BROADHEMBURY

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)]

"BROADHEMBURY, a parish in the hundred of Hayridge, in the county of Devon, 5 miles to the N.W. of Honiton. It lies in a fertile district, at the foot of the Black Down Hills, on a small stream, a branch of the river Otter, and contains the villages of Collaton, Dulford, Kerswell or Carswell, and Luton. This place was once a market town, and the manor was held by the abbots of Dunkeswell. Kerswell was the site of a small religious house, a cell to the abbey of Montacute. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Exeter, of the value of £299, in the patronage of the dean and chapter. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew. It has been recently restored, and contains some very good stained-glass windows, by Hardman. The charitable endowments are of the yearly value of about £40. The vicarage of this parish was held by Augustus M. Toplady, the once distinguished champion of Calvinistic theology. The Grange, an ancient mansion formerly belonging to Dunkeswell Abbey, is situated in beautiful grounds. In front of the house is a fine avenue of silver fir-trees. The house, which has been greatly altered, contains a spacious drawing-room, adorned with carved oak. Wolford Lodge is near the village. At the termination of the Black Down range of hills is Hembury Fort, the site of an old camp, with a triple rampart still in good preservation. An annual cattle fair is held on the 2nd Monday is December."

"COLLATON, a hamlet in the parish of Broadhembury, in the county of Devon, 6 miles E. of Collumpton."

"KERSWELL, a hamlet in the parish of Broadhembury, county Devon, 4 miles N.W. of Honiton."

"LUTON, a hamlet in the parish of Broadhembury, county Devon, 4 miles N.W. of Honiton."