NORTH MOLTON
From White's Devonshire Directory of 1850
NORTH MOLTON is a large village on the bold western acclivity of the river
Mole, 3½ miles N. by E. of South Moulton. It consists chiefly of
irregularly built thatched houses, and its extensive parish comprises 2121
inhabitants, and 14,351 acres of land, including more than 2300 acres of
commons, most of which are now being enclosed. This large parish extends
about 5 miles N. and N.E. of the village, to the sources of the Mole and
Duns Brook, among the lofty hills on the borders of Somersetshire and
Exmoor Forest. It includes the hamlets, &c., of Heasley, Ben-Twitchen,
Hunston, Walscott, Upcott, Flitton, and many scattered farmhouses. About
ten years ago, a very rich copper mine was discovered in the northern part
of the parish, called "Prince Albert's Mine," and containing a mixture of
gold. The ore is of the purest kind, in large bunches, and pieces of gold
of some size have been occasionally found. An old copper mine which had
been closed many years was re-opened in 1813, but was soon abandoned; but
there are now two mines working in the parish. There is a woollen mill at
Heasley, and the village has two cattle fairs, on the Wednesday after May
12th, and the last Wednesday in October. It had formerly a weekly market
and a fair on All Saints' day, granted in 1270 to Roger le Zouch, whose
family obtained the manor from King John, and are said to have had a
castellated mansion here, the remains of which were to be seen till the
middle of last century. A co-heiress of the Zouch family brought the manor
to the St. Maurs, and it passed with a co-heiress of the latter to the
Bampfyldes. The present owner, the Right Hon. Sir G.W. Bampfylde, was
created Baron Poltimore in 1831, as noticed at page 201, and resides
occasionally at Court Hall, a fine old mansion, which was enlarged and much
improved about fifteen years ago, and stands in a well-wooded park, east of
the church. His Lordship is also owner of Court House, a large ancient
mansion, finely mantled with ivy, and formerly belonging to the Earl of
Morley. Lord Poltimore owns most of the parish; and Court Hall, being in
the neighbourhood of Exmoor Forest, was long occupied by his family as a
hunting seat; and the few wild red deer which still linger in that
mountainous region, render it a desirable abode for the lovers of the
chase. A court leet and baron is held twice a year, and the jury are
popularly called the council, and the foreman the mayor. The Church (All
Saints,) is a fine antique structure, with a tower containing six bells,
and rising to the height of 100 feet. It stands on a commanding eminence,
and the nave and chancel are separated by a richly-carved screen. The whole
fabric was thoroughly repaired, cleansed, and beautified in 1849, when two
beautiful stained glass windows were inserted, and a new organ erected, at
the expense of Lord Poltimore and a parochial rate. It contains several
monuments belonging to the Bampfylde and other families, and was
appropriated by Alan le Zouch, in 1313, to the monastery of Lilleshull, in
Shropshire. Lord Poltimore is now impropriator of the rectory and patron of
the vicarage, valued in K.B. at £16. 16s. 1d., and in 1831 at £125, with
the curacy of Twitchen annexed to it. The Rev. Wm. Burdett, M.A., is the
incumbent, and has here 3A. 1R. 16P. of glebe. The Vicarage House was
rebuilt after being destroyed by fire in 1801. The living received four
augmentations from Queen Anne's Bounty in 1789, 1798, and 1825. All the
tithes were commuted in 1842 for £1292. 17s. per annum. Here are two
chapels belonging to Wesleyans and Independents. There were formerly
episcopal chapels at South Radworthy, Holywell, and Ben-Twitchen, in this
parish. The Church Lands and 21 houses, &c., have been vested for the
repairs of the church from an early period, and are worth about £80, but
are let for only about £30 a year, in consideration of fines. Here is an
old Almshouse for six poor pensioners, founded by one of the ancestors of
the Earl of Morley, who endowed it with a yearly rent-charge of £5. 4s. The
school and poor have the dividends of £69. 18s. 2d. three per cent.
consols, given by Grace Moorman; and the interest of £50, left by Wm.
Moorman in 1780. The poor have £5. 4s. yearly out of Nogel's estate, left
by Sir Amias Bampfylde in 1625, and the interest of £63. 10s., left by
various donors. The National School was built about nine years ago; and
here are two schools supported by Lady Poltimore. The parish abounds in
limestone, and is noted for its fine breed of North Devon cattle, for which
Mr. Davy, of Flitton, and Mr. Merson, of Brinsworthy farm, are highly
celebrated. The POST-OFFICE is at Mrs. Mary Smith's, and letters are
despatched to South Moulton at ¼ before 4 in the afternoon.
LORD POLTIMORE, Court Hall, (and Poltimore House, &c.)
Baker John, police officer
Bird John, parish clerk
Burdett Rev Wm., M.A. Vicarage
Cook Chas. rope mkr. Molland cross
Crook John, thatcher
Dobbs Francis, auctioneer
Fezzey Thos. copper mine agent
Frayne Jas. surveyor of highways
Holloway Rt. Sen. & jun. and Peter, thatchers
Hutchings Wm. assistant-overseer
Ley Richard, surgeon
Lyddon Mr Thos. || Hodge Mrs My.
Maunder Edwin, woolstapler and woollen mfr. Heasley Mill
Passmore Fras. Burdett, saddler
Slader Mr Thos. || Shapland Richd.
Stranger Rd. land agent, Court Hs
Southcomb Mr Jas. || Wilson Andw.
Wright Rev T.H. curate, Combshd
FARMERS.
Abbott Roger || Abbott Robert
Avery Charles Davy, North Lee
Avery Wm., North Heasley
Baker John || Bright John
Chapple Robert || Crang John
Collard Royal || Crocombe Richd.
Davy James, Flitton
Darch Thomas || Dinsey John
Downs Thomas || Dunn Joseph
Frayne Peter || Frayne Richard
Fry John, Little Heasley
Gibbs Wm., Higher Fyldon
Headon Richard || Hill Elias
Hutchings Wm. || Huxtable Thos.
Jarman John || Jarman Wm.
Jutsum Richard || Lake Charles
Lewis John || Ley Nicholas
Lock Wm. & Rd., South Radworthy
Loosemore Wm. || Maunder Edw.
Luxton Richard, Lower Fyldon
Merson Richard, Brinsworthy
Newton Richard, Rapscott
Norrish John, Stitchpool
Passmore John, Higher Fyldon
Passmore John, Higher Millbrook
Passmore Wm. || Parkin Wm.
Purchase Nichls. sen. and jun. and Wm., South Radworthy
Sanders Thos. & Wm. || Rew Thos.
Shapland Ann and Grace, Walscott
Shapland George, Oakford
Shapland John Terrell, Popham
Shapland Richard, Yardgate
Shapland Wm. Terrell, Watscott
Slader Peter and Wm., Barton
Slader Wm., Eworthy
Slader Wm. Shapland, Marsh
Slader Wm., Hunnawins
Smith James || Smith John
Southcomb John, Yardgate
Stoneman Richard, Rapscott
Stranger Robert, Hunston
Thorne John, North Radworthy
Thorne Jno. & Hy., North Heasley
Thorne Jacob & Wm., Ben-Twitchett
Thorne Richd. || Treble James
Trick Walter || Tucker George
Veysey John || Webber John
Way Wm., Heasley Mills
Westcott Henry, West Park
Westcott John, South Lee
Westcott John, Pronsley
Westcott Wm. & Margt., Old House
Westcott Wm., Combshead
Westcott Wm. || Westcott George
Westcott Wm., Lambscombe
Williams Wm. || Yendell Joseph
Yendell Benjamin, Nadrid
INNS & TAVERNS.
Castle, Wm. Jones
King's Arms, Wm. Veysey
Poltimore Arms, John Avery
Swan, Robert Rendle
Somerset Inn, Philip Frayne
BAKERS.
Abbott Roger
Bawden Peter
Bendle Thomas
Cockings John
Collard Hanh.
Lock Mary
Lyddon My. Ann
Treble James
Webber Wm.
BEERHOUSES.
Hill Nicholas
Jones Cphr.
Way Wm.
Webber Martin
BLACKSMITHS.
Bawden Henry, Heasley
Bird Peter
Bird Thomas
Dinner John
Gough Wm.
Jones Wm.
Smith John
BUTCHERS.
Moore John
Veysey Wm.
CARPENTERS.
Bawden Hugh
Bird Wm.
Bird Wm. jun
Burgess Hy.
Gillard John
Jarman John
Lock Chpr.
Lock Thomas
Rendle John
Thorne Hy. & Jno.
Westcott Wm.
COOPERS.
Crocombe Jas.
Mole William, Heasley
CORN MILLERS.
Baker William, Heasley
Ley Nicholas
Squire Rd. Flitton
COWKEEPERS.
Bird Robert
Cole Maria
Jarman John
Shapland Nichls.
MALTSTERS.
Avery John
Stoneman John
Veysey Wm.
MASONS.
Bawden Peter
Crang and Lock
Curtis Michael
Gould James
Lock Daniel
Roberts John
Roberts Wm.
MILLINERS.
Abbott Mary
Burgess Ann
Collard Eliz.
Curtis P. & E.
Hutchings Eliz.
Lang Eliz.
Lock Sar. & A.
Moore Mary
Slader My. Ann
Smith Jane
Vickery Harriet
PLUMBERS, &c.
Rendle Robert
Rendle Wm.
SHOEMAKERS.
Bird John
Hodge Wm.
Howe Wm.
Passmore Rd.
Smyth Wm.
Thorne Wm.
Westcott James
SCHOOLS.
Curtis Prscla.
Gould Mary
Passmore Mgt.
Thorne Wm.
SHOPKEEPERS.
Abbott Mary
Baker Wm.
Bird Robert
Bird Wm.
Burgess Hy.
Curtis Michael
Dinner John
Frayne John
Frayne Jno. jun
Huxtable Edmd.
Moore John
Passmore F. & B.
Westcott Hy.
TAILORS.
Burgess John
Passmore Edmd.
Webber Wm.
Westcott Hy.
TAL. CHANDLERS.
Bird Wm.
Burgess Hy.
Charley James
Curtis Michael
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Bird Wm. jun.
Kerslake John
Lang Thomas
Rendle John
Smith John
CARRIER.
Thomas Prescott to Exeter & S. Molton, Mon. and Thursday
|