Membury

from

White's Devonshire Directory of 1850

Transcribed by Sheila Jones

(E-mail: sheila.jones[at]liverpool.ac[dot]uk)

MEMBURY, 4 miles N. by W. of Axminster, is a scattered village and parish on gentle acclivities, bounded by the Yarty rivulet and the borders of Dorsetshire. It comprises 886 souls, and 4089 acres of land, including Furley and Longbridge hamlets, and many scattered farmhouses, &c. It has a cattle fair on August 10th. The Deans and Canons of the Royal Free Chapel of St. George the Martyr, at Windsor Castle, are lords of the manor, which they have held since 1474, previous to which it had been given by Robt. de Chandos to Goldcliffe Priory, which became a cell to Bec Abbey in Normandy. They have here a number of copyhold tenants. Lord Sidmouth, Robert Davy, Esq., Mrs. Festing, and Samuel Newbery, Esq., have freehold estates here. The latter has a pleasant seat called Goodman's, and is owner of Yarty, an old farmhouse, lately the property of the Earl of Lovelace, and anciently the seat of the Yarty and Frye families. Membury has long been annexed ecclesiastically as a parochial chapelry to Axminster, its tithes and curacy being in the same patronage, incumbency, and appopraition (See page 358.) The Parsonage, occupied by the curate, is a new stone-built cottage; and the tithes were commuted in 1840, the vicarial for £336, and the rectorial for £264, 16s. per annum. The CHURCH (St. John the Baptist,) is an ancient structure, with a tower and five bells. It contains several monuments of the Frye and other families, and its burial ground was consecrated in 1316. The poor parishioners have 1½ A. of land purchased with £40, left by Robert and Francis Frye. They also have a yearly rent-charge of 13s. 4d., given by an unknown donor out of Ridge farm.

Brian Randell, 24 Aug 2002