A Norman doorway dating from around 1200 and a 17th-century inn mark very different historical points of reference in Buckland Brewer. The Church of St Mary and St Benedict dates from the 15th century; at Orleigh Court, the hall and roof belong to different periods. Regular community events and nature observations in the churchyard add to the picture. For trip planning, architecture, time periods and nature can therefore be considered as distinct areas of interest.
A church with several historical points of reference
The Church of St Mary and St Benedict is an Anglican parish church dating from the 15th century. Its Norman doorway dates from around 1200; a medieval holy water stoup stands in the porch. A brass plaque commemorates bell founder John William Taylor, who died in 1906. These details provide different historical points of reference: the doorway is considerably older than the parish church’s date, the holy water stoup adds a medieval furnishing to the architecture, and the plaque preserves the memory of a named individual. The church is normally open daily from 10 am to 4 pm; check opening hours before your visit.
Orleigh Court and The Coach & Horses
Orleigh Court is a hall house dating from the early to mid-14th century, built for the Denny family. Its very fine hammerbeam roof dates from the late 15th century. The dates should be considered separately for historical context: one refers to the hall house, the other to the roof. This makes the building’s different periods clear.
The Coach & Horses inn dates from the 17th century and incorporates a probably older dwelling. Homemade food is served there; the menu may change. If you plan to visit the inn during your trip, check in advance whether it is open and what food is currently on offer. The historical connection and the specific food offering provide two different points of interest for planning.
Community events
The Buckland Brewer History Group meets regularly on the third Wednesday of each month in 2026 at 7:30 pm at the Methodist Church in Buckland Brewer. A coffee morning is held at Buckland Brewer Methodist Chapel every Wednesday from 10 am to 12 pm. The timings differ considerably: a monthly evening event versus a weekly morning event. If either time is important to your trip planning, check the specific date in advance. This way, you can take both events into account, each with its own schedule.
Nature in the churchyard
Slow worms, hedgehogs and bats have been observed in the churchyard; sightings are not guaranteed. The Churchyard Biodiversity Project adds a plant-related development to this nature theme: yellow rattle has become more established on both sides of the main path, allowing a greater variety of wildflowers to set seed. The animal sightings cannot be guaranteed; the greater wildflower variety is a possible consequence of yellow rattle becoming more established. If you consider nature when planning your trip, you can distinguish between individual animal sightings and their connection to possible wildflower diversity.
Discover more destinations: Ilfracombe, Shirwell, Appledore, Thorverton, Hollacombe, Longdown, Newton Poppleford, Molland
For the broader travel overview: Devon.
