Cockington is famously one of the most photographed villages in the UK and has been attracting visitors to Torquay and the English Riviera for more than 100 years. But how much do you know about one of the prettiest villages in Devon? We have put together some lesser-known facts, as well as unique things to do in the village.  

1. Where does the name "Cockington" come from?

There’s been a settlement at Cockington village, Torquay since Saxon Times, when they would have landed on the shores of the bay and headed up to the wooded valley to find somewhere suitable to build their farms. The original name was Cocca’s-tun, with “cocca” perhaps being the group leader and “tun” meaning farmstead. Another fun possibility is that “cocca” refers to the iron-rich red soils that you will spot throughout the village.

2. Which important families lived in Cockington?

While a dwelling has probably stood where Cockington Court since Saxon Times, it was the Fitzmartin family (who renamed themselves de Cockington) who built the first manor house. They lived there for 300 years before it passed on to the Cary family in 1375. Ownership was then passed onto the Mallock family who owned the estate till 1933. Today the country park is run by the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and Cockington Court is managed by the Torbay Development Agency and is home to artist studios, a gift shop, galleries, a café and a registry office. 

3. Cockington historical trade route

The crossroads in Cockington Village was once an important trade route, as there wasn’t a coast road between Torquay and Paignton until the 1840s. The 14th century Cockington Forge would no doubt have had a busy trade providing horseshoes and other iron implements. In medieval times, there was a pond in front of the forge, as well as a ducking stool for gossiping women. Meanwhile, men would be placed in the stocks, with plenty of rotten vegetables and manure available to throw at them.

4. Cockington's unusual trees

As you walk down the path through Cockington Country Park towards Cockington Court, you will pass an arboretum on your left-hand side. This is basically a tree museum which contains the squire’s collection of different species of trees. The tree museum is bounded on one side by a ha-ha, which is a sunken fence that stops animals from getting in without obstructing the view. There is also an avenue of lime trees planted in 1951 as part of a trade conference, with a tree planted for each of the 42 countries that attended. 

5. The history of Cockington's Gamekeeper's Cottage

The Gamekeepers Cottage can be found above the ornamental lakes on the edge of Manscombe Woods – which means haunted of devil’s wood in old English. In the 19^th century, a gamekeeper lived there, with the job of rearing pheasant for the squire to hunt. He also had the job of protecting the birds from poachers. And penalties were incredibly harsh. In the 1830s, a 12-year-old boy was transported to Australia for poaching a rabbit.

6. Cockington ponds

The ponds are believed to have been created by the monks at Torre Abbey who have a spiritual involvement with the de Cockington family, who were lords of the manor at the time. It’s believed they were used to provide carp for the monks’ table. Later, following the dissolution of the monasteries, they may have been used to soak cattle hides in preparation for tanning. Later the Mallock family converted them into ornamental ponds as part of their country park.   

7. Agatha Christie and Cockington

Cockington may have been the inspiration for St Mary Mead, the hometown of Miss Marple in the Agatha Christie books. A young Agatha frequently rode to Cockington by horse and was friends with the Mallock family. Agatha also trod the boards (or should that be lawns) when she took part in outdoor theatre productions. Today the café at Cockington Court is called the Seven Dials after the Agatha Christie book, while open-air productions are still hosted outside every summer.

8. Cockington's Apple Day

Apple Day was started at Cockington back in 1993 and to the rear of Cockington Court, there are acres of apple trees that were traditionally used for making cider. On the carriage drive junction you will spot a pound, a round granite stone once used for crushing apples using horsepower, while there is also a wooden cider press near the artisan craft studios that is used to make apple juice and cider for the Cockington Apple Day celebrations every autumn.

9. Sir Edwin Lutyens Country Pub

The Drum Inn Cockington is a thatched village pub that was designed by the celebrated architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens and was originally planned to be part of a new ‘model village’. However, only the pub and its gardens were ever to be completed before Cockington was sold off in 1946. The bricks to build the pub were transported from Belgium and the chimney stacks resemble another of his creations, the cenotaph in London.

10. The history of Cockington Church

St George and St Mary church dates back to about 1069 and it’s believed that its 20-metre tower, with walls almost two metres thick in places, doubled as a refuge from the very real threat of pirates. There were once three bells in the tower, all cracked until they were recast in 1908. An Old Time Village Fair was held to raise the funds, which was so successful four bells were installed. This was the forerunner of the Cockington Fair, which is still held today. 

How to get to Cockington

While you can drive to the village, we would highly recommend the walk from Torquay to Cockington, along the water meadows. This will take you past the thatched Cockington Cottages and village shops, as well as Rose Cottage and Cockington tea rooms. The number 62 bus also visits the village from Torquay Harbour.