ALPHINGTON

From White's Devonshire Directory of 1850

ALPHINGTON, a neat and pleasant village on the western side of the river Exe, 1½ mile S. of Exeter, has in its parish 1286 inhabitants, and about 2700 acres of fertile land, traversed by the South Devon Railway and Exeter Ship canal. It has cattle fairs on the first Wednesday after the 20th of June, and on the Wednesday after Michaelmasday. It was one of the principal quarters of Sir Thos. Fairfax's army, when he was blockading Exeter, in 1646. The Earl of Devon owns most of the soil, and is lord of the manor of Alphington, which was obtained by his family in the reign of Richard II., in exchange, from the Seagraves. Matford, formerly a seat of the Smith and other families, belongs to Sir L.V. Palk, and several smaller proprietors have estates and neat houses here. Risdon says a man named Stone died here at the age of 120 years, in the reign of Elizabeth. On July 2nd, 1760, by the sudden inundation of the rivulet which runs through the village to the Exe, upwards of 20 houses are said to have been thrown down, and the damage was computed at upwards of £1000. The Church, (St. Michael,) is a large antique fabric, with a tower and eight bells. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £34. 6s. 8d,, and in 1831 at £979, is in the deanery of Kenne. The Rev. Rd. Ellicombe, M.A., is patron and incumbent, and has a good Rectory House, on an eminence near the church. The glebe is 18A., and the tithes were commuted in 1841 for £990 per annum. The Church House, worth £20 a year, was built by the parish in the reign of Elizabeth, on land given by Wm. Courtenay Esq. The Poor's Land comprises about 21A. and a farm house at Holcombe Burnell, purchased in 1716, with money left by John Bliss and other donors. It is now let for £15 a year. The poor parishioners have also 30s. a year out of Matford estate, left by Francis and Daniel Vinnicombe, in 1675; and the dividends of £230 three per cent consols, purchased in 1784, with £110, left by Edward Leach and another donor. They have likewise the interest of £5 left by James Pitman. The Poor Houses, comprising four small cottages, occupied rent free by poor families, where purchased in 1675, with £45 given by various donors.

Bales John A. gent.
Abell Mrs
Brewer Thomas, Natnl. Schoolmr.
Browning John, gentleman
Browning Mrs and Misses
Brown Richard, corn miller
Buckley Jph. gent. Aphington Cottage
Copleston Edward Arthur, solr; h Newhayes (and Exeter)
Cotton Wm. gentleman
Cole Charles, carpenter and sexton
Davies Wm. plumber and glazier
Dorvill Hy. gent. Laurel Cottage
Downing James, road contractor
Ellicombe Rev. Richard, M.A. Rectory
Fisher Hy. pit sand dealer
Fry Richard, butcher
Gubb Lieut Geo.
Godwin Mr Thos
Hammond Thos. gent. Mount Hs
Hallett Geo. currier & leather cutter
Head Robt. Thos. solr; h Briars
Hill Thomas, gent. Myrtle Cottage
Howard J. road surveyor
Hussey Thos. and Son, (Edw. B.) auctioneers, Waybrook
Kekewich Samuel Trehawke, Esq. (magistrate,) Peamore
Knott John A. clerk and Mr. John
Lear Richard, saddler
Latchworth Thos. Esq. Alphgtn. Hs
Loram Wm. butcher
Lillies Mrs F
Luxmoore John C. Esq. (magistrate)
Mantle Mrs My. Ann, Bridge Cottage
Marsh James, gent. Rock House
Marker Wm. collector of taxes
Martin Mr Edwin
Pike J. thatcher
Pocknell Mrs A
Ponsford Luke, gent
Porter Rev. Charles, B.D.
Sharland John, gent.
Symons Mrs
Skinley Lieut. John, R.N.
Taylor Edward, basket maker
Toms Henry, cooper & parish clerk
Tuckett Mr John
Westcott John, mason, &c
Wilcocks Ebenezer, gent. Rose Villa
Wippell John, maltster
Woodman Thos. gent. Cross
Wreford Robt. solr. (and Exeter)
Wyse Misses, Louisa & Ellena

INNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.

Admiral Vernon, Wm. Gover
Bell Inn, Thomas Langsford
Double Lock Inn, Thos. Pennyman
King William, Thomas Carpenter

BAKERS.

Tripp George
Wright Mary

BLACKSMITHS.

Brewer James
Wright John

BOOT & SHOE MKS.

Payne George
Rowe Rd. beerhs.
Sibley Charles
Symons Thomas
Stevens James
Woolsey John

FARMERS

. Floyd Wm
Hedgman Drthy. Pole House
Hodge Rt. Cudmr.
Lear Robert
Loram Richard
Neck Wm. Matfd.
Rowe Wm
Webber John
Wrey John

SHOPKEEPERS.

Grant Robert
Herbert George
Langsford Jno. (& painter, &c)
Snell James
Stone Robert

TANNERS.

Rew Robert
Wippell Mrs

TAILORS.

Banks Wm
Elsworthy Geo.
Dobson John
Gibbon James
Sharland Peter
Stone John

WHEELWRIGHTS.

Bastin Jph. (and machine mkr.)
Bastin Henry
Lovell & Parkin
Wright Thomas

POST OFFICE at J. Hele's, Letters desp. to Exeter 7½ night

Brian Randell, 3 Jul 1998