families for many years. There are four pubs and hotels within the town - the Globe, the Bullers Arms, the Ring O'Bells and the Three Crowns Hotel - and the Sandy Park Inn lies a mile or two outside the town, within the parish. The town has two restaurants, Whiddons and 22 Mill Street. There are numerous guest houses and hotels in the surrounding countryside, including Mill End Hotel within Chagford parish and Gidleigh Park Hotel in the adjacent Gidleigh parish. These provide accommodation for the large influx of visitors during the year.

One of the social centres of Chagford is the Jubilee Hall which sits on the south-east corner of the town next to the public car park. Built in 1936 by public subscription it also houses the Library (which opens three part days a week). It provides a venue for the regular Friday morning flea markets as well as a whole host of other activities: badminton, table tennis, parties, discos, comedy nights, king fu, Pilates, etc.

In about 2001 people started to talk about improving or even replacing it. In 2006 there are plans produced by Exeter architects, Harris McMillan, for knocking it down and erecting a new and much larger building in its place. The final designs and its exact siting are now being discussed. The big issue is about whether it will be possible to raise the one million pounds (or thereabouts) that it will cost. There is hope of a substantial grant from the Big Lottery Fund, but the major part will have to come from local fundraising

The 20th century Castle Drogo lies nearby in Drewsteignton.