Synopsis: Vicar Isidore Daimpré (1841-1922) is indeed on the reredos of Colebrooke Parish Church. His, and his wife’s, headstone rests against the east wall. And Richard Bartlett Willcocks found too.
(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)
Today proved to be a good day for completing objectives. First a stop at Exeter Central Library to do some family history, and the family I hoped to find were all found. Then I went in search of Vicar Isidore Daimpré at Colebrooke Parish Church, and, as intimated, there he was, as plain as could be. Also at this church I hoped to find the grave of my great-great-grand parents, Richard Bartlett Willcocks and his wife Elizabeth Née Parker, and yes, there they were, at rest in the church graveyard. So, yes, all boxes ticked.
What a hot day it was to be out walking. Hot to the point of being oppressive. Thankfully the walk I quickly plotted early in the day was going to be relatively short and not too demanding. After my family history research in Central Library, Exeter, I snatched a little of my picnic lunch on the Central Station platform whilst waiting for my train out to Yeoford.
I arrived punctually in Yeoford and immediately set off for Colebrooke, following, for a distance, the path that runs parallel with the railway line and near the River Cole, before branching left onto a lane at a ford, beginning by gradual ascent into Colebrooke. I’d been here very recently, on my last walk, but that visit had only made me curious for more, hence my reason for being once again back in Colebrooke.
On arriving at Colebrooke I did a quick circuit of the village, which isn’t big, therefore it took very little time. I was hoping to spot the village water pump that I’d heard of, but still I could not find it. I’m open to suggestions on that one, should anyone wish to give me any clues. Surely it can’t be too far from the village centre, at which is to be found the Church of St Andrew (Grade I Listed), as pictured here.
I then entered the church and spent quite some time inside. I first checked out the south transept, in particular the rather peculiar squints, as I’ve recently discovered they’re called. These are little viewing ‘windows’ arched out of the walls of the transept. One once allowed a view of an altar in the south transept that’s no longer there. The other (pictured here) allows a view of the altar from the south transept. Sneeky!
After that, I carried out a thorough inspection of the reredos. This reredos was donated by Mrs Sillifant in 1896, in memory of her husband Francis Synge Sillifant, the family residence being nearby Combe, My great-grandparents, William Madge and Fanny Jane Willcocks, were married in 1890 by the then Vicar, Isidore Daimpré. It is said that he appears on the reredos. I worked my way along left-to-right, not finding his likeness in any of the figures. There is a Family tree managed by R. Wolfe-Daimpré on MyHeritage that has a photo of Isidore Daimpré.
Next, I came upon the last figure on the right, standing in its own alcove and reading from a book, obviously the Bible. Of course, that was him, Revd. Isidore Daimpré, cast in stone, forever looking out on his congregation. Has there ever been a more fitting and splendid tribute to the ministry of a village vicar? Finding him was a real joy.
To read a little of the life history of this colourful character, see Colebrooke – Reverend Isidore Daimpré on Medical Gentlemen. To read something of the history of the Sillifant family, the benefactors of the reredos, see Francis Synge Sillifant 1832-1894, once again on Medical Gentlemen.
Six of Isidore Daimpré's sons were in military service during WWI. There is a file in the church that contains information about all those from Colebrooke who served during this conflict. Please see my photo album on Flickr for information on the war service of Daimpré's sons (link above).
I was also interested to find something about the vicar previous to Isidore, Thomas Drosier, since he performed the marriage ceremony of an earlier generation of my family, my great-great-grandparents, Richard Bartlett Willcocks to Elizabeth Parker in 1861. As I glanced up on the south wall of the chancel, there before me on the wall was a monument to the very man. So, although I don’t have an image of Thomas, it was nice to come upon this monument from his parishioners, in recognition of his 36 years service to the village in the role of vicar.
I next sought out a bench behind the church on which to sit and finish what remained of my lunch. Unfortunately there was no shade, so I was rather cooked by the sun as I had my quick snack. The view from the bench left nothing to be desired. It was glorious.
Buoyed up by my success so far, I next went in search of the gravestone of my great-great-grandparents, Richard Bartlett Willcocks (d.1904) and his wife Elizabeth née Parker (d.1909). Although I’m led to believe they were quite significant people in the local community, I wasn’t altogether confident I’d find a gravestone for them. I first searched the overflow graveyard where my great-great-aunt-and-uncle are buried, but no sign of them was to be found there. So I began a trawl across the main graveyard that surrounds the church. And to my great delight, after just a little time searching, I came across their grave. Unfortunately the inscription is rather indistinct, but the name Richard Bartlett Willcocks is very legible. What a splendid find.
Just behind where I stood could be seen the parish hall. This building was once the village school. I noticed on the wall of the building there was a plaque which gives the date the school was built. This was another good find, as it verifies that this would have been the very school attended by my great-grandmother whilst residing at nearby Butsford Barton.
I then walked down Drunkard's Lane, as it is so called, completely sober, but thinking as I went, how nice an ice cold beer would be. This lane comes out by a building that is labelled the Old School. So these two old school buildings of Colebrooke village remain standing, but sadly Colebrooke does not have a functioning school today. Possibly the IT suite was no longer sustainable.
My path now took me into fields, dropping quite steeply towards a railway line. I’d watched a couple of trains running through the valley as I ate my lunch, although not on this line as it transpires. The existence of the railway in the valley only becomes apparent as trains are heard to rumble by. With due caution (possibly excessive, since this is the branch to Okehampton, which I believe has few regular services) I crossed the line.
I then walked under a railway bridge (this being the line to Barnstaple) into Penstone, a small hamlet on the outskirts of Colebrooke. There are a number of pretty cottages dotted along the lane. This was the last known place of residence of my great-great grandparents, Richard Bartlett Willcocks and his wife Elizabeth née Parker. As previously mentioned, they are to be found buried in Colebrooke graveyard.
The lane I walked then entered a substantial cutting. The sides had been very steeply cut and there were trees overhanging me as I walked through. I was aware that some of the names of farms that I’d passed were suggestive of a hollow lane coming through this way. Could this be what I was looking at? I’m afraid I really don’t know. I was however wary of the overhanging trees. It has since come to my attention that this is known as Cromwell’s Cutting – peculiar story.
I was soon entering the town of Crediton, to my mind rather an untidy place, quite higgledy-piggledy, even though there are aspects that are pleasant. Walking down the main street I caught sight of a finger sign that promised a ‘Statue of St Boniface’. This struck me as unusual, and I just had to explore. And yes, as promised, standing overlooking Newcombe Meadows Park, is a statue, erected in 1960, unveiled by Princess Margaret, that is indeed to St Boniface. As St Boniface is our preeminent local saint, it feels quite apropos that there should be a statue to him. But why didn’t anyone tell me it was there?
I cut right through some suburban housing before entering a field from which, as I descended, the railway line came into view. This route promised to be a pleasant cut-through to the station. I arrived at Crediton Railway Station with about 20 minutes to spare before my train was due to arrive. I spent a little time looking around this rather quaint station. It’s a rarity in that it has survived very much in its original guise. Unfortunately, as I had noted walking through the main street of Crediton, everything closes here by 5pm, even on a Saturday, so the station café, though inviting, was closed, and there was no chance of tea. What a sleepy place Crediton is.
It had been a tiring walk, with the heat sapping all my strength, so I was glad to be on my train travelling home. But it had been a very enjoyable afternoon’s walk, made all the more rewarding for having provided a few more pieces to the puzzle that is my family’s history.
Note: An interesting development has occurred in respect of the rail line from Exeter to Yeoford that I used today. A news article from the BBC, ‘David Cameron says Okehampton railway line is 'most resilient'’ (29/01/2015), indicates that the prime minister, David Cameron, is saying that this is part of a preferred alternative route into Cornwall, a route that would be a ‘backup’ for the mainline through Dawlish, which was washed away last winter. This alternative route would go through Coleford Junction, which is very close to Colebrooke (see: Coleford Junction on Old-Maps). I find it rather difficult to contemplate high-speed trains coming through this quiet countryside. Where will it all end? Cornwall, I guess.
Walk Statistics:
Total Distance: 9.1 miles
Moving Time: 3hrs 25min
Stopped Time: 1hr 04min
Total Ascent: 271 metres
Maximum Elevation: 145 metres
Buses: (none)
Train: Digby & Sowton to Yeoford (with outward journey broken at Central Station, Exeter)
– Off-Peak Day Return £6.20
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