Explore Eggesford's fascinating heritage: All Saints Church with new local history exhibition (part of group opening with Eggesford Garden and Eggesford Barton)

This year All Saints Church is joined by Eggesford Barton's quadrangle farmstead & the original walled kitchen gardens of Eggesford House (the former garden centre), being beautifully restored before reopening, to represent the heritage of the vast aristocratic estate (at its peak over 16,000 acres) held by families of regional and national importance, such as the Reigneys, Chichesters and Fellowes, and later the Earls of Portsmouth.
The Chichesters' earlier Eggesford House was adjacent, before being relocated to today's grand Grade II building higher up the valley.
Included by historian Dr Todd Gray in his 'Devon's Fifty Best Churches', the church is Grade II* listed, with a C14/C15 tower, impressive C17 Chichester monuments, and later owner William Fellowes' C18 monument. The 1867 restoration by the 5th Earl of Portsmouth installed an unusually large family pew, and moved the remarkable Earl of Donegall monument to opposite today's north entrance, fronted by rare Georgian box pews. The churchyard holds Fellowes and Churchill chest tombs and access to the Portsmouth vault, resting place for the 4th and 5th Earls (the vault is closed for this event).
The church hosts an enhanced local history exhibition, and recent metal detectorist finds from the Civil War and other periods.
Cakes/ refreshments available in the church; main parking by the walled gardens, or access via the Tarka Line and the Tarka Trail. Access to the walled gardens is by guided tour, every half hour.

Timings

Sunday 20 September:

1100-1615

Location & directions

All Saints Church, Eggesford, Chulmleigh, Devon, EX18 7QU

Directions:

Leave the A377 at Eggesford Station and cross the railway line and the river Taw. The unmetalled road to the Garden, Church and Barton is the first turning left (formerly the road to the now closed garden centre). Parking is available at the walled gardens (with disabled parking also at the church and at Eggesford Barton). Eggesford Station on the Tarka Line is about 10 minutes' walk, and the Tarka Trail passes by. Toilets available at Eggesford Barton. what3words: vans.bravo.generals

Contact on day:

Jonathan Crofts

Telephone number:

+447798681707

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Wheelchair users can access the church, up two steps with assistance at the north door - or there is a separate west door which can be opened. Main parking is directly next to the Garden. There is disabled parking at the church (where there are refreshments). Nearest toilets are at Eggesford Barton, where there is also disabled parking.

Additional information

Historian Dr Todd Gray wrote of the church: 'This is a building dominated by a need to be remembered and to do so ostentatiously... The monuments dominate the church and are, according to Miss Cresswell a century ago, more suited to a cathedral than to a small village church... the first great monument... is the only one of its kind in Devon... in the east end of the chapel is a third monument which catches the eye. This massive collection of marble dates from the early eighteenth century... Notice also the Tortoise Stove with the motto slow but sure combustion.'

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