Meavy Church and oak ([1834])

G. P. Hearder
  • image IMAGEFORDA3617
RepositoryLibraryShelf
Devon West Country Studies sPER/SOU
Illustration Reference
SC1726
Location
CD 27 DVD 4
Publication Details
Date
[1834]
Place
Scope and Content
THE SOUTH DEVON MONTHLY MUSEUM. PLYMOUTH, JULY 1ST, 1834. VOL. IV. No. 19. PRICE SIXPENCE. Pages 10-2. THE SPECTATOR, No. VI. MEAVY CHURCH AND OAK.THE pencil of Mr. N. M. Condy has again furnished us with the subject of a frontispiece, which, it is probable, may prove interesting to many of our readers -not only as a graphic delineation, but as a memento of Auld Lang Syne.The secluded hamlet of Meavy is situated in a broad valley, on the very edge of the great Devonshire moor. It consists of a few neat cottages and an antique church, surrounded by the "last home" of many a moorland peasant. Immediately in front of the church-yard wall is the gigantic Meavy Oak. This venerable tree, though it has suffered from the touch of age, still continues proudly magnificent. It is of an extraordinary circumference, and is completely hollowed out by the slow but never-failing operations of time. The cavity, as is affirmed by mine hostess of the "Royal Oak," a little inn standing hard by, once accommodated nine persons at a dinner party: it is now used as a turf house. The lower branches still obey the voice of spring, and spread their living canopy over a large area of ground. The topmost boughs, however, are bare, having long ceased to be hung with the massive foliage which they bore in the days of their young lustihood. Over them the all-conquering hand of time has indeed achieved a perfect victory. They impress their rifted outline black and cheerlessly against the deep blue of the heavens, and in some places, where the bark has dropped away, the core of the wood displays itself in ghastly whiteness. When the withered top is beheld against the bright back ground of a serene evening sky, it wears an unusually melancholy aspect, which is rendered the more striking from being contrasted with the vegetation yet lingering on the lower branches.The church contains no monuments of particular interest; a neat tablet is placed near the altar, to the memory of Mrs. Jope, wife of Rev. George Jope.The only "hostel" in the village is "The Royal Oak" which, though of humble exterior, affords comfortable acccomodation [sic] to the way-worn traveller. In summer this is a halting place for amateur fishermen who stroll from the neighbouring towns to try their piscatorial skill in the waters of the Plym. He who is fond of studying character in the kitchen of a country inn cannot do better than spend a winter's evening by the blazing peat fire of "The Royal Oak," for it will afford him a fine opportunity of remarking the peculiarities of the untutored children of the moor; and perchance he may be treated with a tale of the pixies which are said to haunt the rugged brow of Sheepstor.At a short distance from the church are two layers of wrought granite blocks, placed octagonally, the outer edge of the upper layer being about a foot within that of the lower; these stones doubtless formed the basement of a cross although, in their present mutilated state, every vestige of that structure has disappeared. Numerous similar remains exist at present in the neighbourhood; the large and most perfect is at Buckland Monachorum, but as in the present case, the shaft, which it supported has been destroyed. [Text may be taken from a different edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]
Author
Format
Wood engraving
Dimensions
87x133mm
Places
Aspects
Exterior
Counties
Subjects
Dates
1834