Hawkchurch

St John the Baptist Church, Hawkchurch
© Julie Baker 2010

Hawkchurch is a village in East Devon, 3 miles North East of Axminster and 4 miles North of Lyme Regis. The parish, in the Archdeaconry of Dorset and Diocese of Bristol is located on the border of Devon and Dorset. Because of its location, it has been classified as part of each county at different times, but was formally transferred from Dorset to Devon in 1896.

The parish church of St. John the Baptist dates from Saxon times, however, the current building is thought to have been built in the 15th century

The parish comprises the tythings of Wyldecourt and Phillyholme. The manor belonged to Cerne abbey; and was given, at the dissolution, to John Leigh. Lambert's Castle Hill rises to an altitude of about 990 feet; and has traces of a Roman camp.

In 1878 the Rev. John Going became rector to the parish and planted rose trees on the walls of every cottage which gave Hawkchurch its title "The Village of Roses".

The village pub, "The Old Inn", is a traditional coaching house and a hostelry has been on the site since 1543.

St John the Baptist Church, Hawkchurch
© Julie Baker 2010

The Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Hawkchurch is Julie Baker
Please contact Julie by e-mail if you have further queries (click on Julie's name above for a preformatted email).
New email address from 5 Jul 2024.