High Bickington 3.73

High Bickington is a largely rural village in Devon, England spread across largely cultivated hills and wooded valleys of North Devon, between Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin moor. The village is centred from Barnstaple, from South Molton, from Great Torrington and from Exeter.The village is on the valley top, almost 600 feet, 190M above sea level, overlooking the river Taw valley, and has spectacular unbroken views across the valley towards Exmoor.HistoryWith its origins in Saxon times, or earlier, the manor of High Bickington is referred to as 'Bichentone' in the Domesday Book of 1086. Before the Norman Conquest, the manor belonged to a Saxon nobleman, Britric, nicknamed Meau, who also held rights to the land revenues of Gloucester and extensive estates in the West Country. He spurned the advances of Matilda, the Duke of Flanders' daughter, who later as Queen of England imprisoned Britric and eventually had him put to death. All his lands passed to her, including Bichentona, Clovelly, Bideford, Winkleigh and Tiverton. The lands were later inherited by Matilda's son, William Rufus, who became William II of England).