Stoke Gabriel

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What's in a Name? - Stoke Gabriel

Stoke Gabriel, up river from Dartmouth and Kingswear, is a beautiful and peaceful village which has been occupied for more than 1,000 years.

Stoke comes from the word ‘Stock’ meaning ‘a walled enclosure’ – a necessary precaution for many early settlements. “Gabriel”, according to eminent local historian John Risdon comes from the village’s stunning church – The Church of St Mary and St Gabriel.

The church has a 13th century tower and the rest dates from the 15th century but like many churches in the local area it is clear there was a place of worship on the site long before then. The church was allowed to fall into near ruin in the 14th century before the main building was rebuilt in the 15th century. The Church House Inn nearby was built in 1152 and was owned by the church. It has also been the courthouse – the stocks still stand outside today.

There is a famous 1,000 (or 1,500 if you believe some writings) year-old yew tree in its grounds; the long-lived trees were often planted in ‘holy’ places, so it could indicate how long the site has been occupied as a place of worship. Legend states that if you walk around it a number of times backwards you will have a wish granted (some accounts say seven times, some just three: perhaps the more times you do it the more unlikely the wish is that will come true).  

The church is named after St Mary – the ‘Virgin Mary’ of Catholic doctrine  - who is a huge figure in western culture, despite only being mentioned 19 times by name in the Bible, with nearly all of those being in the story of Jesus’ birth. She has inspired veneration and incredible acts of piety across the world over two millennia.

Its other Saint – St Gabriel – is a marvellously interesting fellow from Turkey who was Bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church’s main monastery. He achieved his Sainthood thanks to his ‘simple life’ and by the impressive feat of bringing four people back from the dead – including one man who had been dead for more than a year.

There is an orchard alongside the churchyard that is reported to be one of the oldest apple orchards in the county.

The village was always part of the Paignton Estate and is listed in the Domesday Book in 1187 as being owned by the Bishop of Exeter.

The village was the home harbour to John Davis – one of the Elizabethan era’s most remarkable (and under-celebrated) mariners. Davis was born on the Sandridge estate and was a contemporary and friend of the Gilbert family who lived at Greenway – and were related to the famous Sir Walter Raleigh.

Davis had some incredible journeys when sailing the seven seas was akin to being a astronaut travelling to Mars today. He mapped the entrance to the strait between Greenland and Newfoundland – now named in his honour – and sailed extensively in the Indian Ocean and around Asia.  He commanded a ship that fought against the Armada, invented his own navigational aids and wrote books on navigation that were to be the main text for mariners for hundreds of years. He was killed by pirates off Singapore in 1605 and is barely remembered today.

The village probably grew up because its safe and enclosed harbour was a good place from which to launch boats for fishing – and it is still the centre for salmon fishing on the Dart.

The village was also home to the solidly named George Jackson Churchward – who was made CBE thanks to his work for the Great Western Railway in the 19th and early 20th Centuries.  

He designed locomotives and carriages that were more powerful and comfortable. He is reputed to have told directors of the company, who had angrily asked why other rail operators got engines for half the price of Churchward’s designs:  “Because one of mine could pull two of their bloody things backwards!”

His strong will meant on retiring he moved into politics – although he never returned to Stoke Gabriel to live and instead became Mayor of Swindon.

Today Stoke Gabriel is a tranquil haven for all that live there – it has a thriving community with football and cricket clubs and a boating association. It’s described in a number of guides, quite rightly, as a ‘hidden gem’.

First Published December 2012 By The Dart