Heavitree
Encyclopedia
Heavitree is a district of Exeter
, Devon
, England
. Part of the historic district is currently one of the wards for elections to the City Council
. Formerly an independent Urban District, it became a part of Exeter in 1913. Its name is thought to derive from heafod treow (old English
for "head tree"), which refers to a tree that either served as a neutral meeting place for Saxon
kings, or as a convenient place for hanging criminals. The last executions for witchcraft
in England took place at Heavitree in 1682, when the 'Bideford
Witches' Temperance Lloyd, Mary Trembles, and Susanna Edwards were executed. (Local folklore used to associate the name with the aftermath of the Monmouth Rebellion
of 1685, when Judge Jeffreys supposedly ran out of gibbets.) It lies to the east of the city centre, and was formerly the first significant village outside the city on the road to London
. Much traffic continues to pass through the district, since it lies on one of the most convenient routes from the city centre to the northbound M5 motorway
and eastbound A30
trunk road.
Heavitree's main thoroughfare is Fore Street, a shopping street which rises sharply to Livery Dole, the former execution site, now marked by almshouses and a small medieval chapel built of red Heavitree stone. From here, Heavitree Road runs down into Exeter City Centre, passing the main city Police Station (right) and St Luke's Hall, part of the University of Exeter
, left.
Heavitree is also the base for the Royal Devon and Exeter Heavitree Hospital
.
In 2002, a yew tree in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels, Heavitree was included among the "50 Great British Trees" to celebrate the Golden Jubilee
of Queen Elizabeth II
. However, it is unlikely that this is the actual tree from which Heavitree gets its name. The church itself was built in 1844-46 to the design of architect David Mackintosh, replacing an earlier medieval church. Its most imposing feature is the west tower, built in 1890 to the design of E. Harbottle.
The district's football team, Heavitree Social United (a merger of the previous Heavitree United and Heavitree Social Club), is one of the better known local teams in Exeter, playing in the Devon and Exeter Football League
Premier division; the club has previously played in the (more senior) Devon County League.
Heavitree stone is a type of red sandstone that was formerly quarried in the area and was used to construct many of Exeter's older buildings, including Exeter Guildhall
(said to be the oldest municipal building in England that is still in use).
The Heavitree Brewery was a local brewer, located in Heavitree; its history can be traced back to 1790. It was the last brewery in Exeter to cease production, continuing until 1970, the brewery buildings were demolished in 1980. The name continues in use as the owner of a chain of pubs in South West England
, and Heavitree Brewery PLC continues as a quoted company with its address in Exeter. There is also a linked charitable trust
.
Sir Thomas Bodley
, the founder of the Bodleian Library
of the University of Oxford
, was born in Heavitree.
The writings of Richard Hooker
(1554–1600) were very influential in the Church of England in his own time and later. He was born in Heavitree and has a statue in the grounds of Exeter Cathedral
.
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Part of the historic district is currently one of the wards for elections to the City Council
Exeter City Council
Exeter City Council is the council and local government of the city of Exeter, Devon.The City Council provides a range of services within the city including housing, refuse collections and recycling, planning, economic development, tourism, leisure and arts facilities and activities...
. Formerly an independent Urban District, it became a part of Exeter in 1913. Its name is thought to derive from heafod treow (old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
for "head tree"), which refers to a tree that either served as a neutral meeting place for Saxon
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
kings, or as a convenient place for hanging criminals. The last executions for witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
in England took place at Heavitree in 1682, when the 'Bideford
Bideford
Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
Witches' Temperance Lloyd, Mary Trembles, and Susanna Edwards were executed. (Local folklore used to associate the name with the aftermath of the Monmouth Rebellion
Monmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
of 1685, when Judge Jeffreys supposedly ran out of gibbets.) It lies to the east of the city centre, and was formerly the first significant village outside the city on the road to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Much traffic continues to pass through the district, since it lies on one of the most convenient routes from the city centre to the northbound M5 motorway
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
and eastbound A30
A30 road
The 284 miles A30 road from London to Land's End, historically known as the Great South West Road used to provide the most direct route from London to the south west; more recently the M3 motorway and A303 road performs this function for much of the route and only parts of A30 now retain trunk...
trunk road.
Heavitree's main thoroughfare is Fore Street, a shopping street which rises sharply to Livery Dole, the former execution site, now marked by almshouses and a small medieval chapel built of red Heavitree stone. From here, Heavitree Road runs down into Exeter City Centre, passing the main city Police Station (right) and St Luke's Hall, part of the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
, left.
Heavitree is also the base for the Royal Devon and Exeter Heavitree Hospital
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital , is a medium-sized teaching hospital situated in Exeter, England. The hospital is part of the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust which also runs Heavitree Hospital, Honeylands Children’s Centre , the Exeter Mobility...
.
In 2002, a yew tree in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels, Heavitree was included among the "50 Great British Trees" to celebrate the Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. However, it is unlikely that this is the actual tree from which Heavitree gets its name. The church itself was built in 1844-46 to the design of architect David Mackintosh, replacing an earlier medieval church. Its most imposing feature is the west tower, built in 1890 to the design of E. Harbottle.
The district's football team, Heavitree Social United (a merger of the previous Heavitree United and Heavitree Social Club), is one of the better known local teams in Exeter, playing in the Devon and Exeter Football League
Devon and Exeter Football League
The Devon and Exeter Football League is a football competition based in Devon, England. Founded in 1900, it consists of ten divisions...
Premier division; the club has previously played in the (more senior) Devon County League.
Heavitree stone is a type of red sandstone that was formerly quarried in the area and was used to construct many of Exeter's older buildings, including Exeter Guildhall
Exeter Guildhall
Exeter Guildhall in High Street, Exeter, Devon, England has been the centre of civic government for the city for at least 600 years. Much of the fabric of the building is medieval, though the elaborate frontage was added in the 1590s and the interior was extensively restored in the 19th century...
(said to be the oldest municipal building in England that is still in use).
The Heavitree Brewery was a local brewer, located in Heavitree; its history can be traced back to 1790. It was the last brewery in Exeter to cease production, continuing until 1970, the brewery buildings were demolished in 1980. The name continues in use as the owner of a chain of pubs in South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
, and Heavitree Brewery PLC continues as a quoted company with its address in Exeter. There is also a linked charitable trust
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
.
Sir Thomas Bodley
Thomas Bodley
Sir Thomas Bodley was an English diplomat and scholar, founder of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.-Biography:...
, the founder of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, was born in Heavitree.
The writings of Richard Hooker
Richard Hooker
Richard Hooker was an Anglican priest and an influential theologian. Hooker's emphases on reason, tolerance and the value of tradition came to exert a lasting influence on the development of the Church of England...
(1554–1600) were very influential in the Church of England in his own time and later. He was born in Heavitree and has a statue in the grounds of Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
.