Berry Pomeroy

Berry Pomeroy is a village and civil parish in the South Hams district of Devon, England, about two miles east of Totnes. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 973. Berry Pomeroy is part of the Totnes constituency, although it is in fact larger than the neighbouring town (in terms of the geographic size of the parish, not comparative population).

History

Feudal barony

Berry Pomeroy was the caput of a large feudal barony whose holder according to the Domesday Book of 1086 was Ralph de Pomeroy. The family retained the barony until at least 1327. It comprised almost 32 knight's fees in 1166.^[1] The family came from La Pommeraye, near Falaise, Normandy^[2]

Berry Pomeroy Castle

Berry Pomeroy Castle, which can be found in Berry Pomeroy, has often been cited as being the most haunted castle in Britain. The most famous "ghost in residence" is the White Lady. The castle is owned by the Duke of Somerset; however, its upkeep is maintained by English Heritage. The castle was considered a 'romantic ruin' by the Victorians and a tragic love story involving Margaret, Eleanor and a handsome knight is based around the castle. The castle appeared in a recent BBC Timewatch documentary "White Slaves and Pirate Gold". The contemporary British television show Most Haunted has also made a visit to the site.

Royal associations

Parliament Cottage is a mile away from the village, in Longcombe. This was where William of Orange is said to have held his first Parliament after invading England in 1688.

Berry Pomeroy has the distinction of being the only parish in the country which still observes "Queene's Day", the anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth the First on November 17. Celebrations begin with evensong in the parish church and culminate with a bonfire in the adjacent field, upon which is burned an effigy of Satan.

Parish Church

St. Mary's Church, in the village centre, has a rood screen forty-two feet long^[3], and the stained-glass window dates from the fifteenth century. The rood screen is very unusual in being complete from end to end but also has the original coving, cornice and cresting. The wainscoting has painted figures. Between 1681 and 1834 the village was served by just three vicars: John Prince, John Fox and John Edwards.^[4]

The church was once visited by William III and more recently by the Duke of Kent. American soldiers were stationed in the village in the build up to D-Day and were billeted in tents opposite the church, in which items of that time are on display. American veterans revisited Berry Pomeroy for the 60th anniversary of the invasion. To celebrate the turning of the millennium in 2000, a new bench was erected opposite the War Memorial. Every summer, a fete is held in the grounds of the manor house next to the church, where maypole dancing, Devonshire cream teas and a coconut shy may be enjoyed. The church features in the final wedding scene of Ang Lee's film Sense and Sensibility.^[5]

Local government

Berry Pomeroy's Parish Council meets at the Village Hall, next to Berry Pomeroy Parochial Primary School.

Berry Pomeroy, along with nearby villages, is part of the East Dart ward which is represented by a councillor on the South Hams District Council.

References

1. ^ Sanders, I.J. English Baronies, Oxford, 1960, pp.106-7
2. ^ Sanders, op.cit., quoting "Anglo_Norman Families, p.78; See also: Powley, E.B. The House of De La Pomerai, Liverpool, 1944
3. ^ Stabb, John Some Old Devon Churches: their rood screens, pulpits, fonts, etc.. 3 vols. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, 1908, 1911, 1916, p. 15
4. ^ Mee, Arthur (1965) The King's England: Devon; rev. ed. by E. T. Long. London: Hodder and Stoughton, p. 38
5. ^ Britten, Nick (18 July 2010). "Weddings fall at Sense and Sensibility church after bells break". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2433499/Weddings-fall-at-Sense-and-Sensibility-church-after-bells-break.html. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 

• Pevsner, N. (1952) South Devon. Penguin Books; pp. 48–49