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Rackenford is a large parish centered on a small village approximately 8 miles north of Tiverton and 9 miles south-west of South Molton. The Saxon name was Rachenforda which means a place between two fords - probably those at Old Bell to the north and the Little Dart to the south. When the Normans came the parish consisted of six manors - Great Rackenford much the biggest with six ploughs and Little Rackenford, Sideham, Backstone, Bulworthy and Worthy all with one to three ploughs. The first of these became Rackenford Manor (known as Cruwyshay until its name was changed by a more snobbish owner in the last century) and the rest still survive as farms. |
