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FILLEIGH

From White's Devonshire Directory of 1850

FILLEIGH, a small village, pleasantly situated 3½ miles W. of South Molton, and 8 miles E.S.E. of Barnstaple, has in its parish 395 souls, and 2200 acres of land, including about 826 acres in the large and finely wooded park of CASTLE HILL, the beautiful seat of Earl Fortescue, who has another seat at Ebrington Hall, Gloucestershire. The grounds, and the old mansion of Castle Hill, were much altered and improved about 1740, by Hugh Fortescue, Lord Clinton, who, in 1746, was created Earl Clinton and Baron Fortescue, and died without issue in 1751, when the earldom became extinct, but the Barony of Fortescue passed to his half-brother, Matthew Fortescue, who died in 1785, and was succeeded by his son, Hugh, who was created Earl Fortescue and Viscount Ebrington, in 1789. The latter died in 1841, and was succeeded by his son, the present Right Hon. Hugh Fortescue, Earl Fortescue, and Viscount Ebrington, who is lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of Devonshire, and Colonel of the East Devon Militia. He was born in 1783, and distinguished himself in the House of Commons, in the debates on Parliamentary Reform. His eldest son, Viscount Ebrington, is now one of the representatives of Plymouth, and was born in 1818. The large and handsome mansion of Castle Hill stands in the extensive park, on a well wooded eminence, whose summit is decorated with the artificial semblance of a ruined castle, and commands a prospect of very considerable extent. The grounds in front of the house are disposed into various pleasing slopes, which gradually descend from the terrace to a fine sheet of water, and are diversified by stately groves. Beyond the lake, the ground again rises, and the view is terminated by a handsome triumphal arch, on the top of the hill. Various other ornamental buildings are scattered through the park. In the shrubbery are some remarkably large Portugal laurels; and in the garden is a peach tree of uncommon dimensions. The manor of Filleigh belonged to a family of its own name, in the reign of Henry II., and it afterwards passed with the heiress of the Densells to the Fortescues. It now belongs to Earl Fortescue, who is also patron of the rectory, which is consolidated with that of East Buckland, as noticed at page 584. Here is a good Rectory House, and 88 ½A. of glebe. The tithes of Filleigh were commuted in 1839, for £97 per annum. The Church (St. Paul,) was rebuilt by the first Earl Clinton and Baron Fortescue, in 1732, and is a neat structure, with several handsome monuments. The same nobleman left £100 for the foundation of an Almshouse. About 1810, the late Earl Fortescue built four dwellings, at the cost of £300, and gave them, with four gardens, in lieu of the old almshouse. The poor parishioners have the interest of £27, left by various donors. The small river Bray bounds the parish on the east, and near it is Stag's Head, in South Molton parish, where there is a school, mill, and post-office.

Earl Fortescue, & Viscount Ebrington, M.P. Castle Hill
Anstey Wm. miller, Stag's Head
Bowey Philip, shopkeeper
Brewer Daniel Tremlett, land agent
Buckingham Wm. shoemaker
Chapple Abraham, mason
Hutton Rev Hy., M.A. Rectory
Pile Rd. clerk, & Ferrier Thos. sexton
Rutlidge Geo. and Leworthy Mary A., National School, Stag's Head
Saul Amaziah, gardener

BLACKSMITHS.

Gratton Richard
Jordan John

CARPENTERS.

Baker Wm.
Clotworthy John

FARMERS.

Anstey Thomas
Bale George
Follett John
Gould Richard
Manning Anthy.

TAILORS.

Ball Jno. shopr., Stag's Head
Odam Jno. Brown POST-OFFICE at David Bale's, Stag's Head

Brian Randell, 26 Aug 1999