Lapford

Welcome to Lapford

Lapford is a parish and traditional rural village in the heart of the Devonshire countryside, overlooking the river Yeo.  Steeped in history, Lapford has traces back to the Iron Age being a place of worship by the Celts.

The village features a playing field with two play areas, football pitch and fenced playground.  There is also a request-stop railway station on the Tarka line, which runs between Exeter and Barnstaple.

Interesting Facts

• Lapford falls under an area of Devon known as ‘the River country’ for the many rivers the run nearby.
• The nearby Bury Barton is the site of a Roman fort.  It is thought to be a large pre-Flavian fort that was succeeded by a smaller one, which in turn was later abandoned early in the Flavian period.
• In the early part of the 20th century, the milk processing company Ambrosia had a large creamery and processing facility at Lapford.
• The village is said to be haunted by two ghosts.  The first is the former Vicar of Lapford’s church, the St Thomas of Canterbury Church, John Radford. He murdered his curate in the 1860s, but was spared from the gallows by a jury of his village parishioners. For his dying wish, he asked to be buried in the church chancel. However, the church authorities would not allow this.  Instead, he was buried outside the vestry door where his grave can still be seen today. As a result, his angry spirit is said to still wander around the village.  Lapford is also said to be haunted by the spirit of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. Every 29th December, on the anniversary of his murder, he gallops through the village on a white horse on his way to confront his murderer Sir William de Tracey.

Things to Do and Places to See

• Visit the grade I listed parish church dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury.  Originally a Norman chapel, the chapel was rebuilt and extended by Sir William De Tracey (on the orders of King Henry II) as penance for his part in the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170.  De Tracey was lord of the manor of Bradninch, which at that time, included what is now Lapford.  The church features a late 15th Century carved screen, which is uniquely carved on both sides.
• Lapford Village Market takes place on the last Saturday each month at Lapford Victory Hall.  The market runs from 11am to 1pm with various stalls and light lunches available.
• Eggesford Forest

Places to Eat

• The village has one pub – The old Malt Scoop Inn, an old coaching inn from the 16th Century – that offers an à la carte menu, daily specials and Sunday roasts.  The pub also hosts regular events including quiz nights and karaoke as well as themed meals for special occasions.  In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the pub was also the local undertakers and the original laying-out table can still be seen in the kitchen bar (minus the bodies of course).
• Nearby villages offer restaurant food at local pubs including The Lymington Arms at Wembworthy and The Devonshire Dumpling at Down St Mary.

Nearby

• Chawleigh
• Coldridge
• Down St Mary
• Morchard Bishop
• Nymet Rowland

Acknowledgement

Image courtesy of Martin Bodman / Lapford: towards the village / CC BY-SA 2.0