NORTH MOLTON

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

"NORTH MOLTON, a parish, formerly a market town, in the hundred of South Molton, county Devon, 3½ miles N.E. of South Molton, its post town, and 11½ miles N.E. of the South Molton Road station on the Taw Vale railway. The village, which is very extensive, is situated on the river Mole, from which the parish derives its name, and on the Exmoor road. It is celebrated for a peculiar breed of cattle called the North Devon breed, and has a small woollen manufactory. About a mile distant from the village is a Holy Well, which is still visited by invalids from far and near every Holy Thursday. The substratum contains copper ore, and there are numerous quarries of freestone. The living is a vicarage* with the perpetual curacy of Twitchen annexed, in the diocese of Exeter, value £110. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a stone structure, with a lofty square tower containing six bells. The interior of the church contains a carved screen, an ancient font, stone pulpit, and monuments of the Bampfyldes of Court Hall, and of the Parkers. The church has recently been restored and re-roofed. The parochial charities produce about £46 per annum, of which £5 goes to Parker's almshouses for six poor men. There is a National school for both sexes, supported by Lady Poltimore, also an infant school. The Independents and Wesleyans have each a place of worship. There are two copper mines which were formerly worked, and in 1840 a large nugget of gold was discovered, from which cause, in 1853, a sham gold mine was imposed upon the public. Lord Poltimore is lord of the manor and principal landowner. A fair is held on the Wednesday following 12th May, and on the last Wednesday in October for cattle.

"BARKHAM, a village in the parish of North Molton, and hundred of South Molton, in the county of Devon, not far from South Molton."