Rockbeare is a village and civil parish in the East Devon district of the county of Devon, England, located near Exeter Airport and the city of Exeter. "Whilst the name has nothing to do with either 'rocks' nor 'bears', it simply means 'rooks in the grove (of trees)'." "The parish comprises the hamlets of Marsh Green, Pithead, Allercombe, and Little Silver". The village, which is of small extent, is situated on the high road from Honiton to Exeter, and is an agricultural town. The land is nearly evenly divided between arable and pasture, with about 200 acres of common. According to the 2011 Census there were 431 males and 483 females living in the parish. "Rockbeare is written within the Broadclyst ward and electoral division, which is in the constituency of East Devon County Council". "Rockbeare has a grade II* listed church dedicated to St Mary with St Andrew, Rockbeare and a football club called Rockbeare Rangers FC. Rockbeare Manor is a grade I listed building." History 19th Century Rockbeare Historically Rockbeare formed as part of East Budleigh Hundred. During this period the population was 419 in 1801 and 404 in 1901."Rockbeare Manor, also known as 'Rock Wood' was given by the Bishop of Bath and Wells to Matilda, Countess of Gloucester in the reign of Edward III. From the Countess the manor passed to the abbey of Canonleigh, while at the Reformation it was acquired by the Sainthill family. The original house was built c. 1760-70 and owned by Sir John Duntze. About 1820 the house was remodelled with complete simplicity and refinement, possibly by Kendall of Exeter." Chart1 shows the occupational status for the population in 1881, the general trend is that although most people were working in the services and agricultural sector, many worked in unspecified occupations. "Rockbeare Court, beside the church, is a plain stuccoed late Georgian mansion. The church (St. Mary) is a melancholy exhibition of "restoration": it was almost entirely rebuilt in 1888 and is devoid of interest." Post 1800 Roman links Evidence for Rockbeare to have been part of a Roman settlement came from the University of Exeter's Archaeology team who have revealed new findings of how the county's inhabitants lived during the Roman period. The team also uncovered archaeological features and significant amounts of imported Roman pottery, along with locally made goods. The site was first discovered by metal detectorists Jim Wills