A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
November 8, 2024
Bicklime Tenement (aka Hockworthy Hill / Huckworthy Hill)
The name Bicklime dates from at least the 16th Century when it is mentioned in relation to the construction of a leat for Huckworthy Corn Mill at Huckworthy Bridge. The Plymouth and West Devon Record Office hold a licence, which is dated 30th November 1578 when Jerome Mayhowe, esq. from Boringdon and Nicholas Slanning, esq. of Bickleigh, were tasked: “To construct and maintain a weir at Byklym Wood alias Buckym Wood (Bicklime Wood) in the water called the Walkham, for his mill at Hokeford Bridge (Huckworthy)”. There is a further mention of Bicklime from the 17th Century, viz; Obadiah Wickett of Sampford Spiney, carpenter – House and land at Bitlyme near Huckworthy Bridge (dated 1640. Rent was 3s 4d).
Taken from the History of Welltown Farm (by John Pigeon), the origins of the name Bicklime may be found: “…the stream that forms the southern boundary to the enclosure is apparently called Bicklake, running through as it does through Bicklake Meadow from the spring. Reaney gives us the origin of this name ‘bicere’ beekeeper, hence bic(ere) wielle, the spring of the / used by the beekeepers and bic(ere) lac, the stream of the / used by the beekeepers”.
On 19th Century OS maps, Bicklime Wood was being shown (on the west side of the Walkham Valley), and is still extant on 21st Century maps. Two other references to the name Bicklime appear on 19th Century maps, namely; as Bicklime Down, which is now what is named Huckworthy Common and a small holding / tenement named simply Bicklime, which was located to the south of the aforementioned Down.
Bicklime Tenement dates from at least the turn of 19th Century, when a tenant called Mrs Elizabeth Holmes is recorded (1809). By the time of the Sampford Spiney Tithe in 1841, Bicklime Tenement was being recorded as Hockworthy Mill, comprising two fields, a house and a garden. The landowner at the time of the Tithe was recorded as the ‘Trustees of Humphrey Hall, Sir George Pownell Adams and John William Spice’. Later, from 1851 census through to 1911 census, the small holding / tenement was recorded as Huckworthy Hill.
This post covers an exploration of Bicklime Tenement / Hockworthy Hill / Huckworthy Hill and the immediate environs including history of the tenants up to 20th century. The history includes a break-in, attempted murder and a possible 46 year occupation by a tenant. The information contained in this post would not have been possible without the assistance of Dartmoor Chris and DW Research Services, for which the author would like to give a big thank you.
Bibliography
Plymouth Archives, The Box ; Ref 81/R/10/10/12
History of Welltown Farm – John Pigeon (with thanks to Richard Glanville for the reference)
Sketch map of Huckworthy Common and the main features covered in this post, highlighting the location of Bicklime / Hockworthy Hill (later Huckworthy Hill)This gate is at the south west corner of Huckworthy Common and is the access point when coming from the Huckworthy Bridge roadHuckworthy Common which has been known as Bicklime Down and Hockworthy CommonAt the north west corner of Huckworthy Common is a prominent Cross. The cross is around 1.8m high and appears to have one short and one broken arm. Huckworthy Cross lies on the junction of the road from Horrabridge to Sampford Spiney and the Sampford Barton turning. The road to Sampford Barton leads on to Plasterdown and eventually Warren’s CrossHuckworthy Cross is Grade II listed. Although the cross does not appear to be of great antiquity. It is very likely that this Cross was extant when Bicklime Tenement was built. Given Huckworthy Common was once called Bicklime Down, might this cross have once been called Bicklime Cross ?There is a benchmark on Huckworthy Cross. The benchmark reference is B.M 642.8Sketch of Bicklime Tenement / Hockworthy Hill and immediate environs based on a late 19th Century OS map. Although the Tithe apportionment (1841) identifies only one building, the late 19th Century OS map, shows three structuresThe Sampford Spiney Tithe Apportionment from 1841, where Bicklime Tenement was known as Hockworthy Hill. The name Bicklime, is shown on late 19th Century OS maps with Hockworthy Hill not appearing. The name Bicklime only appears on 21st Century OS maps when referring to the woodBicklime Tenement / Hockworthy Hill – the ruin shown appear to have been the main house (annotated ‘A’ on the sketch map). The building is ruinous with the south west corner surviving to around 2.5mThis wall is where the late 19th Century OS maps show a second building (annotated ‘B’ on sketch map). There is unusually no information relating to Bicklime Tenement / Hocking Hill in the Devon Historic Environment Record. The author is grateful to Dartmoor Chris, for providing two entries from the Sherborne Mercury dated 1809 and 1816, which gives some insight into the tenement. The entry showing John Willcocks (1816) is interesting in relation to Willsworthy Mine. This mine was famous for producing some of the UK’s finest silver specimens. The mine dates to at least 1775, but closed in 1817 (is this why John Willcocks was leaving – 1816 ?). The mine reopened again as Huckworthy Bridge Mine in the 1840’s and in 1860-61.This hugely overgrown wall is where the late 19th Century OS maps show a third building (annotated ‘C’ on sketch map).The author is grateful to the excellent dwresearchservices.co.uk for the information in the above table which shows census details from 1851 through to 1911. There is evidence which suggests Thomas Cole may have left the small holding around 1873 and presumably William and Mary Tucker with their son moved in. It is known that William Tucker was on the electoral roll for the small holding in 1915 with his death in 1919. Therefore, it is possible William Tucker lived here for 46 years. Did the small holding become ruinous after William Tucker’s passing ?Extracts from two papers (supplied by Dartmoor Chris) which indicate that Robert Bolt (mentioned in 1851 census), whilst living at Huckworthy Hill, had items stolen from the house. The perpetrator was a John Bickle who it seems had previous in the Walkhampton area. After Bickle’s four years penal servitude, it would seem that Bickle returned to Huckworthy Hill to gain revenge – this is covered later in this postView of the main building (A) and retaining wall / building (B) as viewed from the south eastThe remains of the south west corner of the main house. The Lower Field can be seen (in the sunshine) beyond. This corner of the building is located at SX53187 70802This small alcove in south west corner of the main house. On first viewing, it looks like a fireplace. That said, is is very small and does not lead to a chimney or flueA possible second alcove in the main houseAfter the break-in at Huckworthy Hill in 1854, the perpetrator John Bickle, having been to prison for four years returned (in 1858) to seek revenge and attempted to murder Robert Bolt’s daughter (Joanna), as she had testified against him. The outcome of this case is covered at the very end of this post.This newspaper article is possible evidence of Thomas Cole just about to leave the small holing in 1873. It certainly looks like the probable contents and effects of a small holding. Is this the year that William Tucker moved in ?The remains of the main house with the Higher Lower Field (in the sunshine) beyondRetaining Wall – this is located at SX53187 790802Higher Field1906 electoral roll with William Tucker (aged 71 at this point) at Huckworthy Hill. Obviously Mary Tucker wouldn’t have appeared here1915 electoral roll with William Tucker (aged 80 at this point) at Huckworthy Hill. William would die 4 years later in 1919Entrance to the Holloway to the south of the Bicklime Tenement. The location is SX53191 70784East (Bicklime Wood) end of the Holloway Path leading into Bicklime Wood and a Spring to the east of Bicklime TenementZig-zag path leading to Bicklime WoodZig-zag path leading to Bicklime WoodSpring on edge of Bicklime Wood. It seems likely that the tenants from Bicklime Tenement would have used thisGranite Trough next to the SpringThe trough is located at SX53255 70799The Granite Trough and SpringThe court case of John Bickle – Joanna Bolt testimonyThe court case of John Bickle – Witness and police testimonies The court case of John Bickle – More testimonies The court case of John Bickle – The sentence. NOTE: Prosecutrix is an old-fashioned word that means a woman who works as a prosecutor. A prosecutor is someone who brings criminal charges against someone else in a court of law, as in the case of Joanna Bolt.
