{{Short description|Village in Devon, England}} {{Distinguish|Morley (disambiguation){{!}}Morley}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{More citations needed|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox UK place | static_image_name= All Saints Church, Moreleigh - geograph.org.uk - 1273516.jpg | static_image_alt= | static_image_caption= All Saints Church | official_name= Moreleigh | country= England | region= South West England | os_grid_reference= SX 767 528 | map_alt= Morleigh is in the south of Devon, which is in the southwest of England and forms part of the south and west coasts. | coordinates = {{coord|50.362|-3.735|display=inline,title}} | post_town= TOTNES | postcode_area= TQ | postcode_district= TQ9 7 | dial_code= 01548 | constituency_westminster= South Hams | civil_parish= Halwell and Moreleigh | civil_parish1= | shire_district= South Hams | shire_county= Devon }} '''Moreleigh''' or '''Morleigh''' (formerly '''Morley''') is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Halwell and Moreleigh, in the South Hams, district, in the county of Devon, England. In 1961 the civil parish had a population of 102.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10023531/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population Statistics Moreleigh CP/AP through time|publisher=Vision of Britain|accessdate=21 January 2019}}</ref>
== History == === Name === Throughout the village history it has been recorded with various spellings, listed below in chronological order, newest first.
; Moreleigh It is currently officially known as Moreleigh. An early 20th century directory of Cambridge University alumni spells it this way in its reference to a long-standing rector.<ref name="venn">{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/stream/p2alumnicantabri05univuoft#page/452/mode/2up | title = Alumni Cantabrigienses: Edward Seale | author = J. Venn and J. A. Venn | volume = Part 5| page = 453 | publisher = Cambridge, University Press | accessdate = 28 May 2017}}</ref> ; Morleigh It is still known and spelt as Morleigh by local inhabitants as evidenced at the New inn<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/sludgeulper/4616543762/in/photostream/|title = The New Inn, Moreleigh, Devon. May 1992|date = 17 May 2010}}</ref> several websites and on various older road signs. ; Morley It was also known as Morley for very long periods, and is the name used by Viscount Bovington when he was to be elevated to an earl. ; Morleygh and Morlei There are references to Morleygh in 15th-century historical documents,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Moreleigh/Moreleigh1601.html|title = Moreleigh 1601}}</ref> and to Morlei in Domesday Book.
Morleigh was part of Stanborough Hundred<ref name="books.google">{{Cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CVUzAQAAMAAJ&q=Sir+Peter+Fitzacre&pg=PT38 | title = England's Gazetteer: Or, an Accurate Description of All the Cities, Towns, and Villages of the Kingdom ... Vol. I. And Vol. II. Contain a Dictionary of the Cities, Corporations, Market-towns, and the Most Noted Villages; Their Manufactures and Trade ... &c. ... This Work Includes All the Chief Harbours, Bays, Forests, Hills, Mines ... \etc.] and Particularly Shews the Estates that Were Formerly Abbey-lands | last1 = Whatley | first1 = Stephen | year = 1751}}</ref> one of the 32 ancient administrative areas of Devon.
=== Domesday Book === In Domesday Book it was recorded as having nine households and being within Diptford Hundred.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SX7652/moreleigh/|title=Bad Credit Loans Online | High Acceptance Rates | Quick Loans Express}}</ref> Alfred de Breton (AKA Auvrai Le Breton) was the tenant in chief.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hemyockcastle.co.uk/dev-man.htm |title=Hemyock Castle - Principal Holders of Devonshire Manors in the Domesday Book |website=www.hemyockcastle.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011212192606/http://www.hemyockcastle.co.uk/dev-man.htm |archive-date=2001-12-12}} </ref> one of his descendants Richard le Breton went on to kill Thomas Becket<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/britton/disc |title=The Britton International DNA Project: The First Brittons |access-date=3 February 2013 |archive-date=1 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101134900/http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/britton/disc |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Morleigh is referred to in the BBC Domesday Project from 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-276000-51000/page/2 |title=BBC - Domesday Reloaded: LIFESTYLES VILLAGE MORELEIGH |access-date=23 December 2019 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925061039/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-276000-51000/page/2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== Moreliegh Manor and the Earl of Morley === Morley Manor has been dismantled but small signs of existence still survive near Place Barton farm, which is adjacent to the church and rectory. Morley Manor has been recorded as having been owned by the Ufflete and Maynard families, it was also owned by John Shapland Esq before passing to John Seale Esq (listed as Teale in the church records) eventually being bought by Viscount Bovington, who become the 1st Earl of Morley in 1815. {{citation needed|date=February 2013}}
== Recent history == The village had a football club in conjunction with the adjacent village of Halwell that is now defunct. The post office branch is also now closed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.royalmailgroup.com/cy/post-office%C2%AE-devon-area-plan-decision-announced |title=Welcome to Royal Mail Group |access-date=28 February 2013 |archive-date=22 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222164333/http://www.royalmailgroup.com/cy/post-office%C2%AE-devon-area-plan-decision-announced |url-status=dead }}</ref> The closest (3 miles) railway at Gara Bridge railway station which closed in 1965.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/g/gara_bridge/index.shtml|title=Disused Stations: Gara Bridge Station}}</ref> On 1 April 1986 the parish was abolished and merged with Halwell, Diptford and East Allington.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/newton%20abbot.html|title=Newton Abbot Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=31 March 2023}}</ref>
== Facilities == The New Inn is the village pub, historically used as court house and meeting place,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Moreleigh/index.html|title=Moreleigh}}</ref> it was also the scene of a shooting incident within the pub.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DEATH+SECRET+OF+THE+AINTREE+WINNER%27S+GIRL%3B+Mad+gunman+stalked+Jane.-a061321015|title = DEATH SECRET OF THE AINTREE WINNer's GIRL; Mad gunman stalked Jane. - Free Online Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rettsveven.info/Content/Menneskerett/CaseLaw/Judgments/98_041894.html|title = YOUNGER - United Kingdom}}</ref>
The village also had another Inn called the London Inn, according to census records (1841 - 1861) was situated at Morley cross, which is within the village but technically across the historic Morleigh parish boundary and with in the historic Halwell parish.
The village has now built a village hall<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.devonvillagehalls.co.uk/HalwellMoreleigh|title=Devon Venue Hire Map | Devon Communities Together}}</ref> and an active village life with various activities for all age groups.
== Church and religion == Morleigh ecclesiastical parish is part of the deanery of Woodleigh, the archdeaconary of Totnes and the diocese of Exeter.
=== All Saints Church === All Saints church is small and ancient building, said to have been built by Sir Peter Fitzacre, who killed the parson of Woodleigh to whose parish Morley then belonged.
For this crime the Pope got the knight to build a church at Morleigh. The Fisacre tomb is part of the church.<br /><ref name="books.google" />
It is a Grade I listed building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-101246-church-of-all-saints-including-fishacre-|title=Church of All Saints Including Fishacre Tomb Adjoining Transept (Formerly Listed Under Parish of Moreleigh), Halwell and Moreleigh, Devon}}</ref>
=== Chapel === The village had a chapel, the Protestant Dissenters of Union Chapel,<ref>{{Cite journal | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wo5HAAAAYAAJ&q=Protestant+Dissenters+morleigh&pg=PA662 | title = The Mirror of Parliament for the ... Session of the ... Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland | last1 = Barrow | first1 = John Henry | year = 1834}}</ref> which is now a private dwelling again situated within the part of the village in Halwell Parish.
== Current events == The population has increased with the number of houses in the village doubling over the last 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.devonrcc.org.uk/i/documents/107.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 February 2013 |archive-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514064827/http://www.devonrcc.org.uk/i/documents/107.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}
The local catchment schools are for primary age, Harbertonford CofE and for senior age Totnes comprehensive.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.halwellmoreleigh.co.uk/ Hallwell and Moreleigh Parish Council]
Category:Villages in South Hams Category:Former manors in Devon Category:Former civil parishes in Devon