restaurants and public houses. Some years ago an EXE VALLEY CHURCH TRAIL was begun, but not completed. It is proposed to complete this project in partnership with Tiverton Deanery.

11 . 3 . 1 Bickleigh has a well-developed tourist industry based on Bickleigh Mill, Bickleigh Light Railway Centre, Bickleigh Castle, The Fisherman’s Cot, The Trout Inn and Bickleigh Cottage Guest House.

11.3.2 Morebath has special historical importance. The attractive church has a unique written record of resistance to sixteenth century religious change and independence from the jurisdiction of the Pope in Rome. This is now described in the nationally acclaimed book Voices of Morebath.

1 1 . 3 . 3 Templeton Church once belonged to the Knights Templar, and is entered through the former
mediaeval priest’s house.

11.3.4 At Cruwys Morchard, the church boasts the best early eighteenth century screen in Devon.

1 1 . 3 . 5 All Saints, Holcombe Rogus has a rare example of a completely preserved Jacobean family pew. It contains the screen brought from St. Peter’s, Tiverton, at the time of the restoration of the latter in 1854.

11.3.6 Other architectural and furnishing features exhibited by the churches include wagon roofs (Bampton, Rackenford, Silverton, Stoodleigh and Washfield churches), hammerbeam roof (Bickleigh), pulpit with sounding board (Loxbeare), rare stained glass (Cadbury) and family monuments (Bickleigh, Huntsham, Oakford, Holcombe Rogus).

11.4 Prominent county houses There are a number of country houses in the area, some of which are open to the public regularly or by special arrangement.

11.4.1 The area has two prominent National Trust properties, Knightshayes to the north of Tiverton and Killerton east of Silverton, both having substantial grounds. These bring a large number of visitors to the area, and are anchor points for the local tourist industry. Both provide signed walks on National Trust owned land outside the houses and gardens which are open to the public for most of the year.

1 1 . 4 . 2 Fursdon House, Cadbury, is Georgian in external appearance, hiding an older interior core. It is open to the public on a limited basis.

11.4.3 Holcombe Court, in the centre of Holcombe Rogus, separated from the church by a wall containing a circular dovecote, is possibly the best preserved Elizabethan manor house in Devon. The south entrance, visible from the entrance gate is dominated by a large buttressed tower over the entrance. The
House is open by special arrangement.

11.5 Grand Western Canal and the Visitors’ Centre project

The Canal was constructed between Tiverton and Lowdwells near Holcombe Rogus between 1810 and 1814, and continued towards Taunton until 1838. The latter section was no longer used by 1867. The stretch between Tiverton and Lowdwells was developed as a Country Park in the early 1970s. At the Canal basin in Tiverton, the wall of the canal embankment at Tiverton contains thirteen limekilns of which two have been restored. The limeburner’s cottage has become a tea room. The VISITORS’ CENTRE project, led by the Canal Country Park management, proposes a venue at the Canal basin to display information on the history and wildlife, for merchandising and for educational activities.

11.5.1 The Grand Western Canal is an important location for wildlife conservation and is designated as a Local Nature Reserve and County Wildlife Site.

11.5.2 Work on conservation is implemented by the Canal manager and two rangers, and supported by the Friends of Canal group.

11.5.3 The Canal is a popular recreational area and for tourist location, characterised by horse-drawn barge trips lasting two hours.

11.5.4 The industrial history associated with the Canal is an important facet of Tiverton’s history, and part of the distinctiveness of the town.

11.6 River fishing

Most of the banks of the river Exe are fly-fished in season. This has not precluded the enjoyment of the river by visiting canoe groups, but clearly any development of watersports facilities on the Exe would need to take account of this activity.