Littleham Churchyard EX8 2QH the Largest Churchyard in Devon a Brief Overview

Littleham Churchyard EX8 2QH

The largest Churchyard in Devon

A brief overview.

The Church here is medieval, so it is likely that there have been people buried here since those days. Sadly we have no records of the location of individual graves going back that far. It seems likely that part of the area around the church may have been cleared at some time, and graves re- used. Over the years various additions to the site have been made - at one stage even at the cost of some cottages facing Littleham Road!

We know that there must be over 12,000 people buried here - the present site is over 12 acres, and it is the largest churchyard in Devon. A vast, vast area, for which the Church is responsible. However, as there is no civic cemetery in Exmouth, East Devon District Council does give us some financial support to help with the maintenance. But their resources are severely stretched, so the amount of their annual grant is decreasing in ‘real’ terms.

The Parochial Church Council is keen to embrace a policy of bio-diversity - to encourage flora and fauna and to provide a habitat for birds, bats and insects etc. Where grass is cut too short, this just cannot happen. Bat boxes will start appearing very soon!

We have therefore taken the conscious decision to leave certain areas of the Churchyard uncut for most of the year. The areas chosen are those where the graves are the least visited.

We are also proud that we have been able to establish a ‘Natural Burial Area’. Here the coffins used are totally bio-degradable, and no headstones are allowed. We shall shortly be installing a wooden bench at the entrance to the area, and also a Board containing the names of those buried in that area.

A few points of interest follow….. The references refer to Plot Numbers - the relevant sections are shown on the map opposite.

2 Bottom section of Churchyard (near the Church)

1. LYCHGATE - The Reverend W.H.D Purcell – As you walk into the entrance to the churchyard, you will pass through the Lychgate. The Lychgate was a memorial gift from the brothers and widow of the Rev William Henry D’Olivier Purcell who had been vicar of this parish for 19 years. Its structure is of English oak, roofed with oaken shingles and it stands upon a base of axed granite and local sandstone, in keeping with the material used in building the church. It is a fitting memorial to a man who laboured so long and faithfully towards his parishioners, to whom he was a devoted and earnest pastor. He is buried round by the Vestry door at the side of the church. (Plot H209) 2. NND ROOM - Rev James Boucher – The NND ROOM was built in memory of Rev James Boucher. He had been Curate of Littleham for 36 years (1865 – 1901) during which time he had endeared himself to the people of the village. His charity work was very wide spread and no request of charity from him was ever met with refusal of support. He founded and endowed many charities for the benefit of the poor. He was a most generous supporter of every charity in the parish and town of Exmouth. His local charitable achievements included the erection of the Church Institute and he contributed towards the building of Budleigh Salterton hospital, as Budleigh Salterton was his next parish after his time in Littleham. Known for his love of the people of the village of Littleham, every year The Reverend Boucher used to arrange a sumptuous high tea and sports day for the whole village in the field next to the thatched cottages. He also arranged ‘Penny Musicals’ once a month on a Saturday night in the schoolroom, where villagers were admitted with or without their penny! After he moved to Budleigh, he continued to preach at Littleham Church on Sunday afternoons, drawing huge crowds from all over the area. Every Sunday he continued to walk over from Budleigh to Littleham, but he gradually felt the infirmities of age and died two weeks after his 90th birthday. 3 When the ‘NND room’ was built, the committee tried to link it with the life of the man they were commemorating. For it was here that he had robed and proceeded to his ministerial duties, and it was here that he had dispensed the charities that his bounties had provided. His memory was further linked to the building by inscribing over the doorway the words that represented the spirit of his life, and that he chose for the designation of the charities that he founded – 'Non Nobis Domine' - which means ‘Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us; but unto thy Name give the praise.’ The room was extended in 2002 to provide a loo, a small kitchen and a store room - thanks to a legacy from Mr A. Connett. For many years Rev. James Boucher and Rev. WHD Purcell were associated in work together in the parish of Littleham so they developed a deep confidence in each other and great mutual respect of each other. The committee placed the memorials of the two men beside each other, so that they would always be remembered for their achievements in life and that in death they would not be divided. James Boucher is buried in the old section of the Churchyard, not far away from Lady Nelson. Plot D721)

3. PARISH CLARK AND MEMBER OF CHOIR - Henry Blackmore - A bit further up the right hand side of the path from the Lychgate and NND room is the grave of Henry Blackmore. (A61). Henry was chorister at Littleham Choir for 60 years and Parish Clerk for 46 years. Through his life he was very well respected. He owned a business at 19 Rolle Street in which he took on the role of Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer, Undertaker, and General House Furnisher and auctioneer. Henry died in 1928.

4. LADY NELSON - Lady Fanny Nelson (Frances Herbert Woolward, 1761-1831) is buried in plot D825 beside her son (Josiah Nisbet). He was her son from her first marriage to Dr Josiah Nisbet. Fanny became ill after her second husband (Horatio Nelson) died at Trafalgar in 1805 and she went to live with her son Josiah and her grandchildren in Paris. Her son and her grandchildren died in Paris. 4 Their bodies were brought to Exmouth at her request. They were buried together at Littleham and Lady Nelson would herself be buried there, too. She died on 6 May 1831 whilst away in London. She was 73 years old and her body was brought back to Littleham for burial.

5. ORIGINATOR OF SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH - Dawson Warren – originator of the submarine telegraph (d.1859) is buried right next to Lady Nelson. (Q18 or Q88?)

6. DRAKE FAMILY – The oldest inscription to the great family in the church is to be found on a fragment of flat stone in the flooring of the Chantry Aisle of the Church and the date is 1553. John Drake (1628) is buried in the churchyard along with other members of this notable family.

Naval Graves

The churchyard contains many tombstones dedicated to admirals and captains who were present at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and to other military leaders who spent their retirement in Exmouth. 7. ADMIRAL CHRISTOPHER NESHEM (1769 – 1853) (Plot D838) became an admiral in 1852 following 70 years of service in the Royal Navy.  In 1782 - Nesham entered the navy in January 1782 on board HMS Juno, and in her was present at the action off Cuddalore on 20 June 1783.  In 1785, he was for some time aboard HMS Edgar and aboard the frigate HMS Druid until March 1788.  In June 1790 he was appointed to HMS Salisbury.  On 17 November 1790 he was promoted to be lieutenant, and during the next two years served in the Channel Fleet.  In 1793 he was appointed to the 50-gun HMS Adamant, in which he served on the West Indian, Newfoundland, and home stations.  In 1797 he was her first lieutenant in the North Sea, when, during the mutiny and afterwards took part in the battle of Camperdown.

5  On 13 April 1801, invested with the command (which he retained until posted 29 April 1802 of the sloop HMS Suffisante.  On 29 April 1802 he was advanced to post rank, and from October 1804 to February 1805 was captain of HMS Foudroyant, in the Bay of Biscay,  In March 1807 he was appointed to HMS Ulysses of 44 guns, which he took out to the West Indies, and commanded at the reduction of Marie Galante, in March 1808. In July 1808 he was moved into HMS Intrepid of 64 guns, and in her, in the following February, took part in the capture of Martinique, and superintended the transport of the heavy guns and mortars. On  In 1830–1 Nesham commanded HMS Melville of 74 guns, in the Mediterranean. He retired as a rear-admiral on 10 January 1837, but was replaced on the active list on 17 August 1840. He became vice-admiral on 9 November 1846 and admiral on 30 July 1852. He died at Exmouth on 4 November 1853, aged 82. He was buried on 12th November 1853 in Littleham Churchyard.

8. ADMIRAL MORESBY - Also buried at Littleham are members of the Moresby family. (C418 & 447.) Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea was named, we understand, after one of the high-ranking sailors. Fairfax Moresby lived in Exmouth for a long period and was an Admiral of the Fleet. His story brings a link to the wider story of Britain's world history as it developed through the 1st half of the 19th century. As a young midshipman he was caught up in the French Revolutionary War, then later in the Napoleonic War. One of the significant pieces of work Moresby did most effectively was to work to bring a stop to slave trading, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Arabia. An act between Britain and the Emir, banning the trade in Muscat bears his name. The passing of the act banning the slave trade is often referred to, but the details about what it meant to apply it, are not so well known. Moresby had a part in that. He was about 90 when he died.

6 9. ADMIRAL MOORMAN (P619)

10. ADMIRAL DOBBIE (Y132) William Hugh Dobbie was born at Great Saling, Essex, the eldest son of Captain Dobbie and Agatha Shedden Goodrich. He entered the service in 1825 and after completing his education at the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth joined HMS Pyramus (1810) for sea training. He passed for lieutenant in 1831 and then served as mate on several different vessels in the West Indies, and then the wooden paddle frigate HMS Magicinne (1831) on the Lisbon station. During the period 1828-1837 Dobbie was presented with three certificates and two silver medallions by the Royal Humane Society in recognition of the courage and humanity he displayed in several acts of life saving. He received his first commission in 1837 and later had appointments as lieutenant on HMS Belleisle (1819) and then HMS Ganges (1821) in the Mediterranean, during which he was engaged in operations on the coast of Syria and received the St. Jean d’Acre Medal. After further training on HMS Excellent ex Bpyne (1810) at Portsmouth Dobbie was first gunnery lieutenant on the sloop HMS Rose (1821). He was promoted to the rank of commander in 1846 and after gaining his certificate in steam in 1851 was appointed to command the wooden paddle sloop HMS Buzzard (1849) on the North America and West Indies station. This commission in 1852-1856 included anti-slavery

7 duties in the neighbourhood of Havana. Dobbie was promoted to the rank of captain in 1857 and was then given command of the receiving ship HMS Victorious (1808) at Portsmouth. He was full admiral on the retired list when he died at Exmouth in 1889. (from National Maritime Museum)

11. ADMIRAL ELLIOTT (P509)

Middle section of Churchyard

12. LIFEBOAT - Thomas Pincombe (N41)– Pilot Silver Medal awarded to Thomas Pincombe Junior, a pilot, who was upset from his boat while putting off with the intention of rescuing the crew of the brig Maria wrecked at Exmouth on 5 January 1851. The new block of apartments in Buckingham Close named ‘Pincombe Court’ are named after him. He died on 23rd March 1874.

13. EXMOUTH’S FIRST POLICEMAN - Isaac Rake (P416)– Exmouth’s first policeman (born 1815 died 1907) He was parish constable, sanitary inspector and member of the local board of health. He also served in the Metropolitan Police at Queen Victoria’s coronation.

8 14. FAMOUS SOMERSET CRICKETER - Lionel Charles Hamilton Palairet (27 May 1870 – 27 March 1933) was an English amateur cricketer who played for Somerset and Oxford University. A graceful right-handed batsman, he was selected to play Test cricket for England twice in 1902. Contemporaries judged Palairet to have one of the most attractive batting styles of the period. His obituary in The Times described him as "the most beautiful batsman of all time". Plot V281.

15. CHAIRMAN OF CLAPPS CAFE – Francis William Clapp (1866 – 1940) - one of the most foremost businessmen of the town. Founded Clapp’s Café, which many will remember very fondly! Plot Y108.

Burials 16. OBE – Charles Michael Tallack OBE – formerly of Imperial Bank of India. Plot Y78

17. WIFE OF THE HONOURABLE DEWDNEY- Blanche Elizabeth Plantagenet Dewdney, 2nd wife of late Honourable Edgar Dewdney.1854 – 1936 . Edgar Dewdney was born in East Budleigh and ended up as Lieutenant Governor of BC Canada. He had a very

9 interesting life regarding the Indian population and Sitting Bull of Custer's Last Stand fame. Plot U156.

18. DROWNING - There is also a grave of a young girl who was drowned at Sandy Bay, it is up the path at the bottom of Capel Lane gates, and it has an angel on the memorial.

CREMATIONS – LOCAL VILLAGERS 19. CHURCH VERGER - Bill Pascoe - Verger of Littleham church for 56 years who died in 1985. He was well known to the village people and church-goers of the 2nd world war era plus. Plot S318.

20. THE MARTIN FAMILY - Cremation stones of the Martins and the parent’s graves who ran the village shop and post office. Mr Martin senior built the houses in Lower Capel Lane. GR34

21. HOPE BARDRICK (1923-2005) - a real character: piano and music teacher at St Peter’s School Lympstone, and Organist and Choir Mistress at Holy Trinity Church for many years. BB132.

WAR GRAVES – There are numerous graves which are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, commemorating those who died in both World Wars. In addition there are many graves of local people who were killed in the ‘blitz’ on Exmouth in World War II.

As you walk around the Churchyard, our Sexton, Shaun Davey, will always try, his time permitting, to answer any questions you may have.

The ‘ledgers’ where the names of the deceased, and plot numbers are recorded are kept in the Parish Office at Holy Trinity Church.

We owe a great debt of thanks to Nicola Clapp who has provided all the information in this leaflet. Copyright: Littleham cum Exmouth PCC: April 2019.