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OTTERTON

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

"OTTERTON, a parish in the hundred of East Budleigh, county Devon, 3½ miles S.W. of Sidmouth, its post town, and 3 N.E. of Budleigh Salterton. The village, which is chiefly agricultural, is situated on the coast of the English channel near Otterton-Point, and on the eastern bank of the estuary of the river Otter. There once existed here an alien priory of black monks as a cell to the Abbey of St. Michael-in-periculo-Maris, in Normandy, which at the suppression was granted to Sion Abbey. The soil is a heavy loam, alternated with sand. Red sandstone is quarried in the cliffs for building purposes. At Hederland, in this parish, was formerly a chapel-of-ease. The vicarage is endowed with all the tithes, except the sheaf tithe, which belongs to the lord of the manor, and the glebe contains about 24 acres. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Exeter, value £312. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient structure, with a tower at the eastern end containing five bells. The interior of the church contains memorials of the Duke family. The parochial charities produce about £5 10s. per annum. There is an endowed school for both sexes. The trustees of the late Lord Rolle are lords of the manor and chief landowners. Fairs are held on Easter Wednesday and October 11th."

Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003