The Malt Scoop Inn & Restaurant, Lapford

Lapford is an ancient village situated in the heart of the Mid-Devon countryside between the two national parks of Dartmoor and Exmoor. The village rises to the north and overlooks the River Yeo and bound by the smaller River Dalch to the East.

The village has superb countryside walks in all directions with breathtaking views from its elevated position. The village settlements date back to the Iron Age Celts who met here for religious worship. Lapford had been settled by the Romans, the Angles and the Saxons and the population has grown from 150 souls recorded in the Domesday book, to just under 1,000 today.

St. Thomas of Canterbury

At the centre of the village is the magnificent 12th century church patronised by St Thomas of Canterbury. The church was extended by William De Tracey as penance for his part in the bloody assassination of Thomas a Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1170. Beckett had excommunicated a number of powerful adversaries in objection to the heir-apparent coronation of Henry II’s 15 year old son. De Tracey, with three other knights, famously bludgeoned the Archbishop to death at Canterbury Cathedral, spilling his brains on the stairs!

Opposite the church (in many ways!) is the village pub, the Malt Scoop Inn, which, following recent change of ownership, is now a freehouse and serves excellent food in its restaurant and houses a traditional skittle alley.

More information on the village is available at the village website here