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Kelly's Directory of Holcombe Rogus (1910)

Transcribed by

Richard Farmer

Holcombe Rogus is a parish and village on the borders of Somerset, 2 miles north-west-by-north from Burlescombe station on the Bristol and Exeter section of the Great Western Railway, 8½ miles north-east-by-east from Tiverton, and 5 west-south-west from Wellington (Somerset), in the North Eastern division of the county, Bampton hundred, Cullompton petty sessional division, Wellington union and county court district, rural deanery of Cullompton and archdeaconry and diocese of Exeter. This place derives its suffix from Rogo, a Norman, who held it under Baldwin, the sheriff. The church of All Saints is a building of stone in the Early Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of five bays, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower, restored by Mrs Rayer in 1905, and containing a clock and 6 bells: there is a handsome stone reredos by Hems, of Exeter, and good carved oak screen work in the cinque-cento or Italian style of the Early 16th Century, the cornice of which is enriched with medallions, exhibiting scriptural subjects: here also are the remains of the rood screen originally in St Peter's Tiverton, but removed on the restoration of that church in 1854; it is groined, painted in blue and red and gilt: the south porch is vaulted in stone, and stone windows have tracery of unusual character: there are numerous mural monuments and massive alter tombs, with recumbent male and female effigies, dating from 1613, to the Bluett family, who were seated here for many generations: the church affords 300 sittings. The register dates from the year 1540. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £210, with residence and 1½ acres of glebe, in the gift of Mrs Rayer, and held since 1892 by the Rev. Lynch Talbot Ward B.A. of

Keble College, Oxford. There is a Baptist chapel here. Webber's charity, founded in 1823, consists of £1,000 Consols, the interest to be applied in the daily education of 30 poor girls and 20 poor boys in the doctrines of the Church of England. The Rev W.Wills, a former vicar, by his will, dated 1875, left £300 £3 per Cent. Annuities, the interest to be given to the poor on the 28th December annually. Holcombe Court, the ancient seat of the Bluetts, and now the property and residence of Mrs Rayer, who is lady of the manor and chief landowner, is a fine old mansion, in the Tudor style, and includes a hall and a gatehouse tower, with picturesque oriels. The soil is clayey; the subsoil, limestone. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. The area is 3,021 acres of land and 7 of water; rateable value, £5,143; the population in 1901 was 607.
Sexton, Samuel Jones.
Post, M.O & T Office-Aaron Tooze, sub-postmaster. Letters through Wellington (Somerset) received at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.dispatched at 6.30 p.m. no delivery or collection on Sundays; open Sundays for telegrams only 8.30 to 10. a.m.
Police Constable, James Charles Searle

Public Elementary Schools

Holcombe Rogus (infants) erected in 1875, for 65 infants; average attendance 43; & supported by Mrs Rayer; Mrs Amy m Thomas, mistress Webber's Charity (mixed), erected in 1849, and enlarged in 1904 for 90 children. average attendance 48; James Roberts, Master

PRIVATE RESIDENTS

McDonald Gilbert Reginald Buehills
Rayer Mrs, Holcombe Court
Saunders Archibald Carmichael, Timewells
Umfraville Mrs, Pear Close
Ward Rev. Lynch Talbot B.A. Vicarage

COMMERCIAL

Board William, wheelwright
Bowerman Edward, builder
Bowerman Harry, Prince of Wales P.H
Bucknell Benjamin, farmer, Barton
Denham Louisa (Miss), girls school, Hillside
Drake George, Gardener to Mrs Rayer
Edwards Edwin, farmer, Marjeries frm
Farrant Fredrick, farmer, Knowle, Westleigh
Farrant Thomas, farmer, Lower Besley
Fry Richard, blacksmith
Fursey Samuel, assist. overseer & Parish Council clerk
Goodhind Robt, farmer, Wiseburrow
Griffin Jn, farmer, Whipcott Barton

Hill John, farmer, Red hill
Jones Franics, Mason
Jones Samuel, Mason
Kerslake John, builder
McDonald Gilbert Reginald L.R.C.P & L.R.C.S &
L.M.I physician & surgeon & medical officer & public vaccinator
to 5th district of Wellington union & Hockworthy district,
Tiverton union, Buehills
May Edward, blacksmith, Whipcott
Melhuish William, beer retailer
Merson Jas Hewett, farmer, Kitton Barton
Parsons, Thomas, baker
Petty William, bailiff to Mrs Rayer, Home farm
Phillips Joseph, gamekeeper to A.C Saunders Esq.
Pike William, farmer, Whipcott
Tooze Francis, chair maker
Trott John, New Inn
Warren William, Beer retailer, George Inn
Warren William, farmer, Marjeries farm
White Frdk Laurence, farmer, Fenton
White John, farmer, Burrow farm
White John, farmer, Freathingcott
Woodberry Walter, cabinet maker

Brian Randell, 6 Aug 2005