Morchard Bishop

Morchard Bishop is a village and civil parish in Mid Devon in the English county of Devon. It has a population of 975,^[1] and contains a primary school, two churches, and a playing field with tennis court. Notable past residents include Ernest Bevin.

Morchard Bishop
Morchard Bishop
Morchard Bishop Location within Devon
Population	1,041 (2021)
OS grid reference	SS7607
Civil parish	Morchard Bishop
District	Mid Devon
Shire county	Devon
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CREDITON
Postcode district	EX17
Dialling code	01363
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Central Devon
List of places UK England Devon 50.85°N 3.75°W / 50.85; -3.75

Etymology

The name Morchard is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086, in the forms Morchet and Morcheta. It is derived from the Common Brittonic words mǭr ("big") and cę̃d ("wood") (corresponding to modern Welsh mawr coed; thus it once meant "large wood".^[2]: 291 The affix of Bishop, first attested as part of the place-name in 1207, is from the settlement's possession by the Bishop of Exeter, itself first attested in 1086, and to distinguish the settlement from the nearby Cruwys Morchard.^[3]

Characteristics

Morchard Bishop is twinned with Saint-Gatien-des-Bois in Normandy.^[4] It has a garage, a post office, a pub called The London Inn, a surgery, a blacksmith and its own woodland. It is about 8 miles (13 km) from the market town of Crediton. Community events include: a village pantomime, an allotment association, a ukulele band and football teams.^{[citation needed]}