Jacobstowe - The History

There is no entry for Jacobstowe in the 1086 Domesday Book it being part of the manor of Hatherleigh owned by Tavistock Abbey. The suggestion by earlier academics such as Fulford-Williams, RN Worth and the Genuki web site that Jacobstowe was the "Jacobscherche" entry is wrong. That Jacobscherche entry is the priory of St James in Exeter.

In 2015 the pew platforms in the church were so rotted that they collapsed during a funeral. It was decided to re-order the church so that it can be used for secular activities as well as church services, subject to Charity Commission rules. An archaeological excavation was a requirement of the work, and this was carried out by members of the community as a community archaeological project. What was discovered has been described by Historic England as "without hyperbole the most important excavation in church archaeology to have taken place in recent years. So important as to defy categorisation" This church clearly dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period and probably to the pre-Saxon period (Celtic). The "stowe" element together with the qualifier of a Saints name is considered by academics to be an indicator of a British (pre-Saxon) holy place.

There is more downloadable information in the file section.

Rod Lane