I

Heritage

I

Our

A History of
Kentisbeare and Blackborough
by Helen Barrett

The map used on the endpapers of this book was reproduced from the 1977
Ordnance Survey 1:50000 map with permission of The Controller of Her Majesty's
Stationery Office, Crown Copyright Reserved.

Made and printed by Purnell & Sons Ltd., Paulton (Bristol), England

Published by H. Barrett 1977

THIS short villages of  supersede the researching an beare and  Rather as 'Everyman' anecdotes and found the fol
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See page vi.

Introduction
THIS short 'history' of some of the interesting happenings in the villages of Kentisbeare and Blackborough is in no way intended to supersede the work done by the late Edwin Chalk, and his family, in researching and documenting the material used in his book, 'Kentisbeare and Blackborough', published by the Devonshire Association in 1934. Rather I would hope to have compiled what might be described as 'Everyman's Notes on the Two Villages'; a book of interesting anecdotes and snippets of information. In collecting these I have found the following books and documents invaluable:
Tristram Risdon's 'Survey of Devon' c. 1630, with additional notes written in 1810.
Lyson's 'Devon' (1822).
W. G. Hoskin's 'Devon' and his other books on the county. Edwin Chalk's 'Kentisbeare and Blackborough'.
Various documents preserved in the Records Office, Exeter.
The Parish Records and Documents of Kentisbeare and Black-borough.
G. M. Trevelyan's 'Social History of England'.
The Lay Subsidy (1332).
Lacy's Register (1420-55).
Various Devonshire Association Papers.
John Chalk's Transcript of the Church Registers.
My special thanks to:
My mother, Ruth Barrett, who has written notes, sorted papers, perused Registers and Rate Books, and generally helped compile this book.
Mr. Stanley Cottrell* and Mr. Percy Lane, Churchwardens of Kentisbeare, and Mrs. K. Pulman and Mrs. D. M. Brown, Churchwardens of Blackborough, for permission to use the Church Records and Documents, and for their help and encouragement.
Mr. John Stone, A. R. 1. B. A., of Honiton, for his expert comments and drawings.
Mr. C. J. H. Pike, headmaster of Kentisbeare School, for his comments on the history of the school.
Mrs. M. G. H. Heath for help in typing the script.
Mrs. F. Western, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Twits, Mrs. R. Horton,
*See page vi.
v

Mrs. G. Bushell, Mr. L. Least, Mr. John Weston, and all the other people who have given valuable help and encouragement.
Particular thanks are due to Purnell & Sons Ltd., without whom this book would not have been printed.
Throughout the time spent on this project, I have oscillated between excitement and despair—excitement when some relevant piece of information came to light; despair when I realised just. how much history has been forgotten, or destroyed. Francis Bacon said, `There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding, and that which is lost by not trying.'
I have tried—perhaps succeeded a little to preserve some of the history of the villages, and above all to create more interest in this, our heritage.

Stanley Miller Cottrell
The passing of time and our fleeting contribution to History is made the more poignant to us all in Kentisbeare by the death on August 11th 1977 of Stanley. He served the village gladly, and was particularly interested in the progress of this book.
It is for his family and ourselves that we are sad.

vi

C
Contents
Chapter	Page
1.	Discovering a Ruin	 9
The Ancient Watercourse	 13
1.	Wode and the Whytyngs	 17
1.	(a) The Hamlet of Goodiford	 23
(b) Lower and Higher Kingsford	 26
1.	Footpaths, Bridle-paths, Highways and the Turnpike	 27
1.	Names of Families	 35
1.	Kentisbeare and Blackborough Domesday Survey	 44
1.	How the Parish Cared for the Poor	 57
1.	Kentisbeare School (by C. J. H. Pik,)	 61
Manors, Farms, Cottages 	 67
1.	Old Field Names and Tithe Numbers	 108
1.	Miscellany	 119

FORD

KEN BROOK

Drawing by John Stone

CULLOMPTON	KENTISBEARE

a)	Standing wall-5 ft.
b)	c) Foundations.
d)	Foundations, including semi-circle.
Foundations lost. It isknown that an attempt was made to sink a well here in 1892-3, but the sides collapsed at a depth of 15ft.

Chapter 1
DISCOVERING A RUIN
HOW difficult it is to know where to begin—do I hear someone say, 'Begin at the beginning'? If so, my reply is, 'When was the beginning?' In this case I found it best to start 'now', and then move backwards. In December 1975 we discovered an old fireplace in our cottage, now known as Brook House, in the hamlet of Goodiford. I had always known that there were remains of foundations near the east end of the present house, and assumed that they were those of the cottage burned down in 1893, but real interest was not stirred until the discovery of the fireplace.
Filled with enthusiasm and armed with a bill-hook, together with garden and masons' trowels, I sallied forth to do battle with the brambles and nettles near these foundations and to dig along the side of them to find their depth and if they continued very far.
Gradually I uncovered all the foundations of a building approximately 46 ft. by 45 ft. (see drawing opposite) and, to my astonishment, found the curved section along the north wall. I unearthed (literally!) masses of broken pottery, porcelain, old iron, hand implements, including a barley humeller c. 1800, horseshoes of all sizes from shire to donkey, and quantities of nails etc.
By now I was 'hooked' on finding out more about the place, especially as the size was too large for a cottage and too 'square' to be a pair of semi-detached cottages.
The next step was to study the Deeds of the present Brook House, which, fortunately, included the house destroyed by fire. These Deeds took me back to 1848 and gave the names of the owners and the tithe numbers of the land. Next a visit to the Records Office in Exeter, where the Tithe Map of 1841 is preserved together with the Apportionment.
The map proved to be of great value as it showed House B on sketch opposite, and a house not remembered by any of the present villagers—House A on the sketch; but still no reference to Building C.
From these findings emerges the following calendar of events concerned with this small part of the village.

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1848 October 11th William Trott known to be the owner of Wressen,* Stockland and Guddaford*—the present Brook House, or rather the house that was destroyed by fire.
1855 William Trott mentioned as Churchwarden.
1862 William Trott died. He left the freehold farms and lands then occupied by himself and Elias White, his tenant, all known by the names Stockland, Wressen and Guddaford, all in the parish of Kentisbeare, on trust to permit his wife, Mary Anne Trott, to carry on his farming business for the benefit of his children and after his wife's death to sell Stockland, Wressen and Guddaford by public auction.
William Trott died on March 30th.
1875 Richard Mortimer the Younger, one of the trustees of William Trott's property, died on February 25th, 1875. Francis and Robert Trott trustees, Francis taking Richard Mortimer's place.
1891 March 3rd. Appointment of Robert Trott, Francis Trott and John Cottrell as trustees.
1892 These trustees arranged for the auction of the properties on August 9th at the Palmerston Hotel, Tiverton. Charles Goff, builder and miller of Kentisbeare, was the highest bidder for the property at Goddaford* in the parish of Kentisbeare, now (1892) in the occupation of Samuel Mitchell as tenant.
1893 Charles Goff died on 29th March. He left all his estate to his children in equal parts. His surviving children were: James Goff—mason
William Goff—mason
Mary, married to Benjamin Blackmore—smith
John Goff—carpenter
Anna, married to Eli Drew—boot and shoe maker Frank Goff—miller
Henry Goff—carpenter
Charles Goff—miller
By arrangement with his brothers and sisters, Frank became the owner of Goodiford Cottage.
1893 The cottage was destroyed by fire
Frank and his brothers built the present house, incorporating part of the old house and using the old stonework and some bricks—he then called it Brick House.
1943 Frank Goff died on 26th October.
1951 Emma, his widow, died.
1952 Completion of sale to Helen Barrett, who then changed the name to Brook House.
*Spelling as on Deed.

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But still no reference to the unearthed foundations; so I then tried the Trott family, hoping that some line of information might emerge. This was the point where the Churchwardens, Mr. Stanley Cottrell and Mr. Percy Lane, allowed me to search the Church Records.
As a result I believe the house called Jewell's Cottage was House A on page 8.	•
Jewell's Cottage is mentioned in the Parish Rate Books from 1722, sometimes with the names of the occupier, and at other times the owner's name is mentioned. The earliest record, 1722, gives the name of the cottage only—indicating a very old cottage, probably built by the family of Jewell in the 17th century.
The Poor Law Rate seems to have been penny per month. In 1798 the Way Wardens' Accounts mention Jewell's Cottage and the monthly rate of 1 1/2 pence. The first mention of ownership was in 1780 when William Trott was landlord and Henry James tenant. In the same year the Land Tax lists give the property (unnamed) let to Henry James tenant, and taxed at 9s. 4d., but in 1781 'Thomas Dunn (Donne) lived there'.
In 1782 John Trott let the cottage to William Salter, who seems to have remained there until his death. After this John Trott, still owner, is mentioned as paying the Poor Law Tax `for the late Endicott' at Jewell's Cottage, but in 1789 the long tenancy of John Lane begins and there is evidence that at some time the cottage must have been occupied by two families- In 1815 the tax was paid by William Radford and W. Salter, and in the next year by Salter and others. This Salter was probably the widow or son of William mentioned above.
To return to John Lane. He must have been the John, son of Joseph and Elizabeth, who married Mary and had four children: Mary, born in 1788, John in 1795, and twins, William and James, born in 1800.
William Radford became tenant in 1810, and after the dual tenancy already mentioned there is no record until 1822, when Robert Trott lived at Jewell's Cottage. If, as I surmise, Jewell's Cottage was the house on the lane (House A on map on page 8), it was still standing in 1842, as the Tithe Map shows both buildings, but by 1890 the house had disappeared, probably burned down. All that now remains is the present garden wall of Brook House.
So, once again, nothing definite can be discovered about Building C. Was it a tucking mill; perhaps a blacksmith's shop and forge for the hamlet—hence the collection of shoes; or was it some kind of `factory' using a horizontal wheel driven by water? The biggest question of all is, 'Shall we ever know?'
However, by now my original line of enquiry became like a stone dropped into a pool, and Wode (Wood Barton), Goodiford Mills and Kingsford had come within the ever-widening circles. The exciting discovery of the Watercourse Deed among the Walrond Papers added

11

fuel to the fires of enthusiasm. I find it hard to describe how I felt when handling the original Indenture dated 1339 with seal still attached by tape to the vellum, on which the medieval Latin writing is almost as clear as it must have been 637 years ago. How can one describe the feeling of privilege at being allowed to handle such a document. This was a real 'find' in my quest for knowledge of Goodiford and its early inhabitants. Now I had taken a big jump back from 1722 to 1339 and must begin the task of filling this large gap. The Watercourse gave me much information about the area and resulted in the following chapter which I have called 'The Ancient Watercourse'.

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0A %Zfppfor 2
THE ANCIENT WATERCOURSE
AS TRISTRAM RISDON puts it in his 'Survey of Devon' c. 1630—`The Weaver Water casteth itself into Culme, which glideth by Kentisbeare past the lands of Reginald de Punchardon.'
Our ancestors knew how to use the resources around them, and at some early but as yet unknown date they started the monumental task of making the artificial watercourse which allows the water to 'cast itself' through the hamlet of Goodiford to Kingsford, Newlands and Moorhayes and eventually join the Culme at Cullompton. That this watercourse is of ancient origin is evident, since the Mill at Goodiford is reputedly mentioned in Domesday.
The brook flowing through Kentisbeare has been known as the Ken since the latter part of the last century, but the reference to the Weaver Water by Tristram Risdon, as quoted above, is interesting since there are two farms on the Kentisbeare/Plym tree/Cullomp ton borders known as Higher and Lower Weaver, by which the small River Weaver flows.
Among the Medieval Documents of the Walrond Family there is a renewal Deed for the already ancient Course of Water, dated 1339 A.D. The whole document, in translation, is quoted below since it is of great interest to the village and especially to those whose land enjoys the water of 'Culme (and tributaries) which descendeth from divers heads under the Blackdown Hills, by the confines of this county near Church Stanton' (Tristram Risdon). Church Stanton is now in Somerset County.
MEDIEVAL DEED
Know all present and future people that I, John de Cogan,* Lord of the WODE have given and granted and by this my present Deed have confirmed to William de Colebroke and Joan de Coleton the same Course of Water which John le Whita of the More had of ye gift of Nicholas de la More. This water running through the middle of my land at ye Wode to water ye land of the aforesaid William and Joan at the More in ye Manor of Cullompton throughout ye whole year as often as shall be necessary together with th sufficient timber of my wood of the Wode to repair ye weir of ye aforesaid Course of Water as often as shall be necessary by view of the Bailiffs
*Brief 'family tree' of the Cogans appears on pages 18 and 19.

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of ye Lord of ye Wode. To have and to hold all the aforesaid Water Course with all its appurtenances to the before-named William and Joan the heirs and assigns of ye aforesaid William freely, quickly, well and peaceably by hereditary right for ever of the chief Lords of that fee. Yielding therefore to me and my heIrs or assigns ye yearly rent of fourpence at ye Feast of the Nativity of St. John-ye-Baptist for all services. And I the aforesaid John and my heirs all ye aforesaid Water Course with all its appurtenances to ye aforesaid William and Joan ye heirs and assigns of him the said William and people are bound to warrant for ever. In witness whereof I have to this present writing put my seal
Witness John Walrond
John de Orewaye {see Manor of Orweye} John de Kyrynton {Killerton?}
Roger de Hilleriston [Hillerston, Cullompton?] James Prodarnine [Prodhome]
Robert de Vyn {Venn?}
Roger de Hele [Hele, nr. Bradninchl
and others
Given at the Wode on Saturday on the morrow of the Purification of ye Blessed Mary in ye 12th year of the Reign of King Edward ye son of King
Edward . . . (1339)	Seal affixed
Indorsed 'Concerning the Water Course of ye Wode for More'. The Deed of Wode near Cullompton. The Water Course by or through Wood.
Translated from ye original by John Furman in July 1768 Inner Temple Lane, London
The original medieval Latin Deed is still in existence and deposited in the Devon Record Office.
Edwin Chalk in his History mentions that in 1626 Henry Walrond said all the water from the village should flow down the artificial channel made in the 13th century to Newlands Farm, but Sir John Wyndham claimed all for Kingsford. Two hundred years later trouble again arose, and in 1814 the parties to the dispute made an agreement as follows:
'This Indenture of six parts between Percy Charles Wyndham, Lord of the Manor of Kentisbeare, William Pitts, George Terry Carwithen of Higher K'ingsford, Samuel Southwood of Church Taunton, Percy Whitton and Joel Northam' etc.
Apparently disputes and differences had arisen 'touching a certain stream of water which flows from Goodyford Mills, also Woodlane,
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into and through a Close of land called Wood Meadow being part of the estate of Wood Barton'.
The parties to the dispute agreed that one-third part of the stream, except the water that runs by Moorhayes Lear, shall be 'had and enjoyed without interruption by Peggy Whitton, Samuel Southwood and occupiers of Wood Barton'. The other two-thirds shall be had by Percy Wyndham, George Carwithen and one third by Peggy Whitton and Samuel Southwood and they shall continue to keep the same in repair.
The parties also agreed that entry through the Closes called Inner Horse Parks, Rootings and Wood Meadow for the purpose of cleaning the Watercourse right through to Moorhayes Farm be allowed. They have permission to remove anything that may obstruct the passage of the said Watercourse. The whole to be done in the usual husband-like manner.
The cleaning and keeping the watercourse in good order is mentioned in the Indenture drawn up 1349 between William Furneaux, Lord of the Newlands, and Nicholas de Aschille and Joan, his wife. Among other things Nicholas and Joan had 'to harrow for four days at Quadragesimal time and shall take per day an half-penny or a dinner. They shall perambulate for one day and shall take nothing. They shall mow ofie acre of meadow and take one penny and a farthing. They shall cleanse the bed (of the stream) of the Mill for one day and take one half-penny.' (From John Furman's translation of 1768.)
Albeit, one half-penny was worth a great deal in 1349, but it is revealing to make a diagram of payment for labour.
Task	Payment in cash	Payment in kind
Harrowing	1
2 penny per day	or	one dinner
Perambulating	nothing	nothing
Mowing — per acre	14 pence
 
Maintenance of stream	2 penny per day
In 1976 it became necessary to renew the weir which directs the water along Goodiford Overland to the Mill, where part divides to go to Newlands, and the rest through the mill-leaf to Brook House, Gooddyford (original spelling of farm) Farm, Woodbarton, Kingsford and on to Moorhayes.
Like our predecessors, but without dissension, the owners through whose land the water `casteth itself' agreed to share the cost of this renewal. The whole matter arranged most efficiently by Richard Frost of Kingsford.
15

1825 Map
'The numbers, no doubt, are those used by the Agent; they are not the same as the Tithe numbers

•	

7

Mpfer 3
WODE AND THE WHYTYNGS
AT THIS point I began to have doubts and misgivings about my self-inflicted task of finding out more. Truly, the time involved in this kind of project is enormous, and I frequently asked myself, Why?'—but the quest for knowledge is a strong force, and I just had to go on; at any rate to find out more about WODE (Wood Barton).
Edwin Chalk argues the merits of assuming Wode to be HEWISA in Domesday, and I quote:
`1086 held by William brother of Ralph, and in the time of Edward, the Confessor, by Wichin. It paid geld for 2 hide. This one plough can till. Hamo holds it of William. There are seven acres of meadow. Worth 5s.'
The complexities of the Domesday Survey are manifold, and the scholars themselves disagree, but obviously Chalk was convinced that Wode and Hewisa were one and the same. He writes about the matter as follows: 'Under the heading "Kentisbeare" Sir William Pole records the history of the two manors Kentisbeare Prior and Kentisbeare Mauger followed by Woode and then Blackborough Boty. The last manor was owned by the father of Sir William Pole and by his father before him, and the antiquary would not have included the two manors under Kentisbeare if one of them was indentifiable with "Woode", otherwise Wode, which is not mentioned as such in Domesday.'
In 1336 John de Cogan, son of John, granted his land (atte) Wode in the parish of Kentelesbeare together with the services of Walter atte Parke, carpenter, and with the lands of Carreshegh (Catshayes) to William, son of William Senitcler.
Witnesses were: Oliver de Dyneham John Beauchamp, lord of Wobernford, Richard de Chuselden, John and William Walrannd, John de Oreweye, John Prodhomme, William de Furneaux [lord of the Newland?], Walter Okerford, William Hurste {no doubt related to John and Sibill Hurste see Deed relating to Catteshaye}, Walter Jerard, chaplain and others.
Chalk gives the details of this Deed, and then states that the ownership of Wode is set forth at length by Sir William Pole, but he does not mention how the Whytyng family came to own Wode. It

17

may well be that these documents were not available for perusal in his day, but they are now in the possession of the Devon Records Office, whose archivist, P. A. Kennedy, has given me permission to quote the whole of the deed of gift translated by John Furman in 1768.
John Furman's translation of the 1354 deed
Know all present and future people that I William Sencler atte Wodehave given ven and granted to Nicholas Whytyng of Sydebury all my estate which I have in all lands and Tenements, Rents and Services as well free as of villiens and also Common of Pasture, Furze, Meadows, Ways, Waters, Paths, Woods, Plains, Moors, Aqueducts, Mills with all and singular their Appurtenances at the Wode and Elsewhere in the Parish of Kyontolysbere. To have and to hold to the said Nicholas his heirs and assigns as fully and wholly as I have held the same. And the aforesaid William and any heirs all the aforesaid lands and Tenements, Rents and Services, Commons, Pastures, Furze, Meadows, Ways, Paths, Woods, Plains, Moors, Aqueducts, Mills with all and singular their Appurtenances to the aforesaid Nicholas his heirs and also against all people will warrant.
In Witness whereof to these present put my seal
Witness The Lord John of Faryngdon, Rector of the church of Ufcolump. Ine Lodesworth, Vicar of the Church of ?aughe Sutton John de Chudderleigh
Ine de Orewaye
William Walrand
Thomas Grede
Henry Tyrel and Others
Tristram Risdon (Survey of Devon c. 1630) states: 'In this Parish is the ancient house of Whytyng, which name lived in this place from King Edward III's time, unto the reign of King Henry VIII, and well advanced their estate by the heirs of Prodhome. The last of this family (Whytyng) left four daughters, Agnes wife of Henry Walrond and her sisters married severally to FitzJames, Ashford, and Keynes.'
(It was through the daughter, Agnes, that Wode eventually came to the Walrond family.)
`John Whytyng of Wode dying without issue in King Henry's reign there grew a suit in law between John Whytyng, his cousin and next heir, and a herald named John Whytyng, born beyond the seas, and brought to trial, but it was found for John Whytyng of Wode.'
Earlier I quoted the 1336 Deed, and from this we know that John de Cogan owned Wode. The details regarding the Cogans are interesting. Richard de Cogan, 1298-1367, son of Sir Thomas of Bampton, and grandson of Sir John, was knighted after 1324, and

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succeeded by his son, Sir William. Sir William's son was John, on whose death the estate passed to Sir Hugh Courtenay, later of Haccombe, who married John's sister Elizabeth. From them descended the Earls of Bath.
By the third quarter of the 14th century Wode seems to have been the most important of the Kentisbeare manors, no doubt due to the fame of the Whytyng family. Nicholas was an Exeter lawyer and a notorious parliamentary pluralist. In six parliaments he filled fourteen seats, and in 1362 he received payment for each of five constituencies—£25 4s. in all for 42 days; but from 1362, when payment for more than one constituency was stopped, he ceased to attend Parliament—an interesting example of the withdrawal of labour. However, he still served the County of Devon, and in 1355-56 was Recorder of Exeter, and in 1371-72 Sheriff of Devon. He married Margaret Prodhome, one of the sisters and heirs of Thomas of Upton Prodhome.
In 1407-08 a licence was granted for the Chapel of St. Anne at Wode. This licence was renewed in 1438. There is a medieval door at Wode which was, perhaps, the door of the Chapel of St. Anne.
Chalk quotes Sir William Pole as saying that 'Sir Gawen Carew, Knight, held Woode by lease from the heirs of Whytyng, followed by his widow.' Lady Carew, formerly Mary Wotton, was buried in the Whytyng Chapel in St. Mary's Church, Kentisbeare. She first married Sir Henry Guyldeford. The inscription on the brass beside her tomb reads: 'and late the wyffe of Sir Gaewn Carew, Knyght, who endyd thys lyfe XVIII { 18th} day of September Ano MCCCCCLVIII' [15581.
By 1722 William Walrond was the owner of Wode and ownership continued in that family until 1928. During this time it was let on lease and frequently sub-let to other tenants.

Tenants
Details found mainly in the Way Warden's Accounts and the Rate Books.
1722 William Walrond paid rates. The name Wode' is not
mentioned in the Rate Book until 1741, when he paid rates
for himself, 'or the occupier of WOODEBARTON'. 1798-1806 John Pullin, tenant.
1810 Samuel,Southwood—leaseholder. In 1814 a Deed was drawn up regarding the Watercourse, in which Samuel Southwood is mentioned as 'of Church Taunton', and his tenant at Wode as Joel Northam. Obviously Samuel held Wode by lease from the Walronds.
1813-15 John Pullin and Joel Northam, tenants.
1832-44 William Tucker and Thomas Clarke, tenants.

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1857 Thomas Elworthy. (Note: 1854 Charles Elworthy died aged 3 years, and in 1858 Jane, his mother, died aged 23 years.) 1866 John Duckham, tenant.
1878 Samuel Doble, tenant.
1890 William Doble died at Wood Barton.
1928 William Manfield tenant, and then owner. He purchased from the Walronds. (Note: 1924 Elizabeth Manfield died, aged 77 years, also Ellen died, aged 48 years. 1930 Silvanus Charles Manfield died, aged 83 years.)
1941 Herbert Caseley bought Wood Barton.
1950-74 Anthony and Mary Allen, owners.
1974 Richard and Rosemary Horton, owners.
Note: In 1611 Edmund Arscott married Mary Walrond, daughter of Sir William Walrond of Wode. Possibly the parents of Rosecleere Arscott, who sold Kingsford to Sir John Wyndham. The property included two water-mills.

Roof timbers at Wode

sus

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Notes on Wode by John Stone
Wode should be the subject of a much greater research and volume of information than space can afford in a guide of general historical information on Kentisbeare.
Evidence suggests that the centre portion of the present living accommodation was built during. the Plantagenet Period A.D. 1154- 1399. The massive structural roof timbers over this portion comprising gothic arched trusses, moulded purlins and struts, bracketing and curved braces, regrettably, are dilapidated in parts but there are so many interesting features in the roof construction to warrant its restoration and preservation.
There is little doubt that this was the roof over the communal hall, the height of which extended from the floor at ground level to the apex of the trusses and the smoke from a centrally located fire found its way through a louvre in the roof.
The overall length of the present living accommodation suggests that a form of private 'Solar' may have been added at the south end of the hall and kitchens, possibly during the 14th century.
The 13th century was a period during which extensions and alterations were carried out to manors taking the form of increasing the number of rooms and providing other accommodation for other facilities. This theory could account for the building of the long room running at right-angles westward from the communal hall and other building of which only portions of the walls remain.
By now various legal terms have occurred, and as their meaning is necessary for the understanding of this text I am including a brief list of definitions.
Indenture: A Deed under seal, entered into between een two or more parties, each party having a duplicate; so called from the duplicates having originally been written on one skin, which was divided by a jagged cut, so that the matching of the two halves would prevent forgery.
Knight's fee, Knight-service: The tenure of lands on condition of performing military service.
Court-leet: A Court held in a Hundred, Lordship, or Manor for petty delinquencies.
Court-baron: A Baron's Court.
Manor: The land belonging to a lord, and cultivated by tenants or villeins under him.
Villein: A man of servile condition. A bondman or servant. Bordaria, Bordarp: The first word means 'cottage', from the Saxon
`bord'—domus. These words occur frequently in Domesday and
some think they mean cottagers.

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Woodlane cottages
These cottages are now derelict. They were still occupied in 1941. Probably very old cottages, but the first reference found is 1825-28, when William Radford moved from Jewell's Cottage to Woodlane Cottages.
1828-30 John Goff was at Woodlane Cottages. He was the son of Nicholas and Mary Goff and was born in 1787.
1833 John Lane.
1837 Arthur Pine and James Gough (Goff).
1841 James Coombe and John Blackmore.
1848 Thomas Denney.
1848-52 James Coombe and Thomas Broom.
1853 Thomas Broom and Robert Sellick.
1855-63 James Veale and James Ayres.
1867 Amelia Ayres, aged 17 years, died at Woodlane Cottages, and her mother, Susan, died in 1870, aged 52 years. 1869 James Ayres and Philip Dunn.
1873 James Ayres and William Broom.
1880 Ann Frost died at Woodlane Cottages, aged 88 years. 1913-14 Edward Broom and Charles Morgan.
The 'modern' Woodlane Cottages, built in the early 1920's, are situated above the weir.

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epapfer 4
THE HAMLET OF GOODIFORD
MY NEXT detecting efforts embraced the actual hamlet of Goodiford.
In the latter years of the 18th century there were probably six cottages; two of them semi-detached; one farm and one mill, as well as the premises now known as Brook House (see Chapter 1). Two are still standing and are known as Goodiford Cottages, occupied by Mr. Francis Osmond and Mr. and Mrs. Larcombe and their son. Four have disappeared—that opposite the Mill, Jewel's Cottage, and Goodiford Croft; but names of cottages present many difficulties as they were frequently known by the name of the occupiers, and this changed when the tenants changed.
The various ways of spelling the name are interesting. Goodiford applied to the Mill and the hamlet in general; Gooddyford—the farm; Guddiford—this spelling does not occur before the 19th century, therefore those who use this spelling are at fault, especially as the old spelling—GOODIFORD—means 'the Good Ford'.
The Mill is mentioned in the Domesday Survey, but no further direct references have been found as yet. However, it was obviously working during this long period as there are Deeds dealing with the Watercourse preserved in the Exeter Records Office (see Chapter 2).
In 1571 William Mills of Gooddyforde Farm, yeoman, sold to Syman Borow of Halberton his tenement called Goodiford Mill in Kentisbeare, of which John Furze, gent., was the late owner (E.S.C.).
I have not found any details of the Mill between the years 1571 and 1722, though during this time it came into the ownership of the Wyndham family as the Manor Mill. In 1722 and the years following, the Way Warden's accounts give John Mills as the occupier, indicating that the property came again to the Mills family sometime between the end of the 16th century, but as lease-holders.
From 1735 to about 1742 William Mills was owner; by 1743 he ceased to be there, but retained Goodiforde Tenement. There is no mention again until 1763 when Thomas Morish occupied the Mill; he was still there in 1798. In 1799 William Frost was at the Mill, followed by John Frost from 1801 to 1804; Edmund Frost 1805-13;

23

Robert Frost 1814-16. It would appear that William Frost became tenant in 1799, and that the family remained at the Mill until about 1830.
In 1834 John Brice was the miller and William Glanville owned the lease. In 1844 William was apparently living at the Mill.
The late Mr. Clarke told me in 1976, when he was 90 years of age, that he remembered the cottage on the other side of the lane opposite the Mill. I believe this land and buildings belonged to the Walrond family, but were let to the miller.
In 1844, when William Glanville was there, the owner was the Earl of Egremont. The Tithe numbers were then 88 to 93.
The next tenant was Charles Goff, born in 1834, at Woodlane Cottages; he is mentioned as 'at the Mill' in 1889. In 1893 his two sons Charles and Frank were in partnership as millers, Charles as tenant at the Mill, and Frank owner/occupier of the present Brook House.
Charles Goff, junior, remained tenant when the Wyndham family sold the Mill to the Walronds; this was in 1916, and later, in 1925, when they sold to Mr. Thomas Grant of the Manor of Newlands, he still continued his tenancy, and remained there until 1949. Herbert Caseley became owner in 1950. Later the premises ceased to be used as a corn mill. David and Harriet Stiling became tenants of the mill-house, and the buildings were used as deep-litter hen-houses.
As a footnote to the 19th century, I am told that in 1850-51 the thatch was removed and the roof was tiled and slated. No doubt the disastrous fire at Kingsford in 1850 made a great impression on local property owners, and maybe the thatch was removed for that reason.
The Sale Notice of 1925 gives these details (auctioneers—Knowlman and Sons):
Portion of the Bradfield Estate to be sold at the White Hart Hotel, Cullompton on July 16th. The sale to include Goodiford Mill and the lands now in the occupation of Charles Goff.
Lot 5
Dairy farm and premises know as Goodiford Mill comprising
Dwelling House Containing four bedrooms, parlour, kitchen with range, pantry,
pump-house, wash-house etc.
Mill Premises on three floors consisting of corn-chambers, granary, mill and
sacking room together with excellent iron overshot water-wheel etc.
The Goodiford Brook provides a good flow of water for working the mill.
Outbuildings including cowpens to tie up twelve. Calves' houses. Three-stall
stables with loft over. Lean-to waggon shed, barn, pigsties, fowl-houses etc.
Lands are situated adjoining the homestead and comprising some excellent closes,
containing in all 28 acres 3 rods 4 perches.
Lot 5 is in the occupation of Mr Charles Goff, being held on a yearly Lady Day tenancy and the
remainder on a yearly Michaelmas tenancy at a rent of £76 per annum.
24

I

Mr. Goff's daughter, Mrs. Ayres of Cullompton, tells me that when Mr. Thomas Grant bought the Mill he told her father that he could continue his tenancy for as long as he wished. In fact he remained there until 1950.
Sometime during Thomas Grant's ownership the channel taking the water to Newlands was restored,and improved. Mr. Henry Frost of Kingsford can remember when this was done, probably about 1926-27.
Goodiford, otherwise Gooddyford Farm
I have found the search for information very frustrating. Details about what must have been quite an important farm are very scanty. For many generations the Mills family were farming here, and it is probably this long, peaceful, and seemingly uneventful tenancy which makes it difficult to find many details. However, the following calendar has emerged:
1086 The farm is said to be mentioned in the Domesday Survey, but little is known of its history before the latter part of the 16th century.
1571 William Mills of Gooddyford Farm sold Goodiford Mill to Syman Borows of Halberton.
1754 William Mills paid rates for Gooddyford, and Goodiford Tenement—Tenant, George Manning.
1760-61 John Morish tenant of the farm and mill.
1773-78 William Mills owned Gooddyford Farm, Wressing, Jewell's Cottage, Goodiford Tenement, Higher and Lower Kingsford.
1798-1816 Edmund Frost was referred to as 'at the farm, and at the mill', but there is a mention of William Mills at the farm in 1809.
1836 Edmund Cook.
1878 Edward Hill.
1889 Arthur Norman.
1923 Herbert Dunn.
1951 Mr. Dunn sold the farm to Mr. Anthony Allen, who then coverted it into two cottages, and the farm buildings were extended.
1974 Richard Horton became owner, Mrs. Horton, senior, and Mr. and Mrs. Graham Bushell being tenants of the two houses.
Special Note: Mrs. Horton, senior, attended the first meeting in the village to discuss the future of this manuscript, and she encouraged me to proceed. Sadly, I have to record her death in April 1977.

25

Lower and Higher Kingsford
Just a mile on from WODE towards the Kentisbeare-Cullompton border lies Kyngesford.
CHINNESFORT was held by Baldwin in 1086. Earlier, in the time of King Edward the Confessor, it was held by Ezi. Now William holds it of Baldwin. A hundred years later it was held by Matthew de Alravilla.
It seems that Lower Kingsford may have been a monastic cell. Its architecture is of great antiquity.
The earliest reference that I have found to the name Kingsford appears among the witnesses of the 1348 Deed (John and Sibilla Hurst). The witnesses include Henry de Kyngesford—literally Henry at Kyngesford.
There was a chapel dedicated to St. Dunstan at Kyngesford. It received a licence dated 31st March 1438 to celebrate Mass on St. Dunstan's Day. This appears in the Register of Edmund Lacy (142055), the licence being granted to John Crugge for divine service in the chapels of St. Anne at Wode, St. John the Baptist at Pyswyll at St. Dunstan's at Kyngesford.
In 1504 it is recorded that John Gay died at Kingesford, and we are told that he owned 62 acres arable land, 10 acres wood, 300 acres furze and heath of John Wykes of Minehead for a quarter of a Knight's Fee. A Knight's Fee, or Knight-Service, means the holding of land on condition of military service. Thomas Gay sold Kingsford to Thomas Arscott.
The ancient Watercourse from the village through Goodiford, Kingsford and Moorhayes, eventually joining the Culme, has been the subject of many Indentures, and, one surmises, a number of verbal arguments. The Deed, dated 1339, was only a renewal of an earlier agreement. In 1626 Henry Walrond was doing verbal battle with Sir John Wyndham about the flow of water, when Henry claimed that all the water from the village should run along the artificial channel made in the 13th century to Newlands, but Sir John claimed all for Kingsford.
In 1735 William Pool was farming at Kingsford, but by 1773 William Mills occupied part of the Manor. The next reference was in 1803, when John Coles was at Higher Kingsford and Henry Bishop of Lower Kingsford was succeeded by another member of the Mills family, John, whose descendants did not leave there until 1850. In 1825 the tenancy of John Coles at Higher Kingsford was taken over by Charity Pitts. Not long after this the Frost family became tenants of Higher Kingsford which their descendant Robert Frost bought, together with Lower Kingsford, in 1915, when the main part of the village was sold by the Wyndhams.

26

ftpfer 5

FOOTPATHS, BRIDLE-PATHS, HIGHWAYS AND THE
TURNPIKE
IT WAS not long after I started this project that I realised how important the old lanes and footpaths must have been, and also their value as boundary indicators.
Mr. Chalk states: 'the southern boundary of the Parish is identified with a section of the Fosse Way. This followed a trackway of the Britons'. (Map below.)

STOWFORD WATER

PO
TO HENLAND FARM

TO SHELDON

WORWAY STONE

27

O

In medieval times the clearing of waste changed the landscape to one of small enclosed fields surrounded by hedge banks.
`Between these farms ran narrow lanes, winding, climbing and falling, linking farm to farm, or farm to highway each parish having a network almost completely independent of the next. It is in these generations between 1150 and 1350 that the characteristic Devonian landscape was born, the lanes, the small irregular fields, the great hedge-banks, the isolated farmstead at the end of a track.' (From `Devon' by W. G. Hoskins.
When Tristram Risdon visited Devon he made the following comments on the roads: 'painful for man and horse as they can best witness, who have made trial ,thereof . . . very laborious, rough and unpleasant to strangers travelling these ways which are cumbersome and uneven, amongest rocks and stones.'
All paths and tracks are of great value, but only to the people who use them. One should not be deceived by a path which appears to go

i

-C

nowhere. It may have been a vital link between a cottage and the village or between farmhouse and land, or it may have been used for carting gravel etc. Consequently on the various maps I have tried to link up 'dead-end' paths with the whereabouts of some cottage now laid low, or one of the many gravel pits dotted about the parish. Some very interesting facts have emerged, especially those shown on the maps on pages 28 and 29.
The first links with the 1344 Deed granting various privileges, in return for labour, to John and Sibilla Hurst. The bridle-path on the map comes to an abrupt end on the boundaries of Horse Park (49), Little Wideley (55), Copse (56) and Pit Cathayes (50). I have drawn a cottage on the plot of land at the junction of all these fields. It seems too much of a coincidence that the boundaries 'fit' so well. A further piece of evidence appears when the boundaries of Horse Park (49), Higher Woods (29), Little Ham (7), Little Meadow (8) and Home Meadow (5) to Great Orchard (9) form a nearly straight line linking with another 'dead-end' bridle-path coming from Kingsford.
I cannot believe that this was not a footpath some 633 years ago. This path would also have connected the two old quarries. To me this is an exciting find which, though resting on circumstantial evidence, is worth further investigation.
The other interesting path links Mr. Stanley Tancock's farm Wressing' with the northern approach to the village (map below).
MAP OF STOCKLAND, KENTISBEARE

108 Wressing Meadow
109 Palk's Meadow
110 Meadow
III and 112 Palk's Head
113 Little Marsh
114 Little Meadow
115 Rockland Field
116 Clamp Pits Meadow

122

,Gravel h:pits

DR-C

Again it appears to be a most devious way of reaching the village, but I think this was another case of a path going to and from dwellings. We have found that the land known as Stockland supported three cottages at one time. I imagine they were probably grouped together in field 115 called Stockland Field and the small fields Little Meadow (114), Little Marsh (113), Palk's Mead—two fields (111, 112), Meadow (110), Palk's Meadow (109) were tilled by the tenants of these old cottages, and maybe one took the name of Palk's Cottage, since it was situated somewhere in the Stockland/Wressing area.
The larger fields towards Wressing look very much like common pastureland shared by these folk. One large field (747) is also called Stockland Field. Perhaps this was a small manor not mentioned in Domesday. Many such small manors were not mentioned separately in the 1086 Survey, but were grouped together in some larger manor. If this is so, I think the land circled by the lanes shown on the map on page 29 would have been part of the manor of Sowell, but more of this in Chapter 10, page 99.
These two footpaths, joined by another which linked Wode and Wressing, means that there was once a continuous foot- or bridle-path from the back of Lower Kingsford to the village.
I find the drawing and studying of maps most exciting, and without doubt they are full of clues about the past. One such clue led to finding the ancient bridle-path from Kingsford across Kentismoor towards Honiton when Horn Road, Dead Lane, and Rectory Road did not exist. One of the surviving stretches of this path is shown at the M ngsford end on page 31. There is also another part of this path to the left of Kentismore Cottages. It also served the cottagers living on the moor. At first it seemed surprising that the path was used sufficiently to keep it from becoming overgrown, but then I realised that Bradfield and Willand people must also have walked this path, the old 'Stag and Hounds' inn offering welcome refreshment on the journey. There are many such paths to explore in the parish.
The Way Wardens' Account Books offer some interesting reading:
1798 We read that 'A table showing the annual value of the different estates in the Parish of Kentisbeare according to the land rate, and what they are to pay towards the repairs of the Highway after the Proposal of sixpence in the pound according to the same Rate.' (Here follows a list of 87 names and estates.)
Whereas the Way Wardens in times past have often not been able clearly to ascertain what each person is to pay towards the repair of the Public Highways, and frequently found great difficulty in procuring the same, in consequence of which a practice has prevailed of returning people in arrears which arrears have never been collected, to the great detriment of the said roads, and to the injury of the public at large. We, whose names are

30

Drawing by John Stone

hereunto subscribed, being the principal occupiers ers of the Parish, have come to the following resolutions.
1.	that we will readily pay towards the repair of the Highways the respective sums charged opposite the estate in the Table.
2.	that we will reserve to ourselves the privilege of compounding for the same by labour after the rate of 4s. 6d. a day fora man, cart and two horses, and 5s. 6d. a day fora man, cart and three horses, who shall be obliged to work from 6 o'clock in the morning to 6 o'clock in the evening.
that the Way Wardens give notice, in writing, to every person when and where he is to send his cart, which notice is not to be given in Seed Time or Harvest, and if any person shall neglect to send his cart as above for the space of five days after the receipt of such notice, he shall not be at liberty to compound, but pay the full sum with which his farm is charged.
that, for the time to come, the Way Wardens do strictly and regularly collect the above rate, and not by any mean shall any person be in arrears under the penalty of paying the same out of their own pockets, to be sued for by the Church Wardens and Overseers on behalf of the Parish.
Way Wardens Thomas Collins—Alley William Leach—Ford
Overseers Thomas Foweraker John Harris Edmund Frost John Frost
Robert James John Monsh Thomas Pook Richard Persey Thomas Baker James Leach John Pullin
J. Pullin (James or John jun.?)
1798 Paid for repairing the Town Bridge and for gutter by Thomas Churley's house 3s.
Paid Farmer Frost for a tree for ye bridge at Stoford 9s. 1801 For digging 24 loads of Gravel 4s.
Paid for labour for putting about the same 3s.
1802-03 Mrs. Pratt discharged in consequence of repairing of the roads from Strawberry Hill to the Village.
1802 A Rate made by the Rev. Cleeve and John James, surveyors of the Highway from Michaelmas 1802-03 after the proposal of Is. in the £1 according to Land Tax. [A clear case of inflation! See page 30.1 6s. a day allowed for a cart, two horses and a driver, and ls. 6d. a day for a man.
A Quire of Notices to trim hedges 2s.
Allowed Edward Frost of Wressen for 3 days and an extra man each day £1 2s. 6d.

I

I

32	i

1803 Paid John Radford for covering the gutter at the Crofe [Cross?] on Kentisbeare and paid John Bray, the mason, for turning the two arches [bridges].
1804 Paid John Radford for putting an Handle on a pick-axe 6d. Amos Gale for 50 wear rods 2s. 6d.
Peter Salter for labour about the path at Bonds Bridge 6s. 9d. James Warren for putting up the bridge in the village and putting a rail on that on the moor 4s. 6d.
Paid Dyer for repairing the arch at the Cross at Kentismoor ls. 6d.
1806 Paid Ann Tozer 5 days and her boy a day picking stones 6s. Paid James Warren for repairing Westhayes Bridge and for Posts and Rails for the same 3s. 6d. also
Jane Morish for drawing sand from the new path to the village 2s. 6d.
Paid Moses Salter for repairing a wheelbarrow Is. 1810 John Coles 62 faggots of browse 6s.
Veale, the carpenter, for a new wheelbarrow 10s. 5d. John Radford for iron for the same 4s. 92d.
Moses East 16 days work, wood and stakes needed about Hollis Green Bridge £1 ls.
1811 A carpenter, half-a-day's work about the bridge about the Papper [their spelling] Mills.
Paid for wood stakes for the Wearing by the Papper Mills, also paid the carpenter about the Bridge [no amount stated]. 1816-17 Paid for bridge on Ashland Lane 2s.
Timbers for Wressing Bridge 19s.
John Turner and John Harris, the Surveyors set the rate at ls. 6d. in the pound 5s. a day for cart, two horses and a driver.
1819 Paid in manual labour to Will. Blackmore towards raising the road at Kingsford 7s. 3d.
1822 Paid William  Tucker for drawing a load of lime for Kingsford Bridge 12s. and for rails of the bridge leading to Kingsford 2s.
1825 Mr. Matthews for a wire sieve 5s. 9d.
Frances Radford for a wheelbarrow 12s. .8d.
1827 Mason for work on Orway Bridge 2s. 4d.
1830-31 William Radford for making center for Goodiford Bridge. Timber for Goodiford Bridge 5s.
Timber and iron for new bridge at Wressing 6s.

33

Road building
Turnpike Road, completed 1765—Honiton to Cullompton.
Rectory Road, formerly Kentisbeare Road, 1769 linking the village to the Turnpike.
Dead Lane, formerly Uffculme Drove, 1801 linking Goodiford Hamlet to the Turnpike.
Horn Road, formerly Kentsford Road, 1801 linking Kingsford, Willand and Bradfield to the Turnpike.
Motor coaches (omnibuses) began to serve the village in 1925. Services—one a day during the summer to Sidmouth and Seaton
—	twice weekly during the winter
market day to Exeter
1977—twice weekly to Honiton/Cullompton

34

epapfer 6
NAMES OF FAMILIES Some early entries in the registers

Notes

Mary buried
Samuel born to John and Dorothy Samuel died
Edith born to William and Catherine baptised
(might this be Orway?)
John buried
Gawen and Allse children of Thomas and Ellynoe baptised
Sarah daughter of Mark and Grace baptised
Alice daughter of Robert Margett baptised
John son of John and Jane baptised Elizabeth married Peter Bartoe
John (baptised or buried?)
Edward son of Edward and Mary Elizabeth daughter of Samuel and Jenny baptised
Eleanor married Richard Goard
John married Joan Reed
Mary married Thomas Bristowe
Roger of Orway died
and his son in

1695 1697 1697
1696
1608 (joh. de Orweye)
1615
1615
1615
1615 (Bale's Cottage)
1628 1635 1705
1750	Farm) 1719 (Bishop's Farm)
1731 1754 1695 1696

AIRS or AYRES
ATWOOD
ALLWAY
ALLW AY
BAKER
BAKER
BALE or
BAELL
BATSON BENNETT BRAY BICKNELL
BISHOP BISHOP BLACKMORE BRADON

BROME or
BROOM(E)	John son of Robert and Anstice baptised BROOK(E) or Elizabeth daughter of Lewes and Margett
BROWKE	baptised
BUTSON	Burial of Robert
There is an early record of this name dated 1532. Robert Butson, exec. of William 

Radcliff's Will.
George son of John and Henry married Anastacia Mary born to William baptised

Robert buried

1695
1615 seemanorofsowe
1608

(Ch.ffice's Farm and Cottage)

(C,00rnbe Farm, Blackborough. Coombe Corta

1615 o~.y)	—

CLARKE CHALLICE CHAVE
COMB or COMBE

Elizabeth	1810
Westcott	1639 and Elizabeth

1697

35

CONYBEAR or CONYBEER

CORNISH COTTRELL or COTTREL COX

CROSSE DAVIE, DAVY or DAVEY DUN or DONNE EAST
EEDES ELLICOTT or ELLACOTT ENDICOTT

EVELLY FACY or FACIE FOWERAKER FOURACRES FROST GOFF(E) or GOUGH GREENE HARRIS

HETHFYLD

Anna daughter of Thomas and Sarah baptised	. 1792 Tamsen daughter of George and Elysa‑
herb baptised or buried	1615
John to Robert and Dorothy baptised	1618 Mary daughter of David and Sarah
baptised	1759 Mary daughter of William and Joan
baptised	1736

Edmund married Katherine Greene	1620 cottages)
Johan married John Pooke	1618
Anne married John Floud	1698
Elizabeth daughter of Thomas baptised	1678
Robert son of John and Elizabeth	1701 Elizabeth to Clement and Mary baptised 1696
Sarah daughter of William baptised	1685 Abraham son of Zacharye baptised or
buried	1608 (Endicott, Farm)
Jane buried	1688
Margaret daughter of Marke baptised	1608 (Fact' Cott-go or
Mary born	1675
John baptised or buried	1571 Nancy daughter of Nicholas and Ann
baptised	1758
Katherine wife of Robert buried	1615 Alice daughter of Gawen and Anne
baptised	1695 Thomas son of Edward and Anne

(Crosses Farm or

(HEATHFIELD?) baptised	1615 HILL or
HYLL	Thomas buried	1617
HITTE	Richard son of Richard and Joan baptised	1704 HOW or
HOWE	Richard son of John baptised	1687 HURLEY or
HURLY	Johan wife of William buried	1615
JEWELL	John buried	1678 qewew, Cottage)
Thomasine married Thomas Willy	1695
John died	1712
Joan died	1721
Petrone] died	1722
LANE	John son of William and Mary bap‑
tised	1696
For reasons for special interest in the family of Jewell see Chapter 1, page 11, Jewell's Cottage. Chalk mentions B. Jewell whose 'Works' were collected in 1609—he was an author. There was a John James Jewell who paid subsidy on land held in Kentisbeare in 1624.

36

OSMOND or OSMUND

PALMER PARSONS PEPPRELL

PERSEY
POKE or POOK POOLLMAN (PULMAN?) PRATT or PRATTE PREWE PRING RADFORD

REED or READ
RUGG SALTER

SANDERS or SAUNDERS SHILES KNIGHT LANE
LSAT

LEMON or LUMMAN LEWIS LYMPANY or LIMPANY

MANLY
MAY MERSEN MILL
MILLS or MYLES MORISH MOUNT‑
STEPHEN NEAL or NEELS NORMAN*

Johan married Roger Leigh John Osmond was buried
Jane baptised	1608 (Osmond's Farm)
Thomasine buried	1635 (Palmer', Land)
Ambrose married Anne ... umer	1618 (Parson's Close) William son of Robert and Joan baptised 1696
Another Joan Pepprell died	1695 William son of William and Ann baptised 1788
John married Johan Davye	1618 (Poole's Cottage)

John married Johan Slade
Wyatt son of Richard baptised Symond was Churchwarden
Joan daughter of Nicholas baptised Humphrey son of Robert and Mary Alice daughter of William and Alice baptised
John son of Peter and Joan baptised
James (Tailor) married Sarah Brooks Robert married Alice Whitfield
John son of Robert and Agnis baptised Inscription on tombstone Harry and Richard
Jone (Joan) born
John married Johanna Always Thomasine married Barnard Taylor Margaret daughter of Robert and Jane baptised

Jone (Joan) baptised	1675 (Wressing Cottage)
Jane daughter of James and Mary	1698 There are many entries concerning this
family—the following extract is dated	1670 (Lympany Meadow) 'Wee present John Mills and Thomas Limpany to bee Churchwardens for ye years followings 1670'
Mary daughter of Robert and Mary
baptised	1713
John to David and Elizabeth baptised	1697
. . . ilfe baptised	1608 (Merson's Cottage) William . . . at Goodiford Mills 1571
Humfry baptised or buried?	1608 Betty daughter of John and Elizabeth born 1788
Hannah died	1699 Mary daughter of John and Mary
baptised	1696 (Neels Cottage)
John son of Lawrence and Joan baptised	1675

(Pratt', Cottage) (Prewe's Cottage)

1696

1704 1736 1613 1635

1652 Cottage)
1656 1675 1596
1622 (Lane's Cottage)
1718

1608
1670 1669 1678 1734

(Salter's Tenement) (See Bess Satmder's

*I wonder if the family of NORMAN descended from Norman who held the Manors of Chentisbera and Avra in 1086 Domesday Survey.
37

de ORWEYE	See under The Manor of Orweye			
SNELL	Sarah daughter of Robert baptised	1678	(Stark-s Cottag ~ at	
STARK	Mary daughter of Humphrey baptised	1670	Smhill..dPir,wdl)	
STYLING or				
STILING	Thomas son of Joseph and Ann baptised	1792		
STONE	Joseph son of William and Joan baptised	1670		
SWEET(E)	James buried	1678		
TOZER	Ann daughter of James and Elizabeth			
	baptised	1734		
TROTT	Elizabeth married William Foweraker	1802		
	(John Trott witnessed Indenture			
	regarding lease of Great Senthill)	1585		
TUCKER	Dorothy married Francis Pratte	1701		
WALROND	Jane daughter of Henry baptised	1615		
WARREN	Elizabeth daughter of John and Anne			
	baptised	1696		
WEBBER	Joan married Francis Fouracres	1699		
WEST	Ann buried	1747		
WESTCOTT	Elizabeth buried	1730		
			(Western Farm also	
WESTERN	Mary daughter of John baptised	1687	Westron's Cottage)	
WOOD	Humfry married Johan	1608		
WOODRON	Reynold buried	1698		
WOODROW	David	son	of	William	and	Dinah			
WESSCOMBE	baptised
or Henry or Robert son of Richard	1699		
WESTONE or	and Johan	1617		
WESCUM				
YEA	Philip married Petronella	1623		
	Wescombe			

Some unusual names appearing in the registers and other sources
ALMSHAYNE	Sarah married James Baker	1799
ANEAR	William married Joan Powell	1720 ANNEAR
AVICE	Thomas married Dorothy Taylor	1699
CARFENDER	Margaret baptised	1688
CHOLAS	Elizabeth daughter of Walter and Anne baptised 1615
CHOLLISH	Ann married Edward Rowland	1636
DOGGE	Dorothy baptised	1608
DOWDNER	Barbara paid subsidy on land held in Kentisbeare 1624
FLEA	William married Thomazin Peprel	1690
FYLLDEW	Barbara widow buried	1615
GANSLEN	Margaret baptised (see JANSLEN below)	1608
GOARD	Richard married Eleanor Bishop	1719 GOSLING JENOBUS
or JACOBUS	married Martha Salter	1707
HAEMS	Mary daughter of Amos and Ann baptised	1770
HATNOT	Dorothy died	1712
HOPPIN	Henry married Dorothy	1637
*JANSLEN	Elizabeth baptised	1618
* JANSLIN	Dorothy daughter of Ramond and Elizabeth
baptised	1635
38

A N

*JANSLING *JEYSE *JOHNCELINE *JOHNSLIN *JONSLINE *JOSLYN KERYE KEDNY KIMMENS LYPPENCOTT OLAND OYENS PEIOTCKELL or GEIOSEDELL SHAKELL STEPHANTS TULKEY VARMAN VENHAM or

George son of Roger baptised John baptised
Susanna daughter of Roger and Sarah baptised Grace married James Davy Roger son of Roger baptised William married Alice Matthew Alyce married John Wright Elizabeth baptised
Richard married Dorothy Peprel
John a servant of Robert Lyppencoot buried David married Priscilla Manly John married Mary Souther-wood
Tamsen married Peter Bowrows John son of John buried (?) Joseph son of Robert buried Isett married Humfry Harris
Ursulla dafter (daughter) of John buried

1685 1618 1697 1687 1669 1686 1615 1688 1745 1615 1718 1748
1618 1618 1696 1636 1670

VONHAM	Mary daughter of Richard of baptised	1669
WHITTENHOWEGeorge married Elizabeth Radford	1801
YARONS	William baptised	1688 *Apparently all the same family
War Memorials
KENTISBEARE
1914 to 1918
Killed in Action
Henry Sprats, Canadian Dragoons
Arthur Cecil Turner, Devon Regt.
Died
George Newberry, R.N.
Samuel Potter, R.N.
Walter Potter, Canadian R.M.C.
John Richards, Devon Regt.
William Rowe, Devon Regt.
1939 to 1945
Killed in Action
Arthur Bird, Royal Marines
Archibald John Michael Painter, B.A., Devon Regt.
George Edward White, Devon Regt.
Died on Active Service
Lionel Paul Dashwood, Devon Regt.
Died as a result of enemy action (air raid on Exeter)
Alma Dunn

39

BLACKBOROUGH	A
1914 to 1918 James Edmund Robert Symonds Bishop Westcott
Missing
John Hedges
Died
Albert Radford
1939 to 1945
William Ball
Gilbert Wheewall
A few miscellaneous entries, some giving interesting details of occupations and the holding of land etc.

1166
1284
1303
1516	Mention of Robert de Orivee.
MOHUN (MOON), Eleanor, mention regarding dower lands.
JOHN de ORWEYE held Orweye for a 1 of a Knight's fee.
4
RADFORD, John left a fat sheep to the store of the High
Cross.		
1585	TROTT, John witnessed an Indenture of lease.	E	
1588	BARRETT, Thomas mentioned in the Calender of Enrolled	B	
	Deeds.	el	
1612	BYSHOPP, Robert witnessed a Conveyance dated 1612.	cc	
1618	ROCHES, George, a thatcher.	ri	
1624	HARTS paid Subsidy on Lands in Kentisbeare, also in the		
	same year Edmund Crosse paid Subsidy. Likewise George	in	
	Pullen or Pullin.		
1647	CROSSE, Edmund—clothier.	li	
	BUTSON, John buried. He was Parish Clerk.		
1695		li	
1727	SHILES, John—sergemaker, married Joan Cross.	li	
1751	MANLY (Manley), William—weaver, married Elizabeth Mar‑	li	
	shall.	li	
1753	HENDREY, Robert, peruke (wig) maker, married Grace Yeo.		
1797	HELLINGS, James, tallow chandler, married Mary Cook.		
1822	MORISH, John, papermaker, married Marcia Martin.		
1829	WESTCOTT, Thomas, papermaker,	married Mary Ann		
	Manley.		
1884	AYRES, William, a cordwainer (shoemaker).		

40

Many interesting facts appear in the surviving copies of directories such as Kelly's. A few entries follow:
1850 John Bennett, grocer, draper, tallow chandler and organist (truly a man of many parts).
1857 William Glanville, farmer and miller at Goodiford Mills. John Trott, tailor.
William Trott, farmer.
1866 John Duckman, farmer at Wood.
1870 Mary Trott, farmer at Wressing.
1878 Samuel Dobie at Wood.
Edward Hill, farmer, Goodiford.
John Shiles, miller, Goodiford.
1889 Samuel Doble, farmer, Cole Park.
Charles Goff, miller, farmer, mason, Goodiford Water Mills. Thomas Grant, farmer, Wressing-at-the-Green.
Arthur Norman, farmer, Goodiford.
Robert Potbury, farmer, Wressing.
1897 Jame Goff, builder, Cole Park.
William Lane, farmer, Wressing.
Other sources of information are the Voter's Lists, and among names on the 1832 List appear William Tucker at Wood, Edmund Cook and a reference to Goodiford Estate, Thomas Pratt at Wressing, and John Mills at Kingsford.
Discharge papers
Before our ancestors left their home village to seek a fortune elsewhere, or to take a new job in another parish, they had to obtain a certificate, called a discharge paper, so that, should they fall upon hard times, and be in need of Poor-law Relief, they were charged to their home parish and not their parish of adoption. To us this seems a gross infringement of liberty, but the intention was good.
Most are in good condition despite the age of both ink and paper. 1664 Isaac Stockman
1664 Alice Hynes
1664 John Piney
1669 Nicelus Browne
1670 Peter Chapter or Chapman
1670 Henry Gay
1678 John Dulyns
1679 George Bates
1685 Psna (?) Gaskins
1686 John Norton
1687 Widow Elizabeth Keedner

41

1690 	 Morgan
1690 William Taylor (Taylor's or Little Pirzwell) 1693 John Edward Dinford
1696 Mary Prowse
1696 John Voysey
1696 	 Toogoods
1696 John Walsh
Later the system of apprenticing children to local people became the duty of the Overseers. No doubt many children were well cared for and properly fed, but by modern standards it appears cruel to apprentice children from 9 years of age for periods of 10, 14, even 20 years. On and from 1798 an estate rated at £10 had to take one child apprentice. This was scaled upwards to £380 when four apprentices had to be taken.
Among the Parish papers the Apprentice Book still survives. The following list gives some of the names:

Child	To whom bound	Farm	Date	Time of Expiry		
Edward Salter	John Amory		1789	1799	10 years		
Mary Radford	Elizabeth Preston		1789	1801	12 years		
William Shears	Edmund Frost	Lyddons	1789	1800	11 years		
Daniel Radford	Edmund Frost	Salters, Orway	1791	1803	12 years		
Elizabeth Salter	Henry James	Wressing-at-the‑					
		Green	1791	1801	10 years		
William Salter	John Coles	Higher Kingsford	1792	1806	14 years		
William LymphanyHenry Pullin	Highwoods	1792	1802	8 years		
John Ayres	William Leach	Lanes	1792	1802	10 years	Al	
Thomas Salter	John Amory		1793	1803	10 years	(9	
John Salter	Thomas Stone	Challices	1793	1805	12 years	El	
Moses Radford	John Harris	James	1793	1806	13 years	(I	
Mary Radford	Francis Foweraker	Orway	1794	1806	12 years		
William Jerwood
Sarah Parsons	John Pullin
John Morrish	Wood
Crofts (Crosse's)	1796
1797	1810
1807	14 years
10 years	it,	
William Pulsford	Thomas Morris	Goodiford Mills	1797	1808	11 years	•I	
Thomas Stone	John Pullin	Goodiford Overland	1797	1806	9 years		
Richard Lympany	Edmund Frost	Goodyford Farm	1797	1808	11 years		
Thomas Potter	Thomas Stone	Stockland	1798	1808	11 years		
Dorothy Salter	John Morrish	Catsford	1800	1810	11 years		
Robert Cornish	William Cottrell	Lewis	1800	1809	9 years		
Elizabeth Styling	Edmund Frost	Lyddons	1800	1810	10 years		
Elizabeth Rookley	Elizabeth Preston	Glimsters	1801	1812	11 years		
Mary Lympany	William Cook		1801	1811	11 years		
Thomas Farley	Williams Drake		1801	1810	10 years		
Isaac Radford	John Frost	France	1802	1811	9 years		
James Salter	Thomas Stone	Challice's	1805	1818	13 years		
Thomas Tozer	John Pullin	Wood	1805	1815	10 years		
Samuel Tucker	John Pullin	Wood	1806	1815	9 years		
John Rookley	John Coles	Higher Kinsford	1806	1818	12 years		
Thomas Cornish	John Harris	James	1806	1815	9 years		

42

Cluld
Isaac Radford Elizabeth Ayres John Jerson Elizabeth Lane William Ayres Eliz. Pidborough Samuel Radford Isaac Bulborough John Passmore Philip Cook
Elizabeth Radford James Radford Mary Ayres William Salter John Radford James Pring William Jordan William Jordan John Salter Elizabeth Farley James Eadford Ann Tucker
Jane Sanders George Farley Robert Neals

To whom bound William Mills Thomas Collins John Morrish William Leach Thomas Morrish William Mills William Leach Edmund Frost John Frost Thomas Pratt

Edmund Frost Edmund Frost Edmund Frost Edmund Frost

Mrs. Cook Joel Northam William Mills Walter Pratt William Leach Joel Northam William Tucker John Frost Edmund Cook Petronella Pratt John Mills

Farm Wressing
Goodiford Mills Wre,ssing
Lyddons Brices Wressing-at-theGreen
Halls Orway-Challices Bussells Bussells
Wressing Wressing
Wood Barton Wood Barton Brices
Goodiford Wressing Farm Lower Kingsford Stockland*
Higher Kingsford

Date Time of Expiry 1807 1820 13 years 1808 1816 8 years 1808 1821 13 years 1808 1820 12 years 1808 1818 10 years 1808 1818 10 years 1809 1821 12 years 1809 1821 12 years 1810 1822 12 years
1810 1824 14 years 1811 1822 11 years 1811 1824 13 years 1814 1821 7 years 1816 —?—
1817 —?—
1817 —?—
1820 —?—
1820
1820 1831 11 years 1821 1833 12 years 1821 1833 12 years 1823 —?—
1824 1835 11 years 1824 1835 11 years 1827 —?—
1829 1840 11 years 1831 —?—

1850 21 years
1842 21 years

for no less

Abraham Radford Robert Dennis Nicholas Hartnell Robert Frost An interesting entry

Abraham Radford	1829
(9 years)	Apprentices to Robert Dunn (Donne), t
Elizabeth Lake	School Master	1821 (11 years)

It is worthy of note that Edmund Frost was responsible than 10 apprentices between the period 1789 to 1824.

*Large enough to support two Apprentices—see Thomas Potter, page 42. tThomas Dunn, probably Robert's father, lived in Jewell's Cottage.

43

cet of
V6'3
ilh
PU rru

(ft,
I.cl.rapfer 7
KENTISBEARE AND BLACKBOROUGH DOMESDAY
SURVEY

IN 1085 William the Conqueror and his barons met at Gloucester and the outcome of their deliberations was the great inventory of the country known as the Domesday Survey.
Commissioners were sent out to cover the country. They made solemn procession from county to county. They wanted to know how many hides* of land there were—the land held by the king—the taxes due to him—land held by others—how many men were free—or servile—or of some other status.
The result of their labours produced Volume 1, a highly skilled summary of all the information collected; Volume 2, an unedited and much more detailed account covering Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
Apart from the Great Domesday and the Little Domesday, as these volumes are called, there are other related documents. Among them is the Exon Domesday, covering the districts around Exeter.
The survey, which was completed in 1086, set out to show the probable value of the land (a) at the time of King Edward the Confessor's death (given as the day he was alive and dead—see this chapter, page 45), (b) at the time of the Conquest, and (c) at the time of the Survey. It was the result of one year's work—not long when one
	considers the problems of travel, and the fact that all had to be written	A` in longhand.
	The Survey became known as 'Domesday'—the day of doom—	R because 'it spared no man, but judged all men indifferently, as the
Lord in that great Day will do' (Mathew Parise).	of
lai
	The Domesday Survey scholars themselves differ on the actual	se
	location of the various places. The puzzle is made even harder to solve	ar
	when one finds that many of the smaller manors were included in	n( larger ones, such as Sowell which was included in the enormous Manor of Uffculme. (Professor Hoskins writes: 'some hamlets and farmsteads
	being included in the description of some central manor of which they	11 were appurtenant.')
*See definition, page 51.
44

OH-D

Whether it will ever be possible to identify the manors with certainty one cannot say, but no doubt on-the-field study and evidence of boundaries on maps will give us many clues which may point the way to further discoveries (see Chapter 5). The difficulties are illustrated by the confusion which exists in identifying the Kentisbeare manors of Aller and Every's (Glimster's).
`The Devonshire Domesday and Geld Inquest' (several volumes), published by the Devon Association, gives the following information:
ALRE, probably ALLER, KENTISBEARE
AVRA or AVRRA—EVERY'S, KENTISBEARE BLACHEBERGE—BLACKBOROUGH BOTY BLACHEBERIE—BLACKBOROUGH CHENTESBEARE—KENTISBEARE
ORREWAI—ORWAY, KENTISBEARE PISSEWELLE—PISWELL, PIRZWELL CHINNESFORD—KINSFORD, KENTISBEARE
For the arguments regarding WODE see Chapter 3
For details of SOWELL see Chapter 10, page 99.
Edwin Chalk gives these names:
AVRRA, AVRA—ALLER BLACABERGA—BLACKBOROUGH BOTY alias PONCHIDOWN
CHENTESBERA—KENTISBEARE MAUGER CHENTESBERA—KENTISBEARE PRIORY ORRAWIA—ORWAY
PISSEVILLA—PISWELL now PIRZWELL CHINNESFORT	KINGSFORD
HEWISA—WODE
To return to ALRE and AVRA, Chalk affirms that ALLER and AVRRA were the same, but the Geld Inquest gives these details:
1086 AVRA—EVERY'S (see Chapter 10)
William holds of Baldwin Avra. Ailward held it in the time of King Edward and it paid geld for one virgate of land. There is land (enough) for two ploughs. There is one plough with one serf, one villein and five bordars. There are 10 acres of meadow and 10 acres of pasture and 10 acres of wood. Formerly it was, and now is, worth 10s.
But they also state:
1086 AVRRA
Baldwin held a manor called AVRRA which AILWARDUS held on the day King Edward the Confessor was alive and dead (1066) and

45

it rendered geld for one virgate. Two ploughs can plough this. William holds this of Baldwin. There he has in demesne 3 ferlings and one plough and the villein one ferling. There William has one villein and 5 bordars and one serf and 3 swine and 10 acres of wood, 10 acres of meadow and it is worth yearly I Os. and it was worth as much when Baldwin received it.
This seems to tally with Edwin Chalk's EVRRA (see page 15 of his book on Kentisbeare) but he identifies it as ALLER. However, the `Devonshire Domesday and Geld Inquest' already mentioned identifies ALLER as ALRE (1)
. . . was held by Edmer in the time of King Edward and it paid geld for 2' a virgate of land. There is land for two ploughs. In demesne is one plough with one serf and one villein. There are 6 acres of meadow, 12 acres of pasture. Formerly it was worth 5s., now it is worth 10s.
And on another page:
ALRE (2~ALLER
Radulf himself holds ALRE. In the time of King Edward it paid geld for one hide. There is land for 10 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and there are 5 serfs and 14 villeins and 9 bordars with 7 ploughs. There are 20 acres of meadow, 20 acres of wood and 50 acres of pasture. Formerly it was worth 60s., now it is worth 100s.
This appears to be much nearer the size one would have expected ALLER to be, but does this mean that the two ALLERS we know were two separate manors in Domesday times-viz:
ALLER (MADDOCKS)—DOMESDAY ALRE (1)
ALLER (GREEN'S~DOMESDAY ALRE (2)
I will now quote the remaining Domesday entries and then leave my readers to try to fit the jigsaw together. My attempts to solve the problem by studying the map have produced some interesting clues. The chart on pages 48/49 may help. See also recent publications on the Exchequer and Exon Domesday.
CHENTESBERA
William holds of Baldwin Chentesbera. Edwi held it in the time of King Edward and it paid geld for one virgate of land. There is land for two ploughs, There is one plough with one serf and four bordars. There are 10 acres of meadow and 10 acres of wood. Formerly it was worth 5s., now it is worth 10s.
46

CHE
time four five I Arid
woff
PISS
H.
Kinj
is Lir
of rn
it W,
CHI
1W
Edw,
PIOU;
Acres
ORF
A]
Edw-,
In d
-1te
ture S-M
BLk
R.
day hide it W
one
seri
10s.
BLA
%X Aln< RAF vi rg. beasi pasn

CHENTESBERE
William holds of Baldwin Chentesbere. Norman held it in the time of King Edward and it paid geld for half a hide. There is land for four ploughs which are there, with two serfs and three villeins and five borders. There is a mill rendering 5s. and 10 acres of meadow and 10 acres of wood. Formerly. it was worth 40s., now it is worth 30s.
PISSEVILLA
Haimo hold Pisseville of William. Aluric held it in the time of King Edward, it paid geld for one hide and one virgate of land. There is land for four ploughs. In demesne are two ploughs. There are 8 acres of meadow, and 14 acres of coppice and 30 acres of pasture. Formerly it was worth 20s., now it is worth 40s.
CHINNESFORTA
William holds of Baldwin Chinnesford, Ezi held it in the time of Edward and it paid geld for half a virgate of land. There is half a .plough and two bordars with one serf and 6 acres of meadow and 4 acres of wood. Formerly it was and is now worth 5s.
ORREWAI
Aluredus himself holds Orrewai. AM held it in the time of King Edward and it paid geld for 2 hide. There is land for three ploughs. In demesne there is one plough with one serf and there are eight villeins and six bordars and 5 acres of meadow and 100 acres of pasture and 4 acres of wood. Formerly it was worth, and now is worth, 30s.
BLACHEBERIA
Baldwin has a manor called Blacheberis which Godric held on the day King Edward was alive and dead and is rendered geld for half a hide. One plough can plough this. William holds this of Baldwin. Of i t William has in demesne one virgate and one plough and the villeins one virgate. There William has one villein and four bordars and one serf and 5 acres of meadow and 20 acres of pasture. It is worth yearly 10s. and it was worth 5s.
BLACHABERGA
Was held by Ralph de Pomeria. In the time of King Edward. Alnotd held it and paid geld for I hide, this two ploughs can till. Ralph has in demesne one virgate and one plough, and the villeins one virgate and one plough. Ralph has two villeins, three bordars, 13 beasts, 4 swine, 30 sheep, 8 goats, 3 acres of meadow and 100 acres of pasture. Formerly worth 10s., now worth 20s.

47

Held in the time	Enough
of	Held of Baldwin	land	Actual
NAME	KING EDWARD	but see*	LAND	for ? PLOUGHS SERFS	VILLEINS
1042—io66	PLOUGHS	alum4as	I	

(1)		ALRE	EDMER	geld paid for
I
2 virgate	2	1	1	1	

(2)	 
ALRE	-RADULF	geld for I hide	10	1 + 7	5	14 himself holds it

AVRA	AILWARD	WILLIAM	geld for I virgate	2

I
AVRRA	AILWARD	WILLIAM	geld for 1 virgate	2	1	1	holding 1 ferh• and I plough

2
BLACHAGBERGE	ALNOTD RALPH de POMERIA geld for 1 hide	2	1 + 1	—	holding I vir~ and 1 plough

BLACHEBERIA	GODRIC	WILLIAM	geld for 2' hide 1 virgate	I	I
holding 1 virga	

WILLIAM
BLACHEBERGE LEWIN SOCCA (RALF BOTIN holds RALF holds
(A)	it of WILLIAM) 2' hide & 2' virgate	3	2	9

VILLEINS hold hide & I virgate

ORREWAI	ALWI	*ALUREDUS	geld for I hide	3	1
himself holds it

PISSEWELLE	ALURIC	HAIMO holds	geld for I hide
it of WILLIAM	and I virgate	4	2	5	8	

	CHINNESFORD	EZI	WILLIAM	geld for t virgate	plough	I
	(T)	M

I
CHENTESBERA	EDWY or	WILLIAM	geld for I virgate	2	1	holding 2 ferias EDWI

3
CHENTESBERE	NORMAN	WILLIAM	geld for I hide	4	2	3	holding 1 viral and 2 ploug*

HEWISA	WICHIN	HAMO holds
it of WILLIAM
BROTHER of
RALPH	geld for t hide	I	

'3 1		
	a	

All these manors were part of the HAYRIDGE (Highridge, Harrige, Haurege or Hairigg) HUNDRED which also included Bickleigh, Blackborough, Bradnich, Broadhembury, Cadbury, Cadleigh, Cullompton, Feniton, Netherexe, Payhembury, Plymtree, Upexe, Sheldon, Silverton, Talaton and Thorverton.

meadows	ACRES
pasture	woods	Before	VALUE
1086
After	Other Assets if
mentioned	MODERN NAMES	Possible sires of
MANOR HOUSES	
6	12		5s.	los.		ALLER		
20	50	20	60s.	loos.	,	ALLER		
to	10	10	los.	los.		EVERY'S (GLIMSTERS) House still known
as Glimstcr's	
10		10	los.	Jos.	3 swine			
	too	—	los.	20s.	13 beasts 4 swine
30 sheep
8 goats	BLACKBOROUGH
BOLHAY	ALLHALLOWS	
5	20		5s.	los.		BLACKBURROW	HALSBEAREor
BALLIMAN , S	
4	100	2	los.	20s.	2 beasts 12 —i neBLACKBOROUGH BOTY
40 sheep	Part called
30 goats	PONCHY DOWN		
								
5	too	4	30s.	30s.		ORWAY	The Old Barton
see Tithe No 627	
8	30	14	20s.	40s.		PJRZWELL		
6		4	5s.	5s.	4 swine
10 sheep	KINGSFORD	Lower Kingsford	
10		10	5s.	los.			May be
KENTISBEARE
PRIOR (E.S.C.)	
10		10	40s.	30s.	5 beasts 10 swine
40 sheep
1 mill worth 5s.		KENTISBEARE	
7			?	5s.		WOODBARTON	WODE	

VILLEINS	SORDARS

I

14	9

I

I
"ng I ferliN
•.d 1 plough

2
Adi.g 1 virgar
and I plough
1
4di.g 1 virg.

9

8

A8	.

4
2

1
ding 2 ferlir@

3
Ading 1 virga	5 and 2 pl.ugi.

wrgm
Borda Banh I ludi I *7re A No Dane
Do= sf~ Amer
Hera
Drod

BLACHEBERGE, BLACABERGA
Held by William. Lewin Socca held it in the time of King Edward. It paid geld for one hide and one virgate. This three ploughs can till. Ralf Botu holds it of William. Ralf had in demesne I hide and 2'
2 hide	2 the
and
hide and ' virgate. There Ralf has nine
virgate ane villeins 
villeins, two serfs, two beasts, 12 swine, 40 sheep, 30 goats, 2 acres coppice, 4 acres meadow and 100 acres pasture. Formerly worth 10s., now it is worth 20s.
But they also state:
1086 AVRRA
Baldwin held a manor called AVRRA which AILWARDUS held on the day King Edward (the Confessor, 1042-66) was alive and dead (1066) and it rendered geld for one virgate. Two ploughs can plough this. William holds this of Baldwin. There he has in demesne 3 ferlings and one plough and the villein one ferling. There William has one villein and 5 bordars and one serf and 3 swine and 10 acres of wood, 10 acres of meadow and it is worth yearly 10s. and it was worth as much when Baldwin received it.
This seems to tally with Edwin Chalk's EVRRA (see page 15 of his book on Kentisbeare) but he identifies it as ALLER. However, the `Devonshire Domesday and Geld Inquest', already mentioned, identifies ALLER as ALRE (I)--'was held by Edmer in the time of King Edward and it paid geld for I a virgate of land. There is land for two ploughs. In demesne is one plough with one serf and villein. There are 6 acres of meadow, 12 acres of pasture. Formerly it was worth 5s., now it is worth 10s.'
And on another page:
ALRE (2)-ALLER—Radulf himself holds ALRE. In the time of King Edward it paid geld for one hide. There is land for 10 ploughs. In demesne is one plough and there are 5 serfs and 14 villeins and 9 bordars with 7 ploughs. There are 20 acres of meadow, 20 acres of wood and 50 acres of pasture. Formerly it was worth 60s., now it is worth 100s.
Definitions
Ferling	Furrow long. The length of a furrow; a measure of length.
Geld	Danegeld (Anglo-Saxon gegild), a payment.
Hide	An old measure of land variously estimated as 60, 80 or 100 acres.

Dt MOM name
10 12 12

12

15

50

A measure of land; a quantity containing 100 square perches or 4,840 square yards.
A cottage from Saxon bord, domus. These words often occur in Domesday and probably mean cottagers. 4 virgates.
4 ferlings.
Gives 480 acres to 1 hide-, thus virgate = 60 acres. An estate in land. The land adjacent to a manor house or mansion kept in the proprietor's own hand. A domain or region.
Was to show how each manor was assessable to the Danegeld which was a tax levied by rate on the old Saxon assessment reckoned in hides.
Signifies the punishment of one who is found to have offended and has to stand at the mercy of the king or lord.
A tribute given to the lord of the manor for his better preparation for war.
Goods coming to the king or lord of the manor as a result of a person coming to a violent end. Such goods to be distributed to the poor.

Virgate

Bordaria, Bordaru 1 hide
I virgate
A Norman hide Demesne

Domesday Survey
Amerciament

Heriot

Deodand

During the centuries the village has undergone many social and economic changes and quite a few variations in the spelling of its name.
1086 CHENTISBERE (A) Domesday
1212 KENTELESBAR 1219 KANTELEBER 1249 KENTELBERE 1252 KENTELBYARE 1291 KENTELBEARE 1297 KAENTLESBYAR 1308 KENTESLEBIERE 1354 KYONTOLYSBEARE 1577 KENTESBERE
etc.
The 1354 name was found in the Deed regarding the gift of the Manor of Wode to Nicholas Whytyng.
Many theories have been advanced as to the derivation of the name—it may come from a personal name CAENTEL*, the diminutive form being CENTS; the Welsh Cantel means a circle. Perhaps a
*Old English. See 'Place Names of Devon', English Place Names Society, ed. Mawer and Stenton, 'British Place Names in their Historical Setting' by E. McClure.
51

reference to The Beacon, it may mean 'high' or 'summit'. The Old English BEARD means 'grove' or 'wood'.
Kentisbeare was a thriving community in the times of the Domesday Survey, as is shown at the beginning of this chapter and reiterated again by Lyson in 'Devon', Vol. 2. 'There were anciently two manors of Kentisbeare, one of which was given by Robert de Punchardon to the priory of Christ Church in Hampshire and was conveyed by the Prior of the house to Sir Hugh Bolhay. The other was in the family of Furneaux, and afterwards successively in Frisell, Clopton and Malloisell. Both these manors became eventually the property of the Bonvilles and, having been forfeited by the attainder of their representative the Duke of Suffolk, were purchased of the Crown by Sir John Wyndham (probably about 1530), and are now (1822) the property of his descendant, the Hon. Percy Wyndham.'
The present-day appearance of the village still retains some traces of its early beginnings. For some 700 years or more the Church of St. Mary has been the focal point of the community. It possesses many features of great interest, among them being the beautiful 15th-century screen which still retains some of the original red and gold painting.
In 1903 F. Bligh Bond and A. L. Radford read a paper to the Devon Association under the title 'Devonshire Screens and Rood Lofts'. Kentisbeare St. Mary was mentioned, and I quote: 'This church possesses a screen of singular beauty, and both in design and in execution the work is of the highest order. For variety of design and vigour and delicacy of execution, the work seems unequalled. Each bay is different, it extends across nave and south aisle, and carries the arms of Whytyng. . . . HEM says: "The screen was made in the time of Henry VII (1485 to 1509), it is suggested, by artificers from Tavistock Abbey".'
The Chapel was built by John Whytyng, but his altar tomb of 1529 lost its brass effigies at the hands of some 19th-century vandals. Fortunately a drawing of the effigies has been saved and is among the Parish Papers. A copy appears on the facing page.
The old cob and stone-built Priesthouse known as Priesthall was probably built in the 15th century. It is situated beside the churchyard where the even older yew trees still stand. One of the trees bears witness to a thousand years or more, when there was probably a tiny wooden church nearby. What a story this tree could tell of the goings and comings, the scandals, the joys and sorrows of this village tucked under the sheltering Blackdown Hills, lying in a fertile sandstone valley.
As stated earlier, the Wyndham family owned Kentisbeare from about 1530 but their descendants decided some 385 years later to

52

Whytyng Effigies

I

I

sell, and in 1915 practically the whole village came under the auctioneer's (Messrs. Whitton and Laing of Exeter) hammer. Among the properties sold were:
Higher and Lower Kingsford Burson's Farm
Beer House, known as the 'Honest Heart'
Millhayes
Baker's Shop
Blacksmith's Shop and Forge Shop and Cottage
Miller's Stores
Lane's Cottages
Goodiford Corn Mills
Lane's or Prospect Cottage The Reading Room
14th-century Cottage known as 'The Retreat'
Butcher's Shop (the Old Golden Lion Inn)
The day of the sale must have been one of the most momentous in the long history of the village; the day when many people ceased to be tenants or lease-holders, and joined the ranks of freehold property owners.
Kentisbeare Village (Notes written by John Stone)
The birth and growth of the village of Kentisbeare where it stands today might well be due to the fact that its centre formed the area where four of the manors of Domesday time probably intersected.
There was a village green or square, which area offered room for marketing facilities, stalls and livestock. The old Pound was near the stream (see Pound Cottage), and the building now known as the Reading Room would have been an idea place for business deals. Where the red-brick building stands at the left of the Reading Room, if not occupied by cottages, could have been an area accommodating the stocks and pillory.
To the right of the Reading Room a lane slopes downwards, on both sides of which there is evidence of cottages having occupied the now vacant sites.
A peep into the roof of The Retreat shows a gable end wall which suggests that there was a separate building on the corner, the roof of which was lower than it is at present, possibly at a height more in line with what is believed to have been the Old Golden Lion Inn down the lane on the same side. There have been many alterations in The Retreat itself, which has some good early beams etc.
The Old Golden Lion. There are many interesting features around a
54

? The village of Kentisbeare as it may have been 300 to 400 years ago. Showing the Golden Lion Inn, the present Reading Room, the house and cottages comprising `The Retreat, and, opposite, the present post office.	Drawing by John Stone	

spacious cobble-stone courtyard in addition to those in the buildings. The outbuildings must have provided stabling and, at one end, an ostlery.
One-room-up and one-room-down cottages extended the village towards the brook and similar cottages fronted the road on the other side where there is a bakery of some centuries' standing, now being converted into living accommodation.
Returning further up the road, ending with the present post office on the corner, considerable differences in ground levels have provided interesting accommodation. Access between the buildings admitted carriages the owners of which probably stayed at the Golden Lion Inn across the road.
The post office building has many features of the Elizabethan period, including the truck truss construction. In all probability the timbers of the external walls were exposed, as were those of some of the other buildings in the village.
It is reasonable to assume that from the present post office corner, and eastwards on both sides of the road, several of the buildings were occupied by traders. Records show that there was a smithy on one side and a harness shop on the other. Further westward stands the Church of St. Mary, about which a complete book could be written drawing attention to the screen, the fine Caroline gallery, the Whytyng Chapel etc. The tower has some very fine examples of stonework in Beer stone and local red stone combined in a chequer effect.
Finally, the Priesthill or Priesthall, adjoining the churchyard, is a medieval priest-house. It is one of the best examples of its kind with its original oak screen, buttery hatches, minstrels' gallery and oak mullion windows.
Further notes by John Stone appear in Chapter 10.

56

HOW THE PARISH CARED FOR THE POOR
BEFORE the Dissolution the care of the poor was mainly the responsibility of the guilds and the monasteries. The suppression of the monasteries left the paupers in a sorry plight. A series of Tudor Poor Laws and the Parish Poor Rate attempted to cope with this problem and put us ahead of other countries in our care of the poor.
But by the end of the eighteenth century the poverty among agricultural workers was a social scandal. To quote direct from G. M. Trevelyan's 'History of England': 'To keep the Poor alive it was decided to tax the rate-payers instead of forcing employers of labour to shoulder their proper burden. . . . The system, which lasted till the New Poor Law of 1834, made the rural labourer a pauper and discouraged his thrift and self-respect.'
The Poor Law rates were levied locally and it was the responsibility of the Overseers to collect the Rate and administer the money.
In 1735 an entry was made in one of the Kentisbeare Rate Books which reads: 'A monthly rate made for the Relief of the Poore of the said Parish by John Mills and John Manley; Overseers. William Mills of Goodiford Mills and Petter Palmer; Church Wardens.' This particular Rate Book starts in 1722 and each account is headed as above with the necessary changes in the names of the Overseers and Church Wardens.
The following is a copy of the form which had to be completed by each Parish in 1834:
OFFICE OF THE POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES. You are requested to forward, with the least possible delay, to the Board of Poor Law Commissioners for England and Wales, answers to the following preliminary Queries.
Answers from Kentisbeare

i	1.	Have you any local Act for the management of the Poor in your Parish? If so transmit a copy to the Board.
Is your Parish united or incorporated with others for the management of the Poor? If so name the others.

2.	Have you a Board of Guardians or an elected Vestry established under Mr. Stuges Boweries Act or any other Act and how often are their meetings held for the transaction of business relating to the Poor?

57	None
With Blackborough
An elected Vestry appointed yearly consisting of twelve members meeting once a month.	

4.	Have you a Poor House or Work House or any other Houses belonging to or held by the Parish for the reception of paupers?
State for what number of Persons there is room in such Poor House or Work House or other Houses and also the greatest number which have been in the Work House/Poor House or other Houses.
4.	Have you any rules or regulations for the management of your Poor House? If so transmit a copy to the Board.
6.	State whether your Indoor Paupers are formed by contract or how otherwise supplied.
S. What is the gross cost per Head weekly of the Paupers in your Poor House? Including clothes feed and medicine and what is the total amount of the monies expended for the relief of your Indoor Paupers for the year ended Lady Day 1834?
9. Do you give any relief or allowance to the able-bodied Poor? Is employment in money, without employ, in payment of rent, or how otherwise? If in employment, state the kind of work provided for the able-bodied as accunitely as you can, whether on the Roads or as Roundsmen or otherwise.
If in money, state the rate of relief or allowance per head weekly to the individual and his family.

A Poor House gift about three years ago. Capable of being enlarged.
There might be room in the present house for ten persons. The greatest number is six that have lived there. None
They receive weekly pay to supply themselves.
Two shillings and sixpence is the weekly pay per head. Total amount for last year £22.13.0 Medicine is included in the Surgeons's Salary.
A few on the roads and others to firming or being paid what they earn. The usual wages being made up by the Poor Rates.
A man, wife and four children if in health Is. weekly, if 5 children 2s. and so increasing weekly for each additional child until the eldest becomes bindable.

10.	State in the annexed coloumns the number of persons relieved in your parish during the year ended Lady Day1834.
Males above 16	Females above 10	Children under 9	Children under 16 above 9
Able bodied 20	Able bodied 26	Able bodied 95	Able to work 16
Infirm or partially	Totally disabled 17 Wholly disabled 16 Unable to work 14
disabled 12	Infirm, being par‑
tially disabled 23	Total 239
Please observe that all the men who were relieved with their families, wives and children are included in this answer.
11.	Have you any paid officer employed in the management of the Poor in your Parish? If you have, specify whether
Vestry Clerk 102 years . . . . Henry Morrish
Permanent Assistant Overseer . . . . Henry Morrish
School Master or Mishap
Master or Matron . . . . None
Or what others
Medical men at present . . . . William Reid 22 years
12.	Name the unpaid officers and Church Wardens now in
office in your Parish.
J. Broom . . . . yeoman
R. Persey . . . . . yeoman 2 yr.
1
W. Foweraker . . . . yeoman 52 yrs. W. Leach . . . . yeoman 62 yrs.

58

Social conscience was active in Kentisbeare as is noted in these excerpts from the Parish Rate Books.
Gift of a House for the Poor of Kentisbeare by the Hon. P. C. Wyndham This cottage was one of the properties leased to John Lewis and it retained that name after the tenancy ended. By 1804 the properties were divided between three tenants—William Cottrell, William Leach and the Rev. A. Cleeve—and it seems likely that Court Barton (see page 77) then became known as Cotter's—possibly a corruption of Cottrell's.
Lease given by the Hon. P. C. Wyndham for 99 years.
Parish Clerk's accounts
1747-48 For a coat and Waste Coat and Brithos and a pair of shoes for John East	£1. Os. Od.
1747-48 For Doctor Wright his bill for John East, for Thomasine
Rigg's child's arm and for Wood's thigh	£4 3s. 6d.
For cloathing for several poor Ch down	8s. 02'd.
Several poor sufferers by ffire	3s. Od.
These signed by Robert Pring and John Frost.
Several more doctor's bills for poor John East, and then:
1749-50 For John East his coffin	6s. Od.
For a pair of shoos for Robert Pratt	4s. Od.
For Hook and Gloves for Robert Pratt 2s. 6d.
1753—	For Robert Pring Mi to mi es (mittens?)	2s. Od.
1754	Mr. Barrett for ye clothing of ye Poore	£3 17s. 5d.
For a spinning turn for Mary Leaman 3s. 6d. Doctor Skinner for the cure of John Baker's arm and .. . burial juleps for the Sexton's wife £1. 8s. 6d.
1824	Vestry Meeting.
The meeting agreed that Mary Tucker widow 'do have three yards of calico for a change'; that 'John Farnell do have a shirt' and that 'calico be provided for Mary Stone's two children for two shirts'.
1814		Copy of a letter sent from another parish to the Overseers of
the Poor of the Parish of Kentisbeare.
Gentlemen,
Herewith you will receive the copy of the examination of	 who is very ill
and unable to do anything towards supporting himself.
He has been chieRy in the employ of one Master fora great many years almost all the time he has been in this part of the County in consequence of which the Family for whom he worked are very good friends to him and are willing to allow something towards his support. Now we consider if the Parish of Kentisbeare will allow him some further relief there might
59

be no occasion for his removal. If we may judge from his age and infirmities it does not appear likely that he will want relief any long time.
We do not wish to dictate to you, only in consideration of his being an old Man, and his having some friends here we thought it best to acquaint you with the case, before we apply for the Order for his removal, which we shall be obliged to do unless you think proper to relieve where he is. Should you accede to our proposal you can remit the Money to
	 through the Post at ' your convenience.
We shall be obliged if you will send us an answer as soon as possible. and am Gentlemen
Your Obd. Servts.
Church Warden
Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of 	
Note. Answered this the 22 July 180. Pay Is. per week to commence the 2nd inst.
This letter was sent through the post folded—before the days of envelopes—and is franked 8 July 1834 BY POST. Above the address 	it is franked 'Mis—sent to Exeter'.

Coapier 9
KENTISBEARE SCHOOL
by C. J.H. Pike
THE EARLIEST record of a school in the parish dates from the time when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector. 'Henry Walrond went to Schoole to Mr. Ghiles of Kentisbeare,' wrote William Walrond, of Bradfield, in his journal in 1656. A few years later, after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, all schoolmasters were required to sign the declaration of loyalty to the King and Church. John Towse, of Kentisbeare, added his signature in 1662. These men, like Mr. Dennis, of Croyle, who opened his school in 1780, probably ran private establishments for the sons of gentlemen. There were others, like Robert Dunn, a schoolmaster, who had two apprentices, under the Poor Law, between 1826 and 1850. The Radford family ran the `Academy' until 1874. They did not teach boys only, as Sarah Radford had a 'ladies boarding and day School'.
For the working class, however, in the early 18th century, there was no education provided. In answer to the question in the Bishop's Interrogatory in 1744: 'Is there any Publick or Charity School endowed or otherwise maintained in your Parish?' the Rector replied: `There is no publick School.' Twenty years later, in 1764, His Lordship was informed: 'There is a small School for instructing children to read.' In 1799 there were 'two little Schools which teach reading and writing'.
Our present school, according to the records of the National Society, was founded at this time in 1793, when George III was on the throne. It started as a Sunday School connected with the Church. We know it was operating as a Day School by 1827 from the mathematics exercise book of Thomas Grant. He painstakenly wrote his name, the date and 'Kentisbeare School' in it on several pages in a beautifully executed copper plate. In 1798 the incumbent reported that there was `One writing School and a Sunday School of One Hundred children'. The official reports of the Education Department record it from 1855. Kelly's Post Office Directory for the same year lists Miss Louisa Humphries as Mistress.
The building was situated between the Reading Room garden and Priest Hill. From the copies of Her Majesty's Inspectors' reports it is

61

obvious that the premises would not satisfy the standards required by the 1870 Education Act. To obtain 'The Grant' (a yearly subsidy for Public Elementary Schools), certain conditions had to be fulfilled at the annual inspection. These involved the children's standard of attainment, the qualifications of the staff, the number of days the school was open, and the suitability of the premises.
The Managing Committee acted quickly. Within the year they appointed Alice Thomas, a certificated Mistress, and then set to work to solve the problem of the premises. An architect was employed to draw up the plans for a new bul Idi ng. He anticipated that it would be completed in 1871 and the blank shield-shaped plaque set in the gable of the School House was intended to display the date. This was an ambitious and expensive undertaking and voluntary subscriptions were invited.
The 'Devon Weekly Times' for Friday, May 22nd, 1874, reports the outcome. 'The Countess of Egrement gave a spot of ground in addition to contributing liberally to the building fund. Her ladyship has acted in a most generous and liberal way in the work, clearing off the debt on the building.' It continues with a brief description. 'The School is erected in the centre of the village. It is brick built, with Bath Stone dressing and of lofty dimensions, well ventilated throughout. The roof is of fancy slate with a turret which is used for ventilation purposes. The internal part is of grey brick, relieved with red. There is provision for 120 children (boys and girls), classroom, separate lobbies and playgrounds for the sexes. Adjoining the School is a very convenient dwelling house for the teacher, containing six rooms and the usual appurtenances.' The total cost was £875 18s.0d. The title deed states that the purpose of the School was 'for the education of children and adults of the labouring or manufacturing and other poorer classes in the Parish of Kentisbeare'.
The opening day was a great occasion for the village. 'The streets and the church tower were adorned with bunting. There was Divine Service in the Parish Church, which was attended by a very large congregation . . . The children and their mothers were provided with an excellent tea, and the men were also looked after . . . The band belonging to the village played several selections in a creditable way for a country band and the bells were rung at intervals during the day.' Why Miss Thomas (the headmistress) hardly mentions so important an event in the log is not known. 'May 21st, Wednesday. The two following days were obliged to be holidays for the opening of the New Schoolroom; and the following week for the Whitsuntide holiday. June Ist, Monday, Commenced school duties in the new rooms with a fair number of children.' The now improved status of the National School appears to have had an effect on another establishment. She writes: 'Admitted eleven fresh scholars, all infants. The infant dame school held in the village being given up.'
62

The Managers were soon to be faced with difficulties. When Alice Thomas gave notice in 1875 on her impending marriage, the Committee were unable to find a successor. She carried on another term, now as Mrs. Trott, to oblige them.
There was a shortage of funds and consequently the small salary the Managers offered could only attract Elizabeth Smith, who, with only a Provisional Certificate, was not qualified to have charge of a school of over 60 pupils. They thus lost the grant for that year.
Emma Oliver came as mistress in 1877. She was helped by her sister Lydia, and they remained for five years. Poor Sarah Harris who followed her had trouble with discipline. The children came to school at any time of the day and constantly played truant. Once she asked for foolscaps for the children to wear. In the end she was dismissed and Ada Webb was appointed. Her salary as headmistress in 1884 was £60 a year. Later this was raised to £65, but even this was not generous for a school with over 100 on the roll. The Managers appear to have found the cost of the school no easy matter. They had to economise where possible, and when the assistant left they replaced her with one whose `system of teaching' was 'antiquated' at a saving of £20 a year. When the new teacher received a bad report, they gave her notice but kept her on for another nine years because she was inexpensive.
The number of children attending was steadily increasing. The infants were taught in what was called the classroom, measuring 13 by 16 feet. This room is now the Headmaster's office. Miss Webb often wrote of the difficulties the infants and their teacher experienced. For instance, on July 2nd, 1886, she noted; 'The weather has been very hot and the atmosphere of the classroom with 42 infants in it has been almost unbearable.' Eight years later, conditions were no better—'The air in the infants' room has been suffocating this week especially. I noticed it so on Monday afternoon when 50 children and their clothes were crammed into it.' The Education Department, back in 1884, had stated that 'The Managers should provide additional accommodation for the infants.' They did, but it took three years, and then they widened the infants' porch to ease the situation. This was by no means sufficient for the growing number of children. In the summers that followed, Miss Webb logs infants fainting due to the heat in the overcrowded room. In 1893 the Department warned that the infants' room 'will accommodate an average of 24 and there are 54 on the books. . . . This should be at once remedied, or the grant will be endangered.' The roll had now risen to 140. Whatever the financial strain involved, it was inescapable that the only solution was to build a new infants' classroom. This was eventually built in 1894 at a cost of £272 2s. 3d. It was occupied in January 1895 and by June 1876 there were 157 on the roll. The Headmistress records' 'The new Infants' room is a great acquisition, being warm and roomy.'
63

Miss Webb, during 13 years at Kentisbeare, had seen the school numbers grow by 50 per cent, but the staffing had remained unchanged. This consisted of Headmistress, with two assistants and two monitresses. She felt it was getting too much for her without more help. Consequently she wrote to the Managers; 'As I feel I can no longer conduct 'the School efficiently without further injuring my health, and damage to my credit as a teacher, owing to the weakness of the Staff which you make no proposal to strengthen, I beg to inform you of my intention to resign the charge of the School.
She was undoubtedly a most conscientious person who had the children's wellbeing and education in mind. She wrote her log in great detail. It gives an insight into what life was like both inside and outside the classroom in the 19th century.
There was hardship for some. At times the Headmistress went to her own larder to provide food for those she knew had received no breakfast, nor had brought anything to eat for their dinner. A case is recorded of a boy having to leave to go to the workhouse at Honiton. In 1886 several children were absent suffering from 'water-pox', and in 1873 a reason given for a small attendance was broken chilblains. There were several outbreaks of scarlet fever and later diphtheria when the School had to be closed. These led to such entries as: 'Two children, both in the infant class, died on Tuesday.'
Parents often kept children home to work, especially at planting or harvest time. When the crops were growing some were 'kept away to go out in the fields scaring birds'. Another entry reads: 'a small school; still acorn picking'.
Irregular attendance, illegal employment of pupils and the Magis trates' refusal to enforce the bylaws made life even more of a struggle for the teachers who had to prepare the children for the annual inspection. Failure of the pupils in the examination could mean failure for the teachers. This could lead to dismissal by the Managers and the lowering of the grant for the school. The difficulty with finances meant low salaries (monitresses were paid from 22' to 72'pence a week), and there was a shortage of books and equipment. For some time the Rector undertook to pay the salary of one of the teachers to ease the situation.
When Miss Webb left in 1897, the Managers appointed Henry Spratt as Master, and his wife filled the vacancy as the Infants' Mistress. Their elder daughter, Agnes, was engaged as a monitress, and the following year their younger daughter, Mary, also worked in this capacity. There was one other teacher—Miss Renira Smith (Mrs. James, after her marriage). The four Spratts worked together until 1904, when Agnes left for Slapton School. The remaining three continued together until 1911, when Mary left at Easter and Mr. Spratt died in September. Mrs. Spratt soldiered on for 38 years to retire in 1935.
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The reports from His Majesty's Inspectors give an indication of the School's standing at the beginning of this century. For instance, in 1901: 'The work of the teachers is scrupulously upright and conscientious, the discipline is excellent and the progress of the children satisfactory.' The Diocesan report for the same year is also full of praise: 'The School is classed ,as excellent.' Statements like these were to be repeated many times in the succeeding years.
In 1898, with 153 on the registers, the Managers decided to expel the children who lived outside of the parish to give more room, although the number was within the accommodation regulations. At that time the schoolroom and the classroom were not considered full with under 115 and the Infants' room with 45, making a total of 160. In 1910 this was revised, bringing the School's complement back to 130.
Mr. Sprats was succeeded by Lewis Trott. The Inspector in 1913 complained that 'The present desks are obsolete and unsuitable, and the dual kind, having backs to the seats should be installed as soon as practicable. The lighting is also defective, most of the light falling at present from behind the children instead of from the left. The heating also leaves much to be desired.' In previous winters there are entries of frozen ink and even shattered inkwells, with temperatures at the beginning of morning school below freezing point. Many a time coal was fetched from the Headmaster's store when the School's stock was running low.
In 1916 Mr. Trott was called up for military service, and a 'supply Head', John Chapple, bicycled daily from Stoke Canon to run the School. He was followed by others until Mr Trott returned in February 1919.
The cost of the upkeep of the premises to the standard required began to present a problem. In 1921, when Mr. Trott resigned, the Inspector commented that the 'unsatisfactory state of playgrounds was noted in a special report following a visit an 1913. This is now being referred directly to the Local Education Authority'.
At the beginning of the summer term in 1921, Archibald Painter took charge of the School. He and his wife were to remain as teachers for no less than 27 years. Under his headship the curriculum was broadened with the introduction of practical rural studies. Mr. Painter was a keen gardener and a plot was cultivated by the boys. This was of such a high standard that it was made the subject of a special report. When the site was required for building, another was found. He commenced courses in dairy work, bee-keeping and poultry management. A weather station was started and maintained. There was now woodwork classes for the boys and an experimental science course. At times the School gave displays of folk dancing and gymnastics and began participating with other schools at sports. Educational excur‑
65

i

sions started with a visit to the G.W.R. yards at Swindon, to be followed by one to Paignton Zoo.
In 1937 reorganization took place. The senior children (over 11 years) were transferred to Cullompton Senior School. This meant a drop in numbers to about 40. There was to be a sudden boost when, on July 8th, 1940, 55 children of Hazelbury Junior School, Edmonton, arrived with two teachers. The evacuees did not remain for long; by December numbers had so decreased that the Education Committee decided to dispense with the services of one teacher. By 1943 the School had its smallest roll recorded—only 39.
1943 saw the introduction of the School Meals Service. Cooked meals were brought out in containers from Cullompton. Five years later the canteen and kitchen were erected and the meals were then cooked on the premises by Mrs. Milton.
Black-borough School was closed in 1948, and the 20 children were transferred to Kentisbeare. Mrs. E. Taylor, the Headmistress, was given a new appointment to take charge of the Infants and was transferred with her School.
On Mr. Painter's retirement 'the old order changed, giving place to new'. In the next 18 years the Managers appointed no less than seven new Headmasters. Being a small school, Kentisbeare was a suitable place for a first headship for those with ambition. Each man had his own contribution to make; he brought new ideas and tried out his schemes.
In recent years the premises have been altered and extended to suit modern conditions and methods. If 1963 a new classroom was added and in 1965 the swimming pool was opened. The School House became part of the School in 1971 when the Headmaster vacated it.
The centenary of the opening of the present building was celebrated in 1974, and if the School is still in existence in 1993 we shall reach the bi-centenary of its foundation.
A school plays a vital and formative part in a village's heritage, and ours has not failed in giving quality of life to those who have come under its influence.
HEAD TEACHERS OF KENTISBEARE SCHOOL

Louisa Humphries pre-1855-post 1866	Archibald Painter	1921-48	
Alice Thomas	1870-75	Gordon Jarvis	1949-52	
Elizabeth Smith	1876	James Gardner	1953-55	
Emma Oliver	1877-82	Geoffrey Kitchen	1955-60	
Sarah Harris	1882-84	Albert Mayne	1960-62	
Ada Webb	1884-97	Rowland Phillips	1962-63	
Henry Sprats	1897-1911	John Davey	1963-66	
Lewis Trott	1912-21	Clifford Pike	1966-	

66

0
v,Qapfer 10
MANORS, FARMS, COTTAGES
IT APPEARS to be impossible to trace the history of a village such as Kentisbeare without resorting to lists of people and properties. This sometimes makes for dull reading, but the alternative eludes me.
Some properties have undergone changes of name; some are unnamed; others are named but their locality is unknown. Often farms and cottages were given the names of their owners or tenants. Frequently this name continued to be used during the following tenancy, but at other times the new tenant's name is used; thus we read such entries as 'Robert White, his cots.'
All this is very confusing, and probably impossible to unravel. Hence my use of an alphabetical list of properties, together with such details as I have found, the sources of information being mainly the old Rate Books.
Academy, The, otherwise The Retreat. Probably a conversion of one house and a group of very old cottages, but see pages 54 and 120.
Allercombe, or Allecombe. Mentioned in 1797 when John Brunfield paid rates.
Alley House Farm. In 1977 occupied by P. J. Bazely. An earlier house was probably mentioned in the Rate Books but under another name—there is mention of 'a house at Lower Alley'.
Alley, otherwise Green's. 'Katherine Greene, wiffe of Robart, buried in 1615.' This family probably gave their name to the farm. The Manor of Alley was mentioned in the Domesday Survey—see page 46, but the later history of the Manor has slipped into obscurity. At some time the two parts became known as Green's and Maddock's. From 1722 to 1734 William Rowland paid rates (for Green's Farm?) and for Green's Tenement. I think that Green's Farm may have been called Rowland's or Rowsland for some years. From 1742 to 1774 rates were paid by the occupier (unnamed) of Rowland's. However, confusion still exists when one reads another entry-1762 to 1780 Edward Davy paid rates for an unnamed property, and for Alley. In 1786 they were paid by the
67

Drawing by John Stone

V a. 2	=. r 10 n = 21 it!•	4d	N. 4 1.- n	— w	-I'm ^,2%0 -,

representative of the late Edward Davy'. In 1787 Sarah Davy, or the occupier of Alley, paid rates. Later in 1789-90 Ann Davie (Davy) paid for Alley. By 1795 we know definitely that Edmund Cook was at Green's, and in 1801 the Wyndhams are mentioned as owners. They probably bought the Manor of Alley circa 1530 when they acquired the village and much of the parish.,
A branch of the Frost family is mentioned as 'at Alley'—Henry and Richard, the two sons of William Frost of Alley, were baptised in 1815 an 1816.
The 1841-42 Tithe Apportionment shows that the Frosts were still there, and in the same year there is a reference to Lower Alley—tenant Mary Harris. Ten years later John Frost was at Aller, and in the same year, 1851, Richard Hurley lived as owner/occupier of a 'house near Alley'.
By 1873 Basleigh (Bazley) was paying rates, and later Richard Willcox Bazeley.
Alley was sold in 1915 to Alfred Burrows.
In 1947 it was bought by Devon Growers, Cullompton, and in 1966 sold to Major R. Denning. In 1967 it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. M. G. H. Heath.
Alley, otherwise Maddock's. Once more the years between 1086 and the 18th century must have been uneventful and peaceful, and consequently obscure.
From 1735 to 1764 William Hurley paid rates for Maddock's and 'the late Henry Salter's cots.', but from 1764 to 1773 he paid for Maddock's only. Apparently from 1768 to 1782 William Lock lived at the farm. Note: This sub-letting by leaseholders adds greatly to the problem of discovering the actual tenants of the various properties.
1783 to 1875 the Harris family were at Maddock's, but by 1906 Henry Wright was paying rates for part of Alley. However, it appears that Eliza Harris was still the leaseholder when it was sold in 1915.
Again the sale notices make interesting reading, and include reference to larder with apple chamber over; pound house with apple chamber over; cider cellar with granary over; ash house and two labourers' cottages. Land 119 acres. Sold to Mr. Alfred Burrows.
It was bought by Devon Growers, Cullompton, in 1947; purchased by Major R. Denning in 1966, and in 1974 sold to Mr. A. Peters.
Cottages at Alley and Allerwoodgate. There were several cottages attached for rating purposes to Green's, and at other times to Maddock's. They were known .as Green's Tenement, James', Neel's and Salter's-at-Alley.
In 1722 rates were paid by the occupier of Allerwoodgate, and from

69

	that year to 1734 William Rowland paid rates for his own dwelling	AI
and for the occupier of Green's Tenement.	Ch
	1734 Reference to the occupier of Alley Tenement, and in 1735 to	fa
	Robert Bishop, who paid rates for 'a Tenement at Alley'.	18 Likewise from 1736 to 1762 rates were paid for the occupier of
Green's tenement.	18
	1735-64 William Hurley paid for the late Henry Salter's, known	th later as Salter's-at-Aller.
	1762 William James, occupier of Green's Tenement—part of	rei
	Green's—seems to have been known as 'James' Tenement;	Pn possibly they were semi-detached cottages.
	1768 William Neels (Nills or Neils) paid rates for his cottage at	Sal Alley, and from 1774 to 1782 Robert Neels (son of John and
Mary, born in 1704) paid for James' and for his cottage.	77,
	1783 John Harris (the Harris family were at Maddock's) paid for	the
	James' and Henry Radford for Neels Cott. However, from	M
	1777 to 1779 William Neels paid rates for Green's cottages,	Ma
	and from 1780 to 1783 for Allerwoodgate and for Green's	18
	Tenement. Thus it would appear impossible to know who	Pn
lived where.	the
	1774-79 Rates paid by the unnamed occupant of Salter's-at-Aller.	V61
	1779 John Harris for Salter's and for James' and in the same	Of
year John Linkham for Salter's!	f rc
	1801 John Harris at Allerwoodgate is mentioned in the Inclosure	b, J Award, and in 1804 Stephen Pyne was at Allerwoodgate, bat
by 1812 he was tenant of Neels' Cottage.	\fi
	1816-17 Clement Matthews, husbandman, at Allerwoodgate, and	Wi in 1817 Thomas Hollett, husbandman, also at Allerwoodgate.
	1825-27 John Harris is again mentioned for Allerwoodgate, and by	Ba
	1851 the joint tenants were William Harris and James Lake.	We
	1859 Reference to three cottages tenants being James Lake, John	ga Bicknell, and Philip Hooper.
	1861 Four cottages at Allerwoodgate let to James Lake, John	Ba
Bicknell, Philip Hooper and Robert Frost	hi!
	1862-64 Three tenants mentioned—John Bicknell, Philip Hooper	Ba
and Mary Frost.	b,–
	1865-66 Again four cottages, tenants as for 1862, but John	lox
Bicknell occupied two.	TI
1867 Same cottages. Tenants John Bicknell,	Broom, Eliza	frc Harris and Mary Frost.
1868 Three cottages unoccupied, the fourth tenanted by Mary Frost.
1869 Two occupied by Mary Hooper and James Bradbeer.
1870 All unoccupied, thus ending 148 years of continuous occupa‑
	tion of cottages which probably dated from Tudor times, or	17
earlier.	18
70	i

Allhallows Farm. The house was built near the site of the ancient churchyard at Blackborough. The present house was erected on the foundations of the old house which was destroyed by fire in September 1850. Parts of the remaining outbuildings are probably medieval.
In 1722 Thomas Foweraker paid rates as tenant (leaseholder). The 1801 Kentismoor Inclosure Award gives Percy Charles Wyndham as the owner.
1838 and 1839 William Foweraker still tenant, but the 1839 entry refers to part of Allhallows as being occupied by Charles Tripp. This probably refers to land.
Allhallows was sold in 1915 to W. Persey, and is still owned by the same family. The present Mr. Persey lives in the old Dairy House.
The Old Bakery. Originally this was probably two or three cottages of the one-room-up and one-room-down type, perhaps with a cat-slide roof over the second cottage, and at right-angles to the road. One can trace a clear line of tenancy of three cottages, the first occupied from 1850 to sometime after 1873 by Henry Wood. This cottage was then probably incorporated into Cottage Two, which had been occupied by the Radford family from the early years of the 19th century to 1858 when the Sheres became tenants. By 1873 James Coles was tenant. Obviously these cottages are of great age. Mr. Durrant, who was baker from 1950 until his retirement, tells me that the Deeds refer to the bakery being situated here for some 300 years.
At the time of the 1915 sale the shop and bakehouse were let to Mrs. Maria Coles at a yearly Michaelmas tenancy of 110 per annum. It was sold to her for £150. It ceased to be a bakery in 1975.
Bakery Cottage. Adjoining the bakery, but originally both properties were separated by steps or a slope between them, leading to their gardens. The cottage, then thatched, was sold in 1915 to Mrs. Coles.
Bale's. Thomas Bale married Susanna Cockram in 1699. The early history of the Bale's is so much mixed with the property later called Barnhayes that it is impossible to be sure of their separate existence between 1722 and 1755. It was probably a small farm with cottage, located in the village. It was, no doubt, built before 1707, when Thomas was born to Thomas and Susanna. Susanna herself paid rates from 1722 to 1747, after which she and George Bales paid up to 1752, then George only until 1767.
1768 Owner Thomas Palmer. Thomas Baffles (Bales?) tenant. 1797 Mary Cook and Jane Palmer paid rates for 'the estate they live in', and for Bale's.
1797-1804 William Cottrell.
1804-18 William Leach.

71

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Drawing by John Stone

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Ballyman's or Mortimer's Farm in 1915

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1818-21 William Leach paid rates for Bale's, Barnhayes, Lewis's, Ford and Lane's.
1821 John Leach, rates for cottage and shop—conversion of Bale's? 1822-25 William Leach for Barnhayes, Lewis's, Ford, Lane's Cottage and garden.
1826-29 William Leach jun. for Barnhayes, Lewis's, Ford and Lane's. William sen. cottage, garden and shop.
Thomas Leach for cottage and garden.
Peter Leach paid rates for cottage, garden and shop (1829). 1832 William Leach bought Higher Moneysland but still retained tenancy of the other properties.
1837 The first direct reference to Bale's for 16 years. William Leach paying rates.
There are no more references to Bale's as such and no property of that name was sold in 1915. It was either renamed or demolished. If Bale's was used as a shop from 1821 to 1838, it may have reverted to that use and taken a new name.
Barnhayes. Location unknown. It may still survive under another name, but it seems more likely that it was demolished, or destroyed by fire between 1838 and 1841. In 1722 it adjoined, or was part of Bale's, but not then called Barnhayes. The occupier paid rates up to 1755 but was not named. However, it is likely that the Bales family were tenants of both properties.
1756-62 Peter Palmer.
1763-96 Occupied by Thomas Palmer, and referred to as 'the estate that he lives in'. He also paid rates for Bale's.
1797 Mary Cook and Jane Palmer paid rates for Palmer's house, known as Barnhayes. In the same year William Cottrell became tenant, probably leased from William Leach. During his tenancy Thomas Rabjohns was apprenticed to him. By 1808 William Leach was 'at Barnhayes', and Elizabeth Lane apprenticed there from 1808 to 1820. William Leach still paid rates for Barnhayes in 1838, but that is the last entry.
Ballyman's Farm, otherwise known is Mortimer's (Mortimore's). William Balleman, 1612, probably gave his name to the farm. In 1722 rates were paid by the occupier of the late Mr. Ballyman's and this entry is repeated up to 1741, in which year William Mortimoore paid rates, and in this year Ballyman's ceased to be called by that name. From 1742 to 1751 the rates were paid by Hannah Mortimer. From 1752 to 1755 the occupier is unnamed, though the farm is called Mortimore's.
From 1756-66, rates were apparently paid by Edward Davey (Davy). During the years from 1768 to 1779 James Cottrell was at Mortimore's, followed by Mark Stark in 1780; Robert Stark from
73

1781 to 1795, Elizabeth Stark in 1796, and by Robert (jun.?) in 1797. Nothing more appears until 1804 when Elizabeth again paid the rates.
From 1812 to1915 the Rabjohn family were at Mortimore's. It was part of the Wyndham Estate from 1808 until it was sold in 1915. William Rabjohns was the occupier at the time of the sale, when it was bought by William Chappell, and re-sold to S. Grandfield and G. Mendham in 1920. The property included two thatched cottages nearby (occupied in 1801 by Brook and Chown and in 1875 by John Farnell and William Whitrow), and another cob and thatched cottage.
Beacon Cottages
1877 Houses and gardens near the Beacon, both owned by William Hillacre and occupied by William Melhuish and John Radford, junior.
Bess Saunder's Cottages
1801 Owners, Wyndham Estate. Tenants, George Sweet and Joseph Murch.
1838 Tenant, Robert James.
Bicknell's Farm. See under Manor of Sowell.
Bishop's Farm and Bishop's Cottage
1734 John Bishop paid rates.
1735-37 Robert Bishop and John both paid rates.
1740 John Bishop.
1768 Henry Morris (Morish).
1779-85 Osmond Chave paid rates for Bishop's. Obviously sub-let by Morish.
Later dates show that the Morish family were tenants until 1915 when the tenant was William Morish Snell. It was bought by T. Blackmore in 1915. The family remained there until 1973 when they had a new farmhouse and buildings erected in Herdis Lane. The original Bishop's is now known as Old Bishop's.
Blackborough House. The house was built in 1838 by George Francis Wyndham, fourth Earl of Egremont. From 1838 to 1894, part of the house was occupied by the incumbent of Blackborough. In fact the house was really two houses built back to back, the incumbent occupying one part and the Earl the other.
When the Wyndham Estate was sold in 1915, Blackborough house fetched only i1,050; by then it was in a sad state of disrepair.

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74

i

Blackburrow
1797 James Cottrell paid rates.
1812 William Cook and others paid rates.
Blake's. See Pirzwell.
Breeze Cottage
1801 Owners, Wyndham Estate. No other entries.
Brice's
1752 Rates were paid by the occupier of Brice's, but the occupier is not named.
1768-1819 Occupied by John Frost.
Bridge Cottage, now known as Bridge House
1855 Owners, Wyndham Estate.
It was sold in 1915 to W. Howe, having been occupied by James Sullock. The sale description mentions four bedrooms, boxroom and two attics; entrance hall, dining room with marble mantelpiece; back sitting room; kitchen with range; pantry; scullery with pump; wood house with loft over. This was one of the few houses having a water closet at that time. Outbuilding included a stable with loft over. Garden and also a detached kitchen garden.
Bridge Cottages. Also sold in 1915. They were let to W. H. Denning, Mrs. E. Lane, and Mrs. M. A. Dymond. These cottages were also bought by W. Howe.
Broke Hole. First mention in the Rate Books occurs in 1766, when rates were paid by the occupier, who was unnamed. The first tenant named was Thomas Cornish alias Hearne, mentioned in 1790. 1811-25 J. Rookley.
1826-57 Members of the Foweraker family. There is a reference to Philip Dunn in 1849, but this probably referred to land.
Russell 's, sometimes Bustles
1768 John Frost.
It remained in the tenancy of the Frost family until 1841. There is no mention of the house on the Tithe Apportionment, but in 1915 land known as Russell's was sold to C. Mendham and S. Grandfield.
Bunker's Hill Farm on Kentismoor. House and lands mentioned in 1841, the owner at that time being H. Walrond and the tenant Ellicott.
75

--f

Butson's Farm. See Manor of Sowell. This farm was not a part of the Manor of Sowell, but the Burson family was so much linked with Sowell, that it seems appropriate to include the farm after the family details on page 102.
Catford Court. Three cottages owned by the Wyndham Estate until 1915.
Early tenants:
1795 John Murch.
1797 John Morish.
1804 Jemima Murch. 1812
1837 1 John Canniford. 1841
1851-52 John Frost.
In 1915 they were sold to Mr. Morish, the tenants being Phoebe Saunders, C. Richards and Francis Goff.
Challice's. Referred to as Challice's Orway, and just Challice's. Apparently two dwellings.
1751-56 Joseph Mills seems to have owned, or occupied, a cottage known later as Challice's.
1757 Rates paid by Thomas Callice (Challice) or occupier. 1758 Paid by Joan Callice, or occupier.
1759-62 Still references to Callice's. During these years J. Tozer was responsible for the payment of rates, but it seems likely that Joan Callice was still living there since her name is mentioned again in 1763.
1768 William Frost (probably leaseholder); tenant, Mary Mills. This entry must mean the small farm, or cottage, occupied by Joseph Mills in 1751.
1795-1812 Edmund Frost.
I believe that the cottage occupied by Joan Callice was sometimes called Mudfords.
Note: Henry Challice married Mary Kerslake in 1639.
Church House. 'The Church house stood in line with the Wyndham Arms and on the right hand of the present north gate to the Church yard. Bought by Anstice Westcomb for three lives for the impotent poor to dwell in. It was repaired in 1665 and 1777, and re-thatched in 1803. The house was finally pulled down about 1840' (E.S.C.).
Cobbler's Stall and Cottage
1841 Occupied by William Harding, now restored and renamed Ponchydown Cottage.

76

Cockram's
1722-41 Humphrey Cockram paid rates (see quotation below).
The 18th century tenants included Thomas Palmer and John Bray.
In 1801 James Driller paid rates and in 1841 Cockram's is referred to as 'opposite Cotters (Court) on the east'.
In 1915 it was bought by W. M. Snell, and in 1930 by W. F. Leatt. 'The range of cottages with a rather large house at the east end of Wressing Lane in the village is called Cockram's, and is almost certainly the Weaving Factory of Humphrey Cockram' (E.S.C.).
Collin 's
1801 Owners, Wyndhams; tenant, William Broom. 1841 Said to be 'opposite Cotters on the east'. 1915 Bought by W. M. Snell.
1930 Bought by F. G. Leatt.
Cold Spring
1838 Three cottages (1) Owner Philip Hooper, also tenant. (2) Owner Philip Hooper, tenant John Farley. (3) Owner Philip Hooper, tenant Robert Farley
Coombe Cottage on Kentismoor 1816 Sarah Broom paid rates.
Coombe Farm, Blackborough
1913-14 William Quick.
1915 Sold to Mr. Hall.
It was described as 'a Stuccoed Stone and Slate house with granary and cellar etc.' There were 33 acres of land.
Colmer's Plot Cottages and Lands. Owner Edmund Frost. Occupier William Tucker. No dates.
Cole Park
1913 Owner, Elizabeth Cleeve; tenant, Frederick Havill.
Court Barton, otherwise known as Vickorys, Lewis' or Cotter's. A very old house of architectural interest, but little is known of its early history. At one time the date 1610 was to be seen on the plaster work, but this has now disappeared. The house has long been regarded as, and is often called, the Manor House, but the Rate Books of 1722 to 1746 refer to it as 'Vickory's', or'Vickerey's'. From 1747 to 1767 rates were paid by John Lewis—hence the new name.
1768-75 James Corke.
1776-97 John Pullin. Property still called Lewis' (see page 59).
77

O.H-F

Court Barton, Kentisbeare

Drawing by John Stone

	i 
L	C- -	

1798-1803 William Cottrell.
1803-04 William Cottrell, William Leach and The Rev. A. Cleeve.
`Two hundred and fifty yards west of the centre of the village of Kentisbeare is Court Barton a Tudor Period house the square-headed stone mullioned windows of which are reminiscent of the perpendicular style of the 15th century. The room at the left-hand side of the central entrance hall has remains of a modelled plaster ceiling with moulded ribs a feature of an embellishment of that period' (John 

Stone).

Moulded plaster ceiling Court Barton, Kentisbeare
Crosses
1741 Thomas Cross paid rates.
1768 Henry Morish.
1795-1812 John Morish.
In 1812 John Morish paid rates for Bishop's, Common Alleys, Poakes, and Crosses.
1841 Edward Morish.
1915 Bought by T. Blackmore.
Crosses was demolished some time before 1934. Mr. W. Symons, father of Mrs. F. Western, and now living with his daughter and son-in-law, was born at Crosses in 1892.
Croyle, otherwise Crowhill. House and cottage. 1768 Humphrey Lampert'.

79

1795-97 Henry Radford.	WM
1804 Croyle owned by Sir C. W. Bampfylde.	the
1812 John Pullin—tenant.	Was
1816 Robert Frost—flaxman.	1
1825 James Persey and Edward White.	Am
1830 Martha Rabjohns occupied part of Croyle, probably land.	F. 1841 Robert Dennis.
1848 Robert Dennis. Land occupied by Thomas Venn.
1875 George Dennis—house and land.	Erx
1913 Harvey Fairfax—Croyle House and Cottage.
1923 Home of E. M. Delafield (Mrs. A. P. Dashwood), authoress.	Eir
The house is now divided into three.	172
173
Dickinson's	174
1795-1812 Charles Baker paid rates.	174
175
Dodges	175
1801 Owners, Wyndhams. Tenants, — Pratt,	Stone,	Goff,	176
Charles Knight.	1'9
180
Downlands	181
1831-36 Francis Radford.	182
1838 Owner, R. J. Cockburn. Tenant — Salter.	184
`A rough hill farm among woods and rhododendron thickets, was in	185
the Manor of Orway, as appears from a kind of Terrier dated 1857,	185
and now (1934) in the Estate Office of Mr. W. Wyndham at Williton,	186
Somerset. It was there stated that this farm included the Common,
called Worway Breach; and it there alleged that all was 'sold away	11
from Worway Farm to which it adjoins', and that it had been bought	dair
by the Dean of York from Mr. Cox, a solicitor of Honiton' (E.S.C.).	inch
1841 Owner, the Dean of York. Tenant, Sarah Salter.	dur
1855 Same owner. Tenant, Edward Doble.	V6VO

Later bought by The Rev. R. J. Marker whose son sold it to Sir	Fin
John Walrond in about 1887.	180
1919 Sold to Mr. Jesse Cottrell.

Dulford House, otherwise Strawberry Hill and later Montrath (see Westhayes). Not in the Parish of Kentisbeare, but much connected with the life of the village.
In 1730 the alarming outbreak of smallpox led Coote, the builder of the house, to build a twelve-foot wall and a belt of trees around the property to prevent infection.
The house was for many years the home of Henry Walrond.
In 1876 the Dulford Estate was purchased by Albert Abid, a
80

Fon men paid Hut Lea( fam the XVI I
T

wealthy Persian Armenian; he was the 'first man to own a motor car in the village—a Rolls-Royce. William Symons (see 'Crosses', page 79) was the estate carpenter at this time.
The old house was demolished in 1937 and parts of it were taken to America. One of the old doors became the front door of Mr. and Mrs. F. Western's house in KentisbearL- village.
(See also page 82.)
Endicotts. See Pirzwell.
Every's, Averys, Glimsters. See Chapter 7. 1722 Avery mentioned in Rate Book. 1737 Avery.
1740-46 James Tozer for Avery's. 1747-50 James Tozer for Evories. 1752-54 James Tozer for his house.
1755-62 James Tozer for Glimster's, and his house.
1763-77 James Tozer for the late Glimster's, and his house. 1795-97 Mrs. Preston.
1803 Mrs. Pratt.
1812 Walrond (leased from Wyndham?). 1825-39 John Helling.
1841 Tithe mentions Glimster's Dairy.
1851-57 Owner, Earl of Egremont. Tenant, Henry Frost. 1858-63 Mary Frost.
1864-75 Henry Morish.
In 1915 Glimsters was sold. It was described as a cob and thatched dairy house with a cottage adjoining. The quite extensive buildings including cob and thatched barn, pound house and apple chamber, a thatched wheel house, also a mill or machine house with iron and wood water-wheel. It was bought by Samuel Morish.
Fact' Cottage. Only one entry, in the Inclosure Award. 1801 Owners, Wyndhams. Tenant, Francis Taylor.
Ford Farm, otherwise Hurley's. Despite its obvious age, there is no mention of Ford Farm, as such, before 1797, when William Leach paid rates for Ford and Lane's. Apparently Ford was previously called Hurley's. The Rate Book entries for 1768 to 1795 state that William Leach paid for 'the late Mr. Hurley's and for Lane's'. As the Hurley family appear in the Bishop's transcripts in 1618, it may well be that the farm dated from that period. It is interesting to read that in 1729 William Hurley was a `sope boyler'.
The Leach family were at Ford until 1869 when William Hawkins
81

became tenant. William Chave bought the farm in 1915, and his family is still there.
Forge (The) See page 124.
Four Horse Shoes. Bethel Walrond built what is now the Four Horse Shoes as a keeper's house.
France Park and Poole Farm. There are interesting early references to France Park and Poole. In 1631 the calendar of enrolled deeds refers to the sale by Christofer Brooke, alias Butson (see Manor of Sowell), of Kentisbeare and John, his son, to Thomas May of Halberton. The Deed continues with details of land including Buddle Meddow and Poole Meddow. Another reference occurs in 1643. No other details have been discovered, but in 1722 rates were paid by an unknown occupier. In the later part of the 18th century Lewis Tregonwell was owner (1797).
Later references are somewhat confused, especially as France Park, Poole and France Cottages became known as France Village, and there were many changes of tenancy during the 19th century.
John Frost—mentioned in 1795, 1804, and 1812.
William Thomas of France, whetstone maker. 1816.
Robert Middleton, Mark Baker, Thomas Dunn. 1838.
Owner, Wi I ham Walrond; Tenant, Robert Persey (probably France Farm). 1838.
Christopher Mountstephen, occupier of Poole House. 1839. James Hodge, Robert Radford, John Searle, James Manning and Thomas Dunn, all in 1841.
Thomas Payne, John Bradbeer, John Crewyse and—Berry in 1875.
The Golden Lion. There seems little doubt that Mr. and Mrs. F. Western's house was the Old Golden Lion Inn. I feel sure that it was an ancient coaching inn, situated, as it is, in the village, but very near the old Portway. The layout of the buildings and yard, and the ostler's one-up, one-down cottage adjoining the stables, supports the theory that the two cottages together comprised the Golden Lion. I understand that the late Mrs. A. Bragg remembered there being a bar in one of the rooms and a skittling alley outside. At one time there was a wooden panel above the fireplace on which was carved R. FROST. From 1820 to 1832 James Frost was 'at the Golden Lion', returning again in 1838 after John Bray had been there for three years. John and Richard Frost were there until 1848.
The next occupant was Edward Canniford from 1851 to 1860 when the last entry appears under the name 'Golden Lion'. There is mention of a shop on the premises, probably indicating its first use as a butcher's shop.
82

1861 to 1869 still Edward Canniford.
1870 reference to house, shop and garden—continuing to 1875. Other names of tenants include Mr. Chilcott, Hans Christian Hoy who bought the premises an 1915, Wallace Hoy and Will Western. The present owners are Mr. and Mrs F. Western.
Golden Park. Four agricultural workers' houses built in 1941. Goodiford Properties. See page 23.
Hall's
1722 Hall's mentioned in Rate Book, but not the name of the occupier.
1768 William Frost for Hall's and for Challice's.
1795-1812 Edmund Frost (sen.).
Halsbeer or Halsbeare. The ownership of the Manor of Blackburrow was for many years uncertain, but it seems safe to identify it with two farms—Halsbeer and Ballyman's' (E.S.C.). Evidence in favour of Halsbeer being the actual manor house, or possibly one built on the same site, is found in the Rate Books, where Elizabeth Stark is recorded as paying rates for Ballyman's (Mortimer's), but there is no reference to Halsbeer. Instead there is the following entry—James Cottrel for Blackburrow.
In the early 17th century the farm belonged to J. Bampfylde, and in 1760 John Frost was owner—probably leaseholder.
There is a story which tells that about the year 1785 some smugglers threw a large number of brandy kegs into Halsbeer Pool, no doubt with a view to recovering them at a convenient time, but Revenue Officers found the haul. (Who knows what may lie hidden in the Pool?)
In 1804 the farm belonged to John Turner. At some time before 1841 (Tithe Apportionment) it became the property of the Wyndham family, who sold it in 1915. It is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Snell, who also own Highwood's Farm.
Henland. 'A motion to include the "Island", a part of Cullompton, for Poor Law purpose came before the Vestry in 1877. In 1885 Henland had a special Overseer, John Payne.' 'Lubber's Hill, (Saxon), now Lover's Hill. This is part of the land Prebend mentioned in the artilary of Battle Abbey as one of five estates given by the King (Alfred) to Cullompton Church. There appears to be slight traces of an earthwork at the top of the hill.' 'In 1880-1912 Henland was owned by William Hole, with Hollis, or Hollway, for small-holdings to Devon County Council' (E.S.C.).

83

Highwood Farm
1738 Edward Davie paid rates.
1760 Rates paid by the occupier of Highwood.
1768-72 Edward Davie.
1785 Rates paid by the representative of (the late) Edward Davie. 1786-97 Sarah Davie.
1805 William Cook.
1812 William Foweraker.
1836 Harriet Pullen, owner. Tenant, James Frost.
1854 Same owner. Tenant, Thomas Persey.
1855 Same owner. Tenant, Robert Persey.
1857-74 Henry Morish, owner. Tenant, Thomas Stark. 1875 Thomas Stark.
1914-15 Mrs Pitts, owner. Tenant, Abraham Bowerman. 1915 Bought by Mr. Bussell.
Hill Head, Abel's Cottage. Cottage at the top of Church Lane. It fell into disuse due to the difficulty of getting fresh water. It was the birthplace of Mr. W. Howe in 1892.
Hollis, otherwise known as Holway's or Holwill, and cottages at
Hollis Green.
1722 James Holwill. 1734 James Holway.
1736 James Holway, or occupier.
1737 Occupier of Hollis.
1740 James Merson for Hollis.
1744-80 Occupier of Hollis.
1780 Luke Tapscott. 1785 George Tapscott. 1795-1806 Thomas Baker. 1807 John Turner and others.
1825 Miss Turner (Hollis and cottages).
1875 Mrs Hole. Tenant, Robert Haydon.
Cottages at Hollis Green. The cob cottage, now used as a garage, is obviously very old, and was almost certainly the home of the Baker family. There were six cottages in 1870. Cottages (number unknown) mentioned much earlier at Hollis, three of them belonging to Bethel Walrond—these were built, or restored, in 1838.
In 1875 five tenants named: James Sanders, Joseph Hole, James Davie, John Bradbeer and Thomas Potbury.
In 1913-14 Rebecca Crews and Frank Goff, other tenants not mentioned. Now converted into one dwelling.

I

84

Honest Heart
1825 Henry Cooke paid rates for Malt House and stock-in-trade. 1841 Owners, Wyndham Estate. Tenant, Henry Bishop. 1848 Edmund Ayres at the Honest Heart.
1860 Samuel Ayres.
1875 Edmund Ayres.
The last licensee was Mr. O'Brien who moved down to the Wyndham Arms in 1931. The property was sold in 1915. In the sale notices it was described as 'A Beer House on a seven-day licence. Let to Messrs. Furze and Company of Uffculme Brewery. On lease for 14 years from 1905, at £25 per annum.' It was bought by the Uffculme Brewery. It is now a private dwelling.
Horn Cottages. One on each side of Horn Road. 'The horns of the oxen which ploughed the moor during the Enclosure of 1808 were set up on a cottage in this new-made road. The horns were blown down in 1928, but were replaced by the owner, Mr. Bussell, in 1930' (E.S.C.). The other cottage, which was mentioned in 1841, when the owner was Richard Hurley, and the tenant, May Chamberlayne, was last occupied in the early 1950's, and has now been demolished.
James'. See Aller.
Kentisbeare House. The Rectory House, now called Kentisbeare House, I was erected at the direction and probably in part at the expense of George Francis, last Earl of Egremont. It was built to house his brother-in-law, the Rev. R. A. Roberts, and his sister. The house has 15 rooms. The date is probably that of a mortgage granted by Queen Anne's Bounty on July 5th, 184 1. Five more rooms were added to the South front by the Rev. J. F. Alleyne at his own charge about 1855' (E.S.C.).
The last incumbent to live in the house was Rev. E. C. Hodges. The house was then sold to Major-General and the Hon. Mrs. T. P. P. Butler.
A new, small, rectory was built in 1952 much nearer the church. The Rev. F. G. Baker was the only Rector to live there.
In 1976 the care of the parishes of Kentisbeare and Blackborough was transferred to the Cullompton Rector. Owing to the expensive times in which we live, it is no longer possible to maintain so many parishes with separate clergy. The Rectory, built in 1952, was therefore sold in 1976.
Kentismoor. Farms and cottages mentioned include:
1816 William Radford, husbandman, lived in a cottage on the Moor.

85

1817 William Frost paid rates.
1825 Cottages and allotments on Kentismoor belonging to Richard Hurley. Cottage and part of Kentismoor occupied by Stephen Pyne.
1841 Cottage and two allotments on Kentismoore owned by Mrs. Walrond.
1855 John Biss at Kentismoor Dairy or Bunker's Hill Farm.
Kingsford. See page 26.
Lane's Cottages (three).
1722 Richard Lane paid rates.
From 1768 to 1869 The Leach family paid rates for Ford Farm and for Lane's Cottages.
The Cottages were bought in 1915 by Mr. Coombe for £80. At the time they were let to Thomas Melhuish, John Lane and W. M. Snell.
Lympanny's
1722 Thomas and John Lympanny paid rates.
1795 James Cottrell.
1825 Edmund Frost. Edmund Cook paid rates for part of the land.
Lyddon's or Liddon's
1735 Rates paid by the occupier of Liddon's.
1768 Humphrey Lampert' (tympany?) for Liddon's. 1795-1812 Edmund Frost at Lyddon's.
Manor Mill
1768 Thomas Morish
1825 Cottage and garden near the Mill. Rates paid by John Mills.
It is believed that the Paper Mill operating during the early years of the 19th century was, in fact, the Manor Mill adapted for that use. If this is correct, the Mill must have reverted to its former use as a grist mill. It is now unused, but the water-wheel is still in position and in good condition.
There is a mention in 1875 of Kentisbeare Mills, owned by the Earl of Egremont and let to Nathaniel Frost.
Manning's
1768 Robert James. 1795 William James. 1804 Thomas Pook. 1812 Henry Broom.
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Merson's (at Sainthill)
1722 Edmund Merson paid rates.
1768 James Merson paid rates for Sainthill and for Merson's. James was the son of Joseph, and he was baptised in 1704. In adult life he was a grocer.
Millhayes. The early entries give the Frost family as at Millhayes. It was bought in 1915 by W. Howe.
Higher and Lower Moneysland
Higher Moneysland. An old farmstead mentioned in 1772 as an estate in the Manor of Orway. The house probably dates from the 16th century.
1797-1812 Occupied by John Richards.
1833-73 members of the Leach family. From 1859 to 1873
Elizabeth Leach was the owner and John Broom tenant. 1873 Edward Hawkins bought Higher Moneysland. Four years later
he was still owner, and Benjamin Hawkins tenant. 1913-14 Harry Sharland was the owner/occupier.
Lower Moneysland
1734-54 John Bishop.
1776 Thomas Foweraker. Occupied by the Foweraker family until 1866. After that William Hawkins acted as Trustee for Thomas Foweraker until 1875.
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the Manor Mill.

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1913 Occupied by Selina Edworthy.
1915 Bought by Mrs Turner. The Turners remained there until 1960.
Moorhayne Cottage
1841 Owner, Wyndham Estate, Tenant, James Lane. 1915 Bought by W. J. Leyman.
Mulford Is
1722 Mudford's mentioned in the Rate Books. 1735 Joseph Mills for Mudford's.
1795-1825 Thomas Stone.
1825 Henry Cook.
Marches
1804 Joseph March—his cots.
Orway Manor, otherwise Orrawia (1086), Orwey (1200), Horweie (1228), Orreweie (1238), Orrewey (1267). The name may derive from 'Ora' and Weg' meaning 'road along the bank'. 'Orra' may have been a personal name. For Domesday Survey see page 47.
Edwin Chalk mentioned Orweye in his talk given to the Devon Association in 1910: 'An ancient carving of Adam and Eve and a Tudor Rose attest the ancient state of the Orweye's of Orweye.'
Risdon's 'Survey of Devon' also mentions Orweye in some detail: `Orwey, the land and dwelling of Robert de Orwey in the time of King Henry III (1216-72) which inheritance, after some descents in that name, came to the co-heirs, Philippa, wife of Warren Hampton, and Joan, wife of John Stretch, whose line failing, it came unto Hampton, and was divided among his co-heirs. This fell to the portion of Joan, wife of Sachville, secondly Farringdon and thirdly to John Bonvile. Joan had issue by Farringdon, whose posterity have enjoyed this land ever since, and now it is fallen to Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Lancelot Farringdon for her portion.'
Interesting dates giving owners:
1166 Robert de Orwee.
Wiliam.
Ralph.
1228 Prior of Kerswell purchased some land from Thomas de Horweie.
1241 Thomas de Orweye.
1261 William de Orweye.
1285 William de Orweye held Orweye and Pisewyll.
1303 John de Orweye (he married Julia de Uffewill) held the Manor of Pysewill.
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Orway	Drawing by John Stone

1319 John de Orwaye, with others, witnessed the Watercourse Deed signed at Wode on 'Saturday on the morrow of the Purification of ye Blessed Mary in ye 12th year of the reign of King Edward ye son of Edward 11'.
1332 Devonshire Lay Subsidy—mention of John de Orweie at
Musbury and John de Orweye junior, at Sheldon.
1347 John de Orweye witnessed the Deed regarding John and Sibill
Hurst at Catteshay's (part of Wode).
1349 John de Orweye witnessed the Deed between William de Furneaux, lord ,of the Newland, and Nicholas de Aschille.
Eventually Orwey passed to Farringdon.
1767 James Cottrell of Orway—Overseer.
1772 An indenture dated November 7th mentions Moneysland as an estate in the Manor of Orweye.
1797 Francis Foweraker paid Poor-law Rates for Orway Farm. 1804 Rates paid by Benjamin Dickenson and George Webber. 1829 Owner, Bethel Walrond.
1841 Tenant, Robert Salter.
1876 Manor divided between J. Hepworth,—Washington, William Snell, & A. Abid
1906 J. Cottrell bought Orway.
Orway Cottages. Owned by Bethel Walrond.
1821 Edmund Frost 1823 Henry Broom 1839 Charles Salter 1875 William White.
These cottages were demolished. New cottages using the same name were built by the Cottrell family in 1952.
Orway Porch. The porch was removed in 1910 and the remaining part of the house was destroyed by fire in the 1930's.
Notes on Orway by John Stone. Orway, as it stands, is a house of Tudor
period, but a careful study of the overall layout of the buildings making up the whole unit suggests buildings of earlier periods, some cob and some of stone. It is ideally situated on a watercourse with sufficient power for industrial purposes and it is quite possible that some buildings spanned the watercourse. Foundation stones show positions where buildings once stood, and in all probability had a water-wheel attached for driving lathes or milling purposes. At one point in the bed of the stream there is an ancient block of oak over which the water flows. Water-marks on the stonework of some of the
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cob building

Drawing by John Stone
buildings indicate that a large area formed a pond which dropped to a lower level before crossing the road. A long, narrow, high cob building, at present without a roof, to the right of the entrance, is a building for much speculation, possibly connected to a larger building at some time, domestic in character, and used in a similar manner to that of a communal hall.
Osmond's
1768 Occupier of Osmond's paid rates.
1797 Charles Baker.
1841 Owner, Bethel Walrond. Tenant, still Charles Baker. 1875 Charles and Mary Baker.
Later bought by W. G. Snell.
Parson's Close. Houses built in 1950 and 1965.
Pirzwell Manor. Pirzwell, including Endicott's, Pratt's, Blake's, Taylor's and Stark's.

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Pirzwell, otherwise Pissevilla or Pissewilla (1086), Pisevil](1 198), Pisewill (1201), Pissewelle (1238), Pysewell (1244), Pyseweyll (1285), Pysewille (1362). Derivation 'Pea(se) Spring', i.e. 'by which the pease grow'. For Domesday Survey see page 47.
In 1166 Pirzwell was held for 12' fees (Knight's fee) by William de Alneto and held by William de Tracy.
1198 Azelina de Stures held Pisewelle for I a Knight's fee. 1285 William de Orweye held Orweye and Pisewell.
1303 John de Orweye held Pysewill.
1346 John, son of John de Orweye, held Pysewill.
1428 Thomas Stech held Pysewell.
Sir William Pole states that 'Hampton's daughter Alis married John Belles through whom the Manor passed to John Drake, who gave it to his son, John by one of whose daughters it is come to Nathaniel May who sold it to Henry Henley.'
Once more one is confronted with the problem of attempting to separate the various farmsteads and cottages listed under Pirzwell. 1734 John Pooks paid rates for Pirzwell Tenement.
1738 Thomas Pratt.
1744 William Pratt.
Among other names mentioned as 'at Prizwell' are Sarah Broom 1767 to 1834. Richard Hurley, owner, and John Melhuish, tenant, house at Pirzwell Common from 1838 to 1848. Richard Hurley continued as owner until 1861.
1861 W. Northam.
1865 Robert Howe.
Thomas Wilkins to 1873.
Richard Persey was at Little Pirzwell, otherwise Taylor's, from 1797. Earlier, in 1804, ownership is given as Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde, who owned Pirzwell, Bicknell's, Endicott's at Pirzwell, Taylor's, Bishop's and Croyle.
1876 Manor divided among various purchasers.
1916-33 Little Pirzwell, formerly Taylor's, held by Robert Veale. Endicotts by Mrs. Gerrard, nee Cleeve.
Pirzwell Manor held by Harry Williams.
En cost's at Pirzwell
1722-40 Ephraim Endicott paid rates for his house, and for John Endicott's.
1741-42 John Endicott paid rates for his house and for the occupier of Ephraim Endicott's.
1742-64 John Endicott, and for ye late Ephraim's. 1765 John Endicott for the place he lives in.

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1766 John Broom, and for the late Endicott's (John), and the occupier of the late Endicott's (Ephraim).
1769 Ephraim Endicott's, or occupier.
1771-75 Abraham Endicott's or occupier.
1776 (a) Occupier of late Endicott's small Cott. (b) Occupier of late Endicott's Cott.
In another book Henry James is mentioned as paying rates for the late Endicott's from 1769 to 1780, but it is not clear which of these two cottages was his home.
1781 Rates were paid for Endicott's by Edward Davie and George Salter.
1782-84 John Frost and George Salter.
1784-89 John Frost and Thomas Stone.
Thereafter the names include William Baker, William Broom, John Harris, Thomas Farnell and Edmund Broom.
From 1825 to 1875 members of the Cleeve family were connected with these cottages and the land. The original cottages were destroyed by fire, but later another house was built on the site and the old name retained. Thus we have more than 250 years' continuous use of this old name.
Pratt's, otherwise called Blake's, at Pirzwell
1722 John and Francis Pratt.
1734-38 Francis Pratt and Joan Pratt, widow.
1739-52 John, Francis and Thomas Pratt.
1752 Francis and John Pratt.
1754-63 John and Elizabeth Pratt.
1764 Occupier of the late John Pratt's, and Elizabeth Pratt. The same entry for 1765-70.
1771-79 Occupier of the late Mr. Pratt, and also Elizabeth Pratt her Cott.
1780 Thomas Broom for the late Mr. Pratt's, also Elizabeth until 1784.
1785 Thomas Broom for Stark's and the late Mr. Pratt's.
John Barrett for late Pratt's Cottage (Elizabeth's).
1786 John Barrett for his Cott. (No mention of the others.)
The same until 1797, when it was only Thomas Pratt for his Cott.
Taylor's at Pirzwell
1722 John Taylor paid rates.
1768 Occupier of Taylor's.
1804-25 Members of the Persey family.
1841 Owner, John Gould, Trustee for Charles Salter. Tenant, William Northam.

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Stark's Cottages at Pirzwell and at Sainthill
1722 Humphrey, John, and Jane Stark paid rates.
1740 Rates paid by the occupier of the late John Starks. 1741 James Merson for the late Stark's Tenement.
This continues until 1779.
1780 Thomas Broom for Stark's.
1790 Sarah Broom for Stark's.
1826 John Jutson for Stark's.
No further mention of Stark's after 1862.
Pixey Pool Cottages
1816 Reference to John Collins of Picksey Pool—Flaxman.
1841 Two cottages: (a) Owner, Earl of Egremont. Tenant, James
Lane. (b) Owner, Samuel Ackland. Tenants, John Lane and
. —. Westcott.
1913-14 James Smith.
Ponchydown Strip. Ponchydown farms and cottages. Reputed to have been part of the Manor of Blackborough Boty. This was for some years in the possession of the Ponchardon, now Punchardon, family. The first entry in the Rate Books occurred in 1722, when the unnamed occupant of Ponchydown paid rates. From 1781 it is possible to separate Lower and Higher Ponchydon or Ponchydown thus:

	Lower	Higher	
1781	Thomas Shute	Joseph Billet	
1793	The Rev. James Winsor		
1799	John James	Thomas Billet	
1837	John Sprague	Henry Doble	
1838		R. G. Marker	
1841	Adam Cottrell		
1849	11		
1854	Mrs. Cottrell		
1874	John Payne		
1913	Albert Sanders	Trustee Bradfield Estate.	

1919 Sold by Bradfield Estate. ar them list
it comes to cottages it is impossible to li th	sep-
When it	impossible	I
ately. The main fact that does emerge is that Blackborough, if one includes Ponchydown, was as big as Kentisbeare in the early years of the last century. In 1838 there were no less than 30 dwellings, and by 1841 the number had increased to 33. The concentration of people must indicate the financial success of the Whetstone quarrying. However, by 1854 the decline had started with a reduction to 27. Then, in 1864, 24 cottages; 1874, 21; and in 1913, 15.

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Pook's, or Poak's, Cottage
1722 John Pook paid rates.
1768 Rates paid by the occupier of Leonard Poak's. Robert James for part of Poak's.
Robert Pearsey for Poak's Meadow.
1795 Rates paid by the occupier of.Pook's. 1804 Eleanor Persey.
1812 John Morish.
Postwood Cottages
1841 Owner, Bethel Walrond. Tenant, Joseph Mugford. 1906 Bought by W. G. Snell.
1977 Now known as Postwood Gardens—formerly a nursery garden run by Mr. and Mrs. Holmes.
Post Office (The). See John Stone's notes on page 56.
Pound Cottage. The house known as Pound Cottage is probably some 300 years old, but it is impossible to trace it in the Rate Books as it must have been known by another name until about 1880. At the time of the 1915 sale it was let to Mr. W. Least who bought it and later also The Pound.
H. Ayres was the last pound-keeper. See page 54.
Pratt's Cottages. See also Pratt's Pitzwell. Some confusion arises as to the location of Pratt's Cottages. The only clue to the situation of those in the village occurs in the 1841 Tithe (see Chapter 11). However, it is safe to assume that they were there in the 1760's, and that Jems Cork paid rates for them from then until 1783 when John Coles became tenant. He paid for Pratt's until 1818, and his widow until 1823. Then followed John Commins until 1838.
1839-59 Charles Knight.
1861-72 John Percy.
1873-75 Agnes Percy.
Priesthall, or Priesthill. Probably the abode of our medieval rector. In 1746 it was already being used as three cottages, let at that time for 6d. or 8d. per week. This continued until it was sold. It has now been restored, and is once more one dwelling. 'It is one of the least spoilt church-houses in England. It preserves the two oaken screens, the two buttery hatches, the Minstrels' Gallery and several window frames of oak' (E.S.C. writing in 1934).
Providence Cottage, Blackborough. 'It was bought in 1915 by Dr. Morrison of Bleadon-on-Tyne, together with most of the cottages and

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manorial rights. Abstracts of some hundred leases from 1690 to 1838 are preserved by solicitors in London. John Radford lived at Providence Cottage. The cover of the font in Blackborough Church is in his memory. He was the "king" of the scythe stone workers and a former police officer' (E.S.C.).
Rogers
1722 Henry Rogers paid rates.
1768 Robert James. 1795 William James. 1797 Edmund Frost. 1804 Thomas Pook. 1812 Henry Broom.
1875 Rates paid by the Trustees of Mrs. Driver, for Scaddings and
Rogers. Tenant, William Wood.
(See Manor of Sowell.)
Rectory Cottages. Now owned by the Hon. Mrs. V. E. Butler. (See Kentisbeare House.)
Rowborough
1848 Richard Ellacott.
1851 John Driller.
1870 James Blackmore.
1872 James Blackmore and James Payne. 1875 James Payne.
Rushays
1722 John Rush paid rates.
1735 Occupier of the late John Rush's. 1740 Occupier of Mr. Rush's Tenement.
Sainthill. Once again it is a difficult, if not impossible, task to separate the various occupants of these properties. The first entry to be found in the Rate Books is for 1734, when Henry Moors paid rates for Sainthill. Later, in 1.851, Lower Sainthill is mentioned, and in 1852 James Merson paid rates for Higher Sainthill.
In 1754 William Hurley paid for Sainthill (Lower ?) and thereafter for many years these two families were responsible for paying rates, probably as leaseholders.
From 1763-66 Yeowood's is named, but nothing more has been found under that name.
1780 Richard How paid rates for Sainthill and Higher Sainthill, and Francis Foweraker for Merson's at Higher Sainthill. 1784 James Leach—Sainthill and Higher Sainthill.

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Leach and Foweraker then continued to pay the rates until 1804 when Mary Foweraker was 'at Upper Sainthill'.
1805 Henry Mountstephen.
After that there were many changes of ownership and tenancy. Among the owners and leaseholders were Abraham Cleeve, the Dean of York, the Rev. T. Dennis, Elias and Charles Baker, Robert and Mary Stark (the Starks were owners of many cottages at Sainthill and Pirzwell), William Hole and the Rev. C. Binnie. Tenants: John, Joseph and William Radford, John Sanders, George Melhuish, Thomas Hewett, Sarah Cording, Charles Moon, Thomas Pulsford, John and Mark Evans.
Sale Notices 1915. All that valuable small-holding called Sainthill. Cob and thatched farmhouse. Land 16 acres. Tenant, J. Grandfield. Sold for £240 to Dr. Morrison.
There are many early references to Senthill, otherwise Seynthill, Senthell, Seynthell or Sainthill, in Edwin Chalk's 'History'. Among them: 1238 Thomas de Seinthill.
1531 Lands and tenements in Seynthill.
1545 King Henry VIII granted Seynthill to John, Earl of Bath. 1557 Butson family let a house and tenement in Senthill.
1561 Robert Warren sold his tenement called Senthill to Richard
Stringfellowe.
1584 Tenement called Greate Senthill sold to Thomas Chappell. 1585 Greate Senthell leased for 99 years to Thomas Staple. 1605 Same property sold to John Cole.
1606 Greate Santhill sold to Anthony Slade.
1612 Conveyance by William Slade of the same property to Nathanyell Slade.
1655 Property leased to John Westron.
Sainthill Baptist Church
1816 Robert Stark, Henry Wyatt, Thomas Coombe, J. Venn, Charles Baker elected Deacons.
A Sunday School started in the same year.
School and Manse erected soon after the Chapel.
1818 The Rev. C. Hawkins ordained pastor.
Salter's. This family occupied three premises in the Parish known as Salter's Tenement, Salter's at Orway and Salter's at Aller. The family is mentioned in the Church Registers in 1706, when John was baptised. He was the son of John, husbandman, and Joan, his wife. In 1722 John and Samuel Salter paid rates. Salter's at Aller is dealt with under Aller; the other cottages were occupied for many years by the families of Jabez James and Edmund Frost. In 1915 Salter's Tenement was bought by C. Derham.

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Sander's Tenement
1722 Joane Sanders paid rates for the occupant of Hall's. Elizabeth Sanders paid rates for an unnamed property.
1795 Eleanor Persey.
1825 William Persey.
1838 Referred to as part of Moneysland. Tenant, Frederick Radford.
Sander's Pottery
1855 Rate Book. This is the only reference.
Sandfield Farm. Sandyfyld in 1525.
1722 John Walsh paid rates for Sandfield.
1792 William Broom paid Poor Law Rates for Sandfield, or occupier.
1797 Rates paid by William Brown—probably meant to be Broom. In the first half of the last century Edmund Cook was at Sandfield and he was still there in 1853.
1854 John White.
1855-64 Philip White; then the house was divided into two dwellings jointly tenanted by Robert Clarke and the Frost family until the latter years of the century.
1915 Sold to W. Persey.
1923 Sold to a Mr. Wheaton of Broadclyst.
Shelves House
1841 Owner, Earl of Egremont. Tenant, Edmund Frost. 1915 Bought by C. Derham.
Sherwood's. See also Sandfield.
1768 Rates paid by the occupier of Sherwood's.
1804 William Cook.
1848 Sherwood House. Owner, The Rev. W. C. Thompson. Tenant, Edmund Cook.
1849 Same owner. Tenant, Thomas Oliver—this probably refers to the land (but see 1852 below).
1851 Part of Sherwood. Owner, Earl of Egremont; occupied by Edmund Cook.
1852 Cottage and garden at Sherwood's. Tenant, Thomas Oliver. 1855 House and land. Owner, The Rev. W. C. Thompson. Occupier, Samuel Potter.
1858 House and land. Owner, Earl of Egremont. Occupier, Philip White.
1875 Cottage and gardens. Owner, Earl of Egremont. Tenant —. Farley.
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Silver Cottages, otherwise Little Silver
1816 Thomas Potter, husbandman, of Little Silver.
1817 Thomas Broom, husbandman, of Little Silver.
1825 Tenants of Little Silver: J. Canniford, J. Salter, Mary Pratt, R. Sanders, W. Casling, John Leamon (Lemon), J. Bray, E. Neels, and —. Lympanny.
Stockland. See under Wressing.
Stoford Water
1838 Cottage at Stoford Water. Owner, William Hole. Tenant, Edward Howe.
1875 Two entries: (a) House and garden owned by Sanders and occupied by Robert Haydon. (b) House, orchard and garden owned by Mrs. Hole and occupied by William Howe.
The Manor of Sowell, and the family of Butson, alias Brooke. Sir William Pole states that it was cut out of the great single Manor of Uffculme. This is borne out by the fact that we are told in Risdon's 'Survey': 'Sowell was possessed by Ailwardus in Henry 11's time (c. 1154) unto whom Fulk Paynell gave the same.' Fulk Paynell (Painell or Paganell) was lord of the Manor of Uffculme.
Another, rather tenuous piece of evidence in favour of Sowell being included within the Manor of Uffculme is that the area of land from Sowell through Stockland and Wressing down to the present Brook House at Goodiford never belonged to the Walrond or Wyndham families, so that it is unlikely that these areas-were ever part of the Manors of Kentisbeare or Wode. Also Risdon states that Fulk Paynell ,gave the same (Sowell) and added de la Brooke unto Adam the son of the said Ailward, whence that Brooke issued'.
Further evidence in 1650 an Indenture was made on 'the two and twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord God one thousand, six hundred and fifty, between Henry Henley of Coleway in the Parish of Lyme Regis in the County of Dorsetshire . . . and Henry Butson alias Brooke of Kentisbeare in the County of Devon, clothier . . . and by these parts doth devise and grant the farm let unto the said Henry Burson alias Brooke (and) all that cottage and tenement with garden plot thereunto belonging 	 late in the tenure of one William Harte situate in the Parish of Kentisbeare aforesaid and parcel of the Manor of Sowell.'
This Indenture is among the Trott papers in the Exeter Record Office. The Trott's bought the cottage then standing on the site of the present Brook House, Goodiford (see Jewell's Cottage, page 11). Later they bought Stockland and Wressing. I believe this must account for the document being in the Trott file.

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Owners or Occupiers of Sowell
c. 1086 Fulk Paynell, lord of the Manor of Uffculme. c. 1154 Ailwardus.
Adam de la Brook(e), Broker, Brookes, Browke. William de la Brooke.
Walter
William
de la Brooke—sometimes known as alias Robert
Burson (Butston)'.
John
Richard
1530 John
Sir Thomas Dennys.
Sir Robert Dennys.
Sir Thomas (his daughters Ann and Margaret, were co-heiresses).
1587 Henry Warde sold Sowell. (See Deed below)
1797 Ware (might this be Warde?).
Dimond.
Vaughan.
1822 Cornish.
1841 By 1841 Sowell was divided into three farms, the owners being (1) Rev. C. Gidley. Kept names Sowells: sold in 1909 to W. Sanders occupied by Thomas Venn. (2) C. Driver: farm known as Scading's and Rogers. In 1929 bought by W. E. Grant, occupied during both ownerships by William Woods. (3) Robert James: farm known as Bicknell's, occupied by William Trott.
1943 Owners (1) Mr. Yelland, (2) Mr. Wood, (3) Mr. Lowman Sanders.
1977 Owners of Sowell Manor House, Mr. and Mrs. G. Twits.
DEED
10th October 1587
Bargain and sale by Henry Warde of Plymouths, gentleman, and Nathanyell Maye of Bexley in Kent, gentleman, of the mannors of Sowell and Wrestelles, Wermingeston and Rapplingshaie in Kentisbeare, Awlescombe and Gyttysham, and all messuages, crofter, cottages, dovehouses, mylles, gardens, Landes, pastures, woodes, commons, frsheinges, waters, renter, services, courses, leetes, veive of franke pledge, waiffes, strayer, goods of felons, and felons themselves, amerciaments, heryottes, releyffes, escheates, deodans, warder, profittes etc. [Might one be tempted to add I old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.] Which mannors and premises sometymes were the inheritance of John Drake of Exeter, merchaunt deceased . . .
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Butson's Farm, Kentisbeare, in 1915.
Drawing by John Stone

The Family of Butson, alias Brooke
1624 Butson paid `subsidys on Landes in Kentisbeare'. 1626 George Brooke married Elyzabeth Gr	
1626 Alis, daughter of Thomas and Alis Butston, baptised. 1626 Sybely Butston, wydowe, buried July 22nd.
1632 John Brooke, alias Butson of Kentisbeare, sold Francis Parke to
John Butson of the same in the possession of Antonie Merson. 1636 Christian Brooke married Wilmot Weale February 20th. 1636 John Langdon married Margery Butson September 9th. 1641 Henry Butson of Kentisbeare married Catherine Cornish of
Culmstock July 1st. (See page 100.)
1669 Sarah, daughter of George Brooke, baptised ye 31st day of October.
1731 Hugo Brook married Mary West on 3rd January. 1736 James Rugg married Sarah Brooks 26th March.
1757 Matthew Sanders married Johan (Joan) Brook 23rd August. 1835 Rate Book entry: Elijah Brook—his Cott.
Butson's Farm, otherwise Botuston (c. 1200), Botyston juxta Kentelesbere (1339), Butson (1610). It was held c. 1200 by Radulf Boty, who is mentioned under Blackborough.
1624 Agnes, Edward, George, Henerie, James and Margerie Burson paid subsidies on land in Kentisbeare.
1797 James Hellings paid rates for Butson's Farm. In 1841 the owner was mentioned in the Tithe Apportionment as the Earl of Egremont, and Henry Cook, tenant.
When the Wyndham Estate was sold in 1915 part of Burson's was bought by Samuel Morish, and part by C. Derham.
Taylors. See Pirzwell.
Tinker's
1795-1915 Tenants were members of the Frost family (John). 1915 Bought by Mr. Hillier.
Ware's Cottage
1797 Joseph Murch. 1812 Jane Murch.
Warren's Farm
1832 Henry Cook paid rates for Warren's.
The 1915 Sale notices state: Adjoining Warren's Farm—freehold shop, cottage and garden. Let to George Wood, harness-maker, at 2s. per week. Sold, together with the adjoining cob and thatched cottage let to Richard Rugg at I Id. per week.
102

Drawing by John Stone

Western's Cottages, Black-borough.

The notices also mention a freehold shop and cottage opposite Warren's Farm, let to Ann Rowe for ls.4d. per week, and an adjoining cottage let to Mark Rowe for ls. per week.
All these cottages had the right to draw water from the pump in the yard of the Wyndham Arms.
Note:, In 1825-29 Henry Cook paid rates for 'a malthouse'.
Webber's Cottage 1797 Sarah Salter.
Western's, Weston's or Westron's
1698 Lewis, son of John Westron, born June 28th.
1722 Occupier of the late John Westron's.
1735-36 Robert Westron.
1736-52 Occupier of the late John Westron's. After 1752 no mention until 1821—Western's and Cotts.
1838 Charles Baker.
1870 Mary Baker.
1913-14 Epenetus Baker.
`The cottages illustrated comprise one with two rooms up and one room down and three with one room up and one room down. They are built of stone and it is feaseable to assume that the road elevations, which are now rendered, were at one time showing the stone construction. Numerous alterations have taken place including linking together of cottages, but here are still window features and exposed beams which reflect the period in which they were built' (John Stone).
Westhayes
1722 William Stone.
1736 Anthony and Robert Stone.
1764-76 Anthony Stone.
1777-88 William Southwood.
1789 to the early years of this century, Edmund Frost, and family. 1915 Bought by Benjamin Hawkins. Tenant at that time Elias White Hill.
`Old Farmer Edmund Frost, who lived at the farm 50 to 60 years ago (1822-32) when I was a boy, showed me the old rooms. Very fine they were, that Lord Montrath occupied whilst Montrath was being built. I also remember old Mr. Frost and Old Farmer Will Leach speaking of Mr. Watson living at Westhayes. I believe he was an agent to Lord Montrath. [See 'Sir Thomas Watson', page 126.1 The fine old portion of Westhayes House has disappeared,

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and now in 1882 what remains of its serves for a cottage only' (George E. Dennis).
Now, in 1977, nothing remains. A new house stands on the site.
White's
1768 John White.
1795-1812 Robert White.
Woodlane Cottages. See page 22.
Wressing-at-ye-Green and Wressing Farm. It is impossible to separate the owners and tenants of the two farms. Some entries give Wressing-atthe-Green and Wressing separately, but more often they are both called Wressing. The earliest reference gives John and Humphrey Mills—apparently at both farms, from 1722 to 1779, followed by Henry James and William Drake.
We know that the Trott family were at Wressing Farm (not -at-theGreen) from 1826 to 1892, and it appears that during the last century -at-the-Green was farmed by Pratts, James Coombe, William Frost and the Grants, and during the present century by Messrs. Squires and Sprague.
In 1892 Robert Blackmore purchased Wressing Farm from the Trustees of William Trott. On his death his wife continued to run the farm with the help of her sons. Her son-in-law, F. J. Tancock, and his wife moved from Hemyock to take over the farm in 1939, and when he died in 1955 his son Stanley became the farmer. He and his wife are still there. The original farm was destroyed by fire—date unknown, but probably in the middle of the last century. A portion of the old cob wall was incorporated in the barn.
Wressing Cottages. The old Kentisbeare family of Lemon, otherwise Leamon, Leaman, Leyman or Layman, have lived for some 300 years in Wressing Cottages. They use the spelling 'Lemon' now. Mrs Lemon, who is in her 93rd year, and her brother-in-law, Mr. Albert Lemon, still live in these cottages. For some time in the latter part of the last century James Bradbeer lived in the second Wressing Cottage. There is an 18th century (perhaps earlier) wall painting of the Lord's Prayer on one of the bedroom walls, and in the sitting room a wall cupboard has a painting on the door, which John Stone has copied (see page 106).
`Lemon's Cottages. Apart from the fact that they were built by the Lemon family of earlier dates and have always been lived in by the Lemon family, they are interesting because of their simplicity of plan befitting to the site situation. Oak beams run parallel with the length
105

		17	
					
		Wh~~15t we Thin k
well and -0\ i ilk_
to Me-R8
-TIMt Po{s'th Awav
And beathsihe‑			

cupboard front feature in wall

Lemon's Cottages Wes-sing Cottages"

i~	o	A	t‑

Drawing by John Stone	iff	

of the building and ceilings are slightly higher than those of the majority of cottages in the area. From the road there is a common entrance doorway/porch with the actual cottage room doors opposite each other' (John Stone).
Other cottages at Wressing have now disappeared.
Stockland. See page 29.
1722 to 1766 William Hurley paid rates.
1767 Rates paid by the occupier of Stockland.
1768 James Tozer.
1795 and 1797 Thomas Stone.
1804 and 1812 John Morish.
1825 Stockland, and allotment on Kentismoor—Robert Trott. 1841 Cottages had disappeared by 1841. The land was owned by
William Trott; later bought by R. Blackmore. Now belongs
to S. Tancock of Wressing Farm.
Wyndham Arms. See also the Honest Heart, page 85.
1820 to 1834 A. C. Knight.
1835 to 1850 Charles Knight.
1851 John Osmond.
1852 to 1874 John Persey.
1875 Agnes Persey.
Sold in 1915 to Mr. Gunn. It was previously let to Messrs. Hancock and Sons on a yearly Lady Day tenancy.
1977 The only Inn still open in Kentisbeare Village. Licensee Frank Elliott.

OLD FIELD NAMES AND TITHE NUMBERS

THE following are the earliest field names that I have been able to find; most appear on the Tithe Apportionment, as do the numbers. Tithe: the tenth part of anything, especially the tenth part of the increase annually arising from the profits of land and stock, allotted to the clergy for their support; to levy a tax on, to tax to the amount of a tenth.
Kentisbeare
Tithe Apportionment August 31st, 1841. The whole parish of Kentisbeare contains 3,600 acres of land estimated measure.

Arable land	1,864 acres	2 roods	20 perches	
Woodland	40 acres
Commons	1 rood	19 perches	
Quarries			
Wastes	338 acres
~	2 roods	28 perches	
Houses			
Farm buildings				
Bartons	39 acres	3 roods	18 perches	

Orchards	~ Gardens

Glebe lands, which if not in the hands of the owners would be subject to tithes: 61 acres 1 rood 35 perches

148 acres	3 roods 7 perches

Articles of Agreement: Tithes of the said Parish
For every acre of Meadow Mown in lieu of the Tithes of Hay
For every milch Cow in lieu of the Tithes of Milk, Butter, Cheese and Calf
For every Heifer .... Milk, Butter, Cheese and Calf For every Barren or Yeld Cow
For every Colt foaled in the said Parish
For the orchards of each tenement in lieu of the Tithes of Apples
For every Garden in lieu of the Tithes of Herbs Total apportionment £410.

2 pence
4 pence
3 pence
3 pence
1 penny
2 pence 1 penny

108

Field		Field		Field		
nos.	Name	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
1	Orchard	48	Bloss Park	90	Orchard	
2	House and Courts	49	Horse Park	91	House and Courts	
	Lower Kingsford	50	Pit Cat Hayes		Goodiford Mills	
3	Garden	51	[name not known]	92	Garden	
4	Bag Orchard	52	Great Cat Hayes	93	Goodiford Meadow	
5	Home Meadow	53	Waste (Pit)	94	Ham	
6	Great Ham	54	Great Wideley	95	Croft	
7	Little Ham	55	Little Wideley	96	New Meadow	
8	Little Meadow	56	Copse	97	Garden	
9	Great Orchard	57	Crofts Land	98	Houses and Orchard	
10	Ley Ham	58	Moor Close	99	Home Meadow	
11	Culver Hill	59	Annie's Park	100	Houses and Courts	
12	Willow Plot	60	James' Park		Wressing Cottage	
13	Pit Park	61	Six Acres	101	Wressing Green	
14	Orchard	62	Great Rye Down	102	Houses and Courts	
15	Nursery	63	Pond		Wressing-at-the‑	
16	Higher Pit Park	64	Little Rye Down		Green	
17	Lower Broad Park	65	German's Close	103	Barn Close	
18	Higher Broad Park	66	Furze Pasture	104	Pit Orchard	
19	Plantation	67	Black Pin	105	Pitch Close	
20	Ashland	68	Black Pin	106	Path Close	
21	Four Acres	69	House and Orchard	107	Two-acre Close	
22	Lower Catshayes		Wressing Cottages	108	Wressing Meadow	
23	Higher Catshayes	70	Orchard	109	Palks Meadow	
24	Four Acres	71	Pit Orchard	110	Meadow	
25	Pit	72	Orchard	III	Meadow	
26	Seven Acres	73	Croft	112	Meadow	
27	Catcheres	74	Meadow	113	Little Marsh	
28	Higher Woods	75	Meadow	114	Little Meadow	
29	Lower Woods	76	Higher Field	115	Stockland Field	
30	Nursery	77	Dry Close	116	Meadow	
31	Nursery	78	Coppice	117	Clamp Pit	
32	Kingsford Close	79	Wressing	118	Copse	
33	Nursery	80	House and Garden	119	Copse Close	
34	Long Ham		Home Meadow	120	Top Close	
35	Little Field		(now dem; part	121	West Park	
36	Orchard		wall remains)	122	West Park	
37	House and Courts	81	Houses and Courts	123	Pick Pocket	
	Higher Kingsford		Gooddyford Farm	124	Little Marls	
38	Orchard	82	Ram Ham	125	Wall Close	
39	Barn's Close	83	Orchards	126	Great Marls	
40	Orchard	84	Houses and Gar-	127	Furze Brakes	
41	Twelve Acres		dens Woodland	128	Furze Brakes	
42	Great Meadows		Cottages (now	129	Furze Brakes	
43	Probably part of		derelict)	130	Long Close	
	Great Meadow	85	House and Gardens	131	Top Close	
44	Home Meadow		Goodiford Cottage	132	Houses and Courts	
45	Houses and Courts	86	House and Garden	133	Barn Close	
	Wode(Wood Barton)		Brook House	134	Orchard	
46	Orchard	87	Goodiford Orchard	135	Common	
47	Ruddens	88	Orchard	136	Common	
47A	Little Horse Park	89	Plot	137	Common	

109

Field		Field		Field		
nos.	Name	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
138	House and Garden	183	Great Bottom Close	229	House and Courts	
	Cottage North of	184	Higher Down		Laburnum Cottage	
	Croyle	185	Middle Down		opposite Pirzwell	
139	Plantation	186	Lower Down		Farm	
140	Common Close	187	Higherdown (High	230	Orchard	
141	Bottom Close		Woods)	231	Orchard	
142	Yonder Close	188	Lower Higherdown	232	Houses and Courts	
143	Nap Close	189	Broom Close		Pirzwell Farm	
144	Little Meadow	190	Oat Four Acres	233	Little Field	
145	Alders	191	Home Close	234	Racket'	
146	Public Road and	192	Orchard	235	Great Close	
	Waste	193	Houses and Courts	236	Home Close	
147	Orchard		Highwoods Farm	237	Houses and Courts	
148	Two Orchards	194	Lower Four Acres		Taylors now Little	
149	Houses and Courts	195	{name not known}		Pirzwell	
150	Home Close	196	Stone Close	238	Barns Close	
151	Hill Head	197	Path Gate Close	239	Orchard	
152	Field	198	Higher Pit Close	240	Houses and Courts	
153	Southwell Park	199	Lower Pit Close		Endicotts	
154	Southwell Park	200	Higher Down	241	Houses and Courts	
155	Higher Hayman	201	Higher Down		Pirzwell Barton	
	Close	202	Broom Close	242	Orchard	
156	Lower Hayman	203	Two Acres	243	Cherry Close	
	Close	204	Little Close	244	Three-Corner Field	
157	Lower Coombe Park	205	Great Wood	245	Higher Arrish	
158	[name not known]	206	Plantation	246	[name not known]	
159	Little Ham	207	Higher Highwood	247	[name not known]	
160	Three Acres		Field	248	{name not known}	
161	Little Twelve Acres	208	[name not known)	249	{name not known}	
162	Haydown Close	209	Lower Highwood	250	Little Hill	
163	Five Acres		Field	251	Corner Close	
164	Four Acres	210	Holland Close	252	West Ends	
165	Front Field	211	Great Ball	253	West Towns	
166	Houses and Courts	212	Nap	254	Hills Green	
	Sowells (part)	213	Middle Nap Acres	255	Hills Green	
167	Orchard	214	Nap	256	Broome Close	
168	Orchard	215	Great Twelve Acres	257	Yonder Hill	
169	Houses and Courts	216	Middle Twelve	258	Hill Orchard	
	Sowells (part)		Acres	259	Boobeer	
170	Common	217	Side Close	260	Bew Beer	
171	Orchard		(Taylors)	261	Furze Close	
172	Meadow	218	Long Close	262	Longlands	
173	Nibley	219	Great Nap	263	Longlands	
174	Barn Close	220	Bottom Close	264	Meadow	
175	Rogers Close	221	Nap Close	265	Little Hill	
176	Great Headlands	222	Little Head	266	Houses and Courts	
177	Little Headlands	223	Nursery		Halsbeer	
178	Four Acres	224	Hill Head	267	Orchard	
179	Scrip Yards (a)?	225	Pit Park	268	Under Ley	
180	Little Bottom Close	226	Croft	269	Top Ley	
181	Vatch Close	227	Orchard	270	Middle Close	
182	Folly	228	Orchard	271	Yonder Close	

110

Field		Field		Field		
nos.	Name	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
272	Great Sherwood	313	Calland	359	Apple-tree Close	
273	Great Meadow	314	Long Meadow	360	Top Close	
	Part Tinkers: Little	315	Great Clayland	361	Middle Close	
	Sherwood	316	Pod Acre Meadow	362	May Close	
274	Orchard	317	Meadow	363	Great Close	
275	Furzy Sherwood	318	Cleaves	364	Orchard	
276	Middle Close	319	Little Coppice	365	Meadow	
277	Higher Orchard	320	Lower Coppice	366	House and Courts	
278	House and Courts	321	Higher Coppice		Lower Moneysland	
	Ballymans	322	Coppice	367	Orchard	
	Mortimers	323	Yonder Coppice	368	Orchard	
279	Orchard	324	Brumland	369	Houses and Gardens	
280	Home Meadow	325	Side Cleeve	370	Houses and Courts	
281	May Meadow	326	Great Cleeve	371	Orchard	
282	Blackborough	327	Orchard	372	Twelve Acres	
	Meadow	328	Way Close	373	South Close	
283	[name not known}	329	Yonder Park	374	Churchland	
284	Nursery	330	Great Park	375	Lawn	
285	Fore Orchard	331	Great Park	376	Stowford Meadow	
286	Orchard	332	Higher Coney	377	Stowford Close	
287	House and Gardens		Garden Coneygar	378	Well Meadow	
	(near Mortimers)	333	Nap	379	New Meadow	
288	House Gardens	334	Barn Close	380	Orchard	
	(part Mortimers)	335	Cunnigers	381	Houses and Courts	
289	Nursery	336	Mill Pond		Cottages	
290	Croft	337	Great Hill	382	I.B. (meaning	
291	Great Orchard	338	Stoner Close		unknown)	
292	House and Garden	339	Orchard	383	Old Orchard	
	(near Mortimers;	340	Meadow	384	Orchard	
	now demolished)	341	Higher Moneysland	385	Bottom France	
293	Higher Orchard		Orchard	386	Lower France	
294	House and Courts	342	Orchards	387	Pound Orchard	
	Tinkers Farm	343	Houses and Courts	388	Higher France	
295	Coppice		Higher Moneysland	389	Pool Meadow	
296	White Close	344	Orchard	390	Path Close	
297	Headlands	345	Plot	391	Tuckers Close	
298	Little Hill	346	Great Meadow	392	Northfield	
299	Garden	347	Stowford Meadow	393	Barn Close	
300	Garden	348	Meadow	394	Houses and Courts	
301	Pit Close	349	Orchard		France	
302	Plot	350	Coppice	395	Orchard	
303	Plot	351	Timothy Close	396	Houses and Courts	
304	Little Wood	352	Plot		Poole	
305	Garden	353	House Close	397	Pit Orchard	
306	Blackborough	354	Shelf	398	Orchard	
	Meadow	355	Little Rag	399	Kox Hill	
307	Orchard	356	Little Ham	400	Coppice	
308
309	Tithying Meadow
Orchard	357	An Island Piece,
together with	401
402	Nursery Meadow
House Garden	
310	Higher Clayland		678, called Wood	403	Cleowe Acre Meadow	
311	Little Clayland		Lakes	404	Beerland: Beacon	
312	Lower Clayland	358	Meadow Pit		Grounds	

Im

111

Field		Field	Field		
nos.	No m e	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
405	Nap	451	Wall Close: Garden	489	House and Gardens	
406	Little Orchard		of Providence	Higher Sainthill	
407	Long Close		Cottage	Farm	
408	Top Close	452	Broadland	490	Orchard	
409	[name not known)	453	House and Gardens	491	Croft	
410	Houses ana Garden	454	Ponchydown	492	Garden	
	(demolished 1906)	455	Waste	493	House and Courts	
411	Beacon Field	456	[name not known)	494	House and Garden	
412	Furze	457	Garden	Upper Sainthill	
413	Plot	458	House and Garden	495	Plot	
414	Beerlands		Ponchydown	496	Garden Close	
415	Beerlands	459	House and Garden	497	Waste	
416	Higher Close		(now demolished)	498	Garden	
417	Plot	460	Garden of Ponchy-	499	Orchard	
418	Plot		down	500	House and Garden	
419	Garden	461	Houses and Garden	West of Sainthill	
420	House and Garden	462	House and Garden	501	Chapel and Yards	
	(now demolished)		Blackborough School 502	Home Meadow	
421	Croft	463	Houses and Garden	503	Southhill Meadow	
422	Orchard		Blackborough School 504	Long Meadow	
423	Little Meadow		House	505	Plot	
424	Puncherdown	464	[name not knownj	506	Garden	
	Orchard	465	Ponchydown Strip	507	House and Courts	
425	Houses and Courts	466	House and Garden	Lower Sainthill	
	Puncherdon		(now demolished)	formerly Holways	
426	Orchard	467	House and garden	508	Orchard	
427	Great Meadow		(now demolished)	509	Rack Close	
428	Long Meadow	468	Garden	510	Rap Orchard	
429	Hill Close	469	House and Courts	511	Pit	
430	Higher Close		Ponchydown	512	Middle Close	
431	Pixey Mead	470	[name not known]	513	Broom Close	
432	Kim Close	471	House and Gardens	514	Sainthill Field	
433	Walls	472	House and Gardens	515	Berry Park	
434	Great Close		(demolished 1906)	516	Higher Hedge	
435	Cobbler's Stall and	473	House and Gardens	517	Higher Clappy	
	House occupied		Ponchydown	518	Lower Clappy	
	Wm. Harding 1841	474	Garden	519	House and Garden	
436	Lower Moorfield	475	Plantations	(now demolished)	
437	Higher Moorfield	476	Plantations	520	House and Garden	
438	Little Meadow	477	Plantations	(now demolished)	
439	Bennett's Meadow	478	Plantations	.521	House and Garden	
440	Furze Close	479	Plantations	(now demolished)	
441	Great Close	480	Plantations	522	Berry Park Orchard	
442	Turf Close	481	Yonder Moorfield	524	House and Garden	
443	Bottom Close	482	Black Acre	Cottages	
444	Little Pains	483	Brake	525	Orchard	
445	Great Pains	484	Grove Orchard	526	Hill Park	
446	Houses and Courts	485	Path Close	527	Barn Park	
447	Little Plot	486	[name not known]	528	Orchard	
448	Warren's Close	487	Pit Close	529	Houses and Courts	
449	Plot	488	House and Gardens	Hollis Farm	
450	Plot		West of Sainthill	530	Walled Garden	

112

Field		Field		Field		
nos.	Name	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
531	Orchard	581	Houses and Courts	629	Lower Orway	
532	French Nut-tree		Downlands	630	Higher Orway	
	Close	582	Houses and Courts	631	Top Close	
533	Furze Hill	583	Houses and Courts	632	Bottom Close	
534	Furze Hill	584	Plantations	633	Orchard	
535	Horn	585	Plantations	634	Barn Close	
536	House and Orchard	586	Plantations	635	Houses and Courts	
537	Horn	587	Plantations		Orway Cottages	
538	Limpanny Meadow	588	Plantations	636	Orchard	
539	Meadow	589	Heath	637	Buildings	
540	Middle Shute Park	590	Waste Uncut	638	Houses and Courts	
541	Yonder Shute	591	Cottage and Garden		Orway Porch	
542	Little Shute	592	Plantation	639	Back Orchard	
543	Lower Styelands	593	Road	640	House and Garden	
544	Higher Styelands	594	Plantation		Orway Porch	
545	Clover Close	595	Knowles Woods	641	Great Meadow	
546	Yonder Close	596	Little Marls	642	Higher North	
547	Higher Land	597	Coppice		Brook	
548	Garden	598	Orchard	643	Lower North	
549	House and Garden	599	Great Marls		Brook	
	(now demolished)	600	Plot	644	Great Meadow	
550	Garden	601	Coombe Meadow	645	Long Park	
551	Orchard	602	Four Acres Copse	646	Wheat Park	
552	Lower Moorfield	603	Ridge Side	647	Marls	
553	Moorfield	604	West Knowles Wood	648	Furze Park	
554	Moorfield	605	West Knowles Wood	649	Great Walls	
555	Moor	606	West Knowles Wood	650	Little Walls	
556	Moorfield	607	Plain Ridge	651	Bullen Trees	
557	Plots	608	Long Wheat Ley	652	Walrond Wood	
558	Plots	609	Long Close	653	Holmeads	
559	Plots	610	Orchard	654	Orchard: Nursery	
560	Plots	611	Great Wood		Close	
561	Plots	612	Orchard	655	Crofs Park	
562	Plots	613	Little Wood	656	Common: Hatch	
563	Plantation	614	South Broach		Close	
564	Plantation	615	North Broach	657	Road	
565	Plot	616	Li ttle Nuthanger	658	Shorland	
566	Plot	617	Great Nuthanger	659	Meadow	
567	House and Court	618	Little Meadow	660	Three Cristones	
568	Higher Field	619	Orchard	661	Three Christians	
569	Prospect Cottage	620	Houses and Courts	662	Little Meadow	
570	Common		Orway	663	Meadow	
571	Waste	621	Houses and Courts	664	Ruins Well	
572	Plot		Orway	665	Meadow	
573	Waste	622	Garden	666	Meadow	
574	Plot	623	Brakes	667	Pi t Land	
575	Corner Plot	624	Orchard	668	Kentisbereland	
576	Heath	625	Great Wheatley	669	Three Christians	
577	Plantation	626	Wheatley	670	Three Cristones	
578	Plot	627	Mowport (Old		(see 660)	
579	Plot		Barton Orweye)	671	Three Christians	
580	Plantation	628	Orchard	672	Henny Thorn	

113

Field		Field		Field		
nos.	Name	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
673	Henny Thorn	723	Little Woods:	763	Orchard	
674	Three Cristones		Mowplot	764	Middle Close	
	(see 660 & 670)	724	Orchard	765	Bush Park	
675	Three Christians	725	Little Woods	766	Bush Park	
676	Old Orchard	726	Colt Park and	767	Top Close	
677	Kentisbury Land		Meadow	768	Nod Beer	
678	Inner Wood Lakes	727	Coppice	769	Top Close	
679	Sweet Ham	728	Wells Head	770	Marls	
680	Bonds Bridge	729	[name not known]	771	Fouracres	
681	Bonds Bridge	730	Great Field	772	Marls	
682	Bonds Bridge	731	Lane Meadow	773	Alson Rew	
683	Long Meadow	732	Stoney Croft	774	Old Orchard	
684	House (now demo‑	733	Orchard	775	Great North Wood	
	lished)	734	Houses and Gardens	776	Long Meadow	
685	Plot (Fords)	735	Garden	777	Withy Plot	
686	Bonds Bridge	736	Houses and Courts	778	Little North Wood	
687	Broad Meadow		Ford Farm	779	Russ Wood	
688	Broad Meadow	737	Orchard	780	North Wood	
689	Sanctuary Meadow	738	Hill Field	781	Plot	
690	Four Acres	739	Orchard	782	Orchard	
691	Fishing Close	740	Garden	783	Common Aller	
692	[name not known}	741	Houses and Courts	784	Meadow	
693	Top Close		Lanes Cottages	785	Garden	
694	Half Close	742	Lane Field	786	House and Garden	
695	Little Bonds Bridge	743	Cross Land		Pound Cottage:	
696	Bonds Bridge	744	Little Horn		Carpenter's shop	
697	Great Meadow	745	Collins	787	House and Courts	
698
699	Mill Stream
Mill Meadow	746	Corner Close,
Stockland	788	Houses and Courts
West Cottages	
700
701	Plot
Plot	747	Pit Close,
Stockland	789
790	Garden
Garden	
702
703	Willow Plot
Alders	748	Four Acres (Lower),
Stockland	791
792	Plot
Silver Close	
704
705	Holly Well
Garden	749	Higher Four Acres,
Stockland	793	House and Garden
Brick Cottage	
706
707	Rack Close
Mow Close	750	Stonefield,
Stockland	794	Houses and Courts
Crosses (now	
708	Whip Hill	751	[name not known]		demolished)	
709	Three Acres	752	[name not known]	795	Barn Close	
710	Broad Park	753	Miggle or Muggle	796	Barn Close	
711	Splatt		Hill	797	Lower Close	
712	Long Acres	754	[name not known}	798	Oats Close	
713	Birchen Parks	755	Orchard	799	Hill Pool Meadow	
714	Water Lear	756	[name not known]	800	Long Close	
715	Meadow	757	House and Garden	801	Cross Meadow	
716	Six Acres Meadow	758	Orchard	802	Great Meadow	
717	Little Meadow	759	Bake Close	803	Goodiford Meadow	
718	Meadow	760	Orchard	804	Plot: Goodiford	
719	Home Meadow	761	House and Courts	805	Mill Close	
720	Chaplins		Westhayes (now	806	Waste	
721	Rue Tins		demolished)	807	Stall Closes	
722	Great Meadow	762	Little Field	808	Honeyland	

114

Field		Field		Field		
nos.	Name	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
809	Didlake	861	Moor	913	Moor	
810	Hills Pool	862	Moor	914	Moor	
811	Pit Park	863	Moor	915	Five Acres	
812	Yearis	864	Moor	916	Tuckells	
813	Higher Moor	865	Moor	917	Plot	
814	Middle Moor	866	Moor	918	Garden	
815	Lower Moor	867	Moor	919	Cottage and Garden	
816	Mow Plot	869	Moor		Allergate Cottage	
817	Three-cornered Plot	870	Moor		(now demolished)	
818	Moor	871	Moor	920	Nursery	
819	Moor	872	Moor	921	Orchard	
820	Moor	873	Moor	922	Ham	
821	Three Acres	874	Middle Close	923	Dry Meadow	
822	Great Grey Close	875	Moor	924	Long Acres	
823	Moor	876	Moor	925	Pit Close	
824	Moor	877	Moor	926	Rack Close	
825	Moor	878	Moor	927	Hay Park	
826	Moor	879	Moor	928	Houses and Courts	
827	Moor	880	Moor		Maddocks Alley	
828	Moor	881	Moor	929	Neds Orchard	
829	Moor	882	Moor	930	Mow Plot	
830	Moor	883	Moor	931	Link Horns Meadow	
831	Moor	884	Moor	932	Meadow	
832	Moor	885	Moor	933	Burhills	
833	Moor	886	Higher Middle Close 934	Great Meadow	
834	Moor	887	Lower Middle Close	935	Henders Close	
835	Moor	888	Moor	936	Heney Close or Mead	
836	Moor	889	Orchard	937	Three Acres Mead	
837	Orchard	890	Moor Square Oak	938	Park Meadow	
838	Moor	891	Moor	939	Hunger Field	
839	Nursery	892	Nursery	940	Alley Woods	
840	Moor	893	Moor	941	Four Acres Mead	
841	Moor	894	House and Orchard	942	Meadow	
842	Moor		Horn Cottage	943	Hanger Plot	
843	Moor	895	Moor	944	Hanger Plot	
844	Moor	896	Moor	945	Coppice	
845	Moor	897	Moor	946	Higher Hanger	
846	Moor	898	Moor	947	Higher Hanger	
847	Moor	899	Moor	948	Lower Gillon	
848	Moor	900	Moor	949	Higher Gillon	
849	Moor	901	Moor	950	Broad Oak	
850	Plantation	902	The Moor Piece	951	Great John's Plot	
851	House and Garden	903	Moor	952	Great Close	
852	Orchard	904	Waste	953	Rod Stone	
853	Moor	905	Long Wade	954	Broach	
854	Moor	906	Moor	955	Great Weather Lang	
855	Moor	907	Moor	956	Little Weather Lang	
856	Moor	908	Moor	957	Clayland	
857	Moor	909	Moor	958	Meadow	
858	Moor	910	Moor	959	Orchard	
859	Moor	911	Moor	960	Collin's Field	
860	Moor	912	Moor	961	Orchard	

115

Field		Field		Field		
nos.	Name	Dos.	Name	nos.	Name	
962	Houses and Courts	1011	Moor	1059	Moor	
963	Orchard	1012	Moor	1060	Moor	
964	Moor Orchard	1013	Moor	1061	Moor	
965	Plots	1014	Plantation	1062	Moor	
966	Plots	1015	Moor	1063	Moor	
967	Plots	1016	Moor	1064	Moor	
968	Moor Plot	1017	Moor	1065	Moor	
969	Nursery	1018	Moor	1066	Moor	
970	Little Blackland	1019	Moor	1067	Moor	
971	Great Blackland	1020	Moor	1068	Northfield	
972	Birch Meadow	1021	Moor	1069	Middle Close	
973	Great Furze	1022	Moor	1070	[name not known]	
974	Grafton	1023	Plot	1071	[name not known]	
975	Little Beat	1024	House and Courts	1072	Arrish	
976	Copice		Four Horse Shoes	1073	Moor Park	
977	Birch Croft		Inn	1074	House and Garden	
978	Plantation	1025	Plot		Pixey Pool Cottage	
979	Pasture	1026	Plantation	1075	House and Garden	
980	House and Courts	1027	Moor		Moorhayne Cottage	
	Home of David	1028	Higher Moor	1076	Yearis	
	Batstone in 1906	1029	Lower Moor	1077	Hill Pool	
981	Plantation	1030	Eight Acres	1078	Pond	
982	Kentismoor Wood	1031	Four Acres	1079	Braychat	
983	Garden	1032	Post Wood	1080	Plot	
984	Houses and Courts	1033	House and Gardens	1081	Three Acres	
	Alley (Greens)		Postwood Cottage	1082	Pitt Close	
985	Orchard	1034	Gardens	1083	Pitt	
986	Land	1035	Gardens	1084	House Garden and	
987	Lower Moorfield	1036	House and Gardens		Orchard Bishop's	
988	Middle Close	1037	Kentisbeare Dairy		Farm	
989	Little Hill	1038	Moor	1085	Orchard	
990	Great Hill	1039	Moor	1086	Orchard	
991	Orchard	1040	Moor	1087	House and Courts	
992	Longland	1041	Moor		Cats Court	
993	Bovehay	1042	Moor	1088	Orchard	
994	Great Longland	1043	Moor	1089	Garden	
995	Land Close	1044	Moor	1090	Orchard	
996	Moor Park	1045	Moor	1091	Houses and Courts	
997	Corner Field	1046	House and Orchard		Cotters Farm or	
998	Corner Field		(now demolished)		Court	
999	Allen Down	1047	Pinn Close	1092	Garden	
1000	Field	1048	Prison Casefields	1093	Garden	
1001	Plantation	1049	Way Close	1094	Garden	
1002	Eight Acres	1050	Moor	1095	Mow Plot	
1003	Corner Close	1051	Moor	1096	Houses and Courts	
1004	Orchard	1052	Moor		Bishops Farm	
1005	Nursery	1053	Moor	1097	House and Garden	
1006	Moor	1054	Moor		Priesthall	
1007	Moor	1055	Moor	1098	Orchard	
1008	Moor	1056	Moor	1099	Three-cornered Field	
1009	Moor	1057	Moor	1100	Orchard	
1010	Plantation	1058	Moor	1101	Orchard	

116

Field		Field	Field		
nos.	Name	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
1102	Hilly Close	1154	The Acre	1192	Houses and Courts	
1103	Hill Field	1155	House and	Glimsters Dairy	
1104	Top Close		Gardens, Pratts	1193	[name not known]	
1105	Phillips Close	1156	Houses and	1194	Dry Meadow	
1106	Farthings		Gardens, Pratts	1195	Deers Meadow	
1107	Field Farthing	1157	Garden	1196	Orchard	
1108	Higher Four Acres	1158	Garden	1197	Great Close	
1109	Lower FourAcres	1159	Church and Yard	1198	House and Plot	
1110	Gate Field	1160	Houses and Courts	1199	House and Garden	
1111	Lower Four Acres		Wyndham Arms	1200	Moor	
1112	Lower Four Acres	1161	House and Orchard 1201	Moor	
1113	Orchard	1162	Houses and Gardens 1202	Moor	
1114	House and Court		The Academy	1203	West Lake	
1115	Lawn	1163	Orchard	1204	Alders	
1116	Parson's Meadow	116	Garden later	1205	Orchard	
1117	Palmers Land		The Reading Room		
1118	Palmer Barton	1165	Plot		
1119	Palmers Land	1166	Garden	Blackborough	
1120	Palmers Land	1167	Garden	1	Plantation	
1121	Three Acres	1168	Garden	2	Furzy Claydown	
1122	Timber Yard	1169	Garden	3	New Field	
1123	Great Orchard	1170	Garden	4	Great Claydown	
1124	Out Four Acres	1171	Garden	5	Pit Terrils	
1125	In Four Acres	1172	Garden	6	Coppice	
1126	Burnett's Close	1173	Garden	7	Terrils	
1127	Mow Close	1174	House and Garden	8	Slade Meadow	
1128	Seven Acres		Butsons Farm	9	Great Claydown	
1129	Seven Acres	1175	Houses and Courts 10	Little Claydown	
1131	Seven Acres	1176	Orchard	11	Slade Meadow	
1132	Broom Close	1177	Garden	12	Frost Field	
1133	House and Garden		(later Baker's Shop) 13	Hillway	
1134	Three-corner Close	1178	Garden	14	Orchard	
1135	Great Wheat Ley	1179	Garden	15	Orchard	
1136	Long Wheat Ley	1180	Orchard	16	Great Meadow	
1137	Long Acre		Manor Gravel Pit	17	Calves Plot	
1138	Top Heddon	1181	Garden	17	Calvery Meadow	
1139	Higher Heddon		Honest Heart	18	Orchard	
1140	Moor under	1182	Three Acres	19	Foxster	
	Headon	1183	Orchard	20	Coppice	
1141	Haddon	1184	Mill and Garden	21	Old Meadow	
1142	Haddon		Millhayes	22	Orchard	
1143	Nap Headon	1185	Houses and Gardens23	Garden, on or near	
1144	Long Haddon		Millhayes	old Rick Yard	
1145	Elford Lang	1186	Houses and Gardens 24	{name not known}	
1146	Little Haddon		Bridge Cottage	25	Coppice	
1147	Sharland	1187	Houses and Gardens 26	Coppice	
1148	Ruins Wells		(now demolished)	27	Garden	
1149	Waste	1188	Garden	28	Chapel Garden	
1150	Path Meadow	1189	Houses and Garden 29	Garden	
1151	Little Rag		(now demolished)	30	Garden	
1152	Mow Close	1190	Garden	31	House and Courts	
1153	Churchfield	1191	Orchard	32	Orchard	

117

Field		Field		Field		
nos.	Name	nos.	Name	nos.	Name	
33	Nursery Plot	79	Eight Acres	121	Garden	
34	Little Wheat Park	80	Eight Acres	122	{name not known}	
35	Great Wheat Park	81	Plot	123	Churchyard Field	
36	Five Acres	82	Plot	123	Garden	
37	Allecombe Glebe	83	Plot	124	Plot	
38	Wood Arrish	84	Plot	125	Plot	
39	Coppice	85	Plot	126	Plot	
40	Higher Wheat Park	86	Plot	127	Plot	
41	Grove	87	Plot	128	Plot	
42	Garden	88	Plot	129	Plot	
43	Grove	89	Plot	130	Plot	
44	Plot	90	Plot	131	Plot	
45	Plot	91	Plot	132	Plot	
46	Plot	92	Plot	133	Plot	
47	Plot	93	Plot	134	Plot	
48	Coppice	94	Plot	135	Plot	
49	Plot	95	Plot	136	Plot	
50	Plantation	96	Plot	137	Plot	
51	Great Wood	97	Garden, House and	138	Plot	
52	Bottom		Plot	139	Plot	
53	Plot	98	{name not known}	140	[name not known]	
54	Plot	99	Plot	141	Plantation	
55	Plot	100	Plot	142	Stable Yard and	
56	Garden	101	Plot		Court	
57	House and Garden	102	Plot	143	Plantation	
58	Plot	103	House and Court	144	House and Lawn	
59	Plot	104	Garden	145	Plantation	
60	Plot	105	Plot	146	Garden	
61	Plot	106	Court. Partof Waste	147	Little Parsonage	
62	Eight Acres	107	Plot	148	Lower Ham or	
63	Seven Acres	108	Plot		Lower Hill	
64	Four Acres	109	Intermill Common	149	House and Court	
65	Orchard	110	Garden Cottage	150	Garden	
66	{name not known}	111	Garden	151	Garden	
67	Seven Acres	112	Cottage Garden	152	Garden Close	
68	Seven Acres	113	Garden	153	Toms Close	
69	Ten Acres	114	Cottage and Garden	154	Lower Close	
70	Ten Acres	115	House with two	155	Higher Close	
71	Four Acres		Dwellings and Court	156	Little Claydown	
72	Coppice	116	House with two	157	Yonder Claydown	
73	Allecombe Mead		Dwellings and	158	Quarry Claydown	
74	Gaddon		Garden	159	Barns	
75	Orchard	117	Garden	160	Path Tree Acres	
76	Orchard	118	Garden	161	Bottom Tree Acres	
77	Farmhouse, Courts	119	Garden	162	Pool Close	
	and Outbuildings	120	House with two	163	Top Three Acres	
78	Eight Acres		Dwellings and Court			

118	I

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eQapfer 12
MISCELLANY
NO ATTEMPT has been made to arrange this chapter in alphabetical or chronological order. It seems mgre fitting to leave the paragraphs like the squares of an unfinished patchwork quilt.
Whytyng. 1332 Lay Subsidy
William Whytyng-8d. for Galmeton (Galmpton). Margery Whytyng-8d. for Compton and Egg Buckland. William Whytyng-8d. for Bigbury.
Ralph atte Wode—? for Stoke Damerel.
John atte Wode-8d. for Yealmton and Noss.
William atte Wode-12d. Hundreds of Colyton.
Chapels. From the 'Register of Edmund Lacy', Bishop of Exeter 1420-55.
1.	The Archdeacon of Exeter appointed penetencers as follows: March 1424-5 to Thomas, rector of Kentysbere for Divine service celebrated by himself or others, in the chapel of St. Anne and St. John-the-Baptist upon their Festivals.
1438 Licence to John Crugge for Divine service in the Chapel of St. Mary (this should read 'St. Anne') in the Manor of Wode; of St. John-the-Baptist at Pyswyll, and St. Dunstan's at Kingsford (this would be Lower Kingsford).
August 1428 to John Walrond for Divine service in his presence in any suitable place in his houses at Bradevyle (Bradfield), Newland and Bovegh (Bovey) Branscombe.
Knights Hospitallers. A small group were once at Bodmiscombe. They were known as the Knights of St. John. (The 'order' built a hospital at Jerusalem in 1042.) The office of the Community was to relieve the poor and stranger, and the sick. 'There was a Brotherhood of St. John at Kentisbeare mentioned in the will of Anne Whytyng' (E.S.C.).
Bodmiscombe Wood Farm lies about one furlong from the parish boundary of Kentisbeare and Blaccborough, so it seems possible that the Knights Hospitallers—the Brotherhood of St. John—may have been near there. There is still a footpath from the Glebe farm-yard to Bodmiscombe.

119

Dunkeswell Abbey. Founded in 1201 by William Brewer and occupied by monks from Forde Abbey. The Abbey must have been well known to the people of the surrounding manors and farmsteads, and for that reason I am including the following:
(a)	Thomas Godwin of London, gent. on August 10th 1546 obtained of the Crown a grant of Uggaton Manor in the parishes of Payhembury and Broadhembury lately belonging to Dunkeswell Abbey.
(b)	'In July 1852 two stone coffins were discovered in the choir of the Abbey Church lying side by side containing perfect skeletons with the feet towards the East. From their position it may be surmised that one of them contained the remains of the venerable founder' (From `Monasteries' by George Oliver, 1854.)
Cogan. John de Cogan. In 1266 a licence was granted to John de Cogan for a market to be held in Uffculme on Wednesdays, and two fairs for the Festival of St. Peter. No doubt of great interest to Kentisbeare people who would have thought nothing of walking into Uffculme. John de Cogan was lord of Wode in Kentisbeare, and numbered among his descendants are the Earls of Bath.
Whytyng Chapel. A Deed was made on the 24th day of August 1927 between the Hon. Charlotte Margaret Lothian Adams and the Rev. Edwin Spencer Chalk. Listed among the clauses are:
(3)	Certain property known as Wood otherwise Wood Barton situate in the parish of Kentisbeare now forms part of the Bradfield Estate.
There is attached to the Parish Church of Kentisbeare, either adjoining thereto as a private chapel, or forming a portion thereof, a certain building known as the Whytyng Chapel and rights of user in respect of the same and in either case for purposes connected with Divine Service, may belong to the owner of Wood Barton aforesaid or appurtenant to the same with liability to keep the said Chapel in repair.
The Deed continues to make it clear that all doubts as to the ownership of the Chapel be removed and that the Chapel be released to the Rector. The Deed was signed by C. M. L. Adams and Edwin Spencer Chalk and witnessed by John Vanstone, footman at Bradfield, and Francis J. Tabor, Junior Student of Christchurch, Oxford. Church Wardens: Henry Richard Frost and Arthur Paul Dashwood; also signed by a member of the Parochial Church Council, John Knowles.
Radford. In the middle years of the 19th century Francis Radford left the village with 7s. 6d. in his pocket. He went to seek his fortune in London. Francis achieved his ambition, but, not forgetting his home village, gave the organ to St. Mary' Church and money for its upkeep. His London home was in Pembroke Gardens, Nottinghill. He died in 1900 at the age of 80 years, leaving a fortune of some £255,617.
120

i

i

Radford Letters. During the last century Joseph Radford and his wife ran a school at the 'Academy', now called 'The Retreat'. His wife, Sarah Fry Radford, wrote some 40 letters to her son James who emigrated to Philadelphia, U.S.A. These letters have been preserved and were shown to me by Joseph's great great great grand-daughter Dorothy Radford Sasse who visited Kentisbeare in August 1977. She has given me permission to quote from them:
Kentisbeare 1875 My dear James and Sarah,
It is Easter Tuesday and the boys have gone to Uficulme to a grand wedding—Miss Walrond from Bradfield married to Lord Clifford . . .
Kentisbeare 1874
Yesterday was our Club Walk and Fair. It went off very pleasantly, lots of people about. We as usual had our share of visitors, we did not go to bed until after 12 o'clock.
Charles [one of her sons] has given up school, sold everything and gone to London.'
George West, born 1823. Another Kentisbeare contemporary of Francis Radford, George West, son of George, paper-maker, also left to seek his fortune. His quest took him to the United States of America where he made his mark and was eventually elected to the House of Representatives in 1880 (E.S.C.).
Newlands. The Manor of Newlands lies mainly in the parish of Cullompton, but some land is within the Kentisbeare boundary, and the water—so vital to the Newlands farmer throughout the ages—comes from Kentisbeare. Newlandswas sold by theBradfield Estatein 1919, as were Week and Moorhayes. On the Sale Notices of that time mention is made of the Watercourse. 'The Purchaser will have the full control and upkeep of the Watercourse and four fenders, as at present enjoyed, through the portion of Lower Moorhayes, and a right of entry thereon.'
Frost. In 1816 there was an Edward Frost referred to as a flax dresser. This occurs on a Deed dealing with James' Cottages.
Club Walk. 'The annual "Walk" founded by the Kentisbeare Sick and Burial Club in 1843 still takes place, though shorn of many of its interesting features. It is the largest Village Club surviving in the West. The "Walk" consists of marching with a band to such houses as provide refreshment.
`The central act of the Club is Divine Service, and this is followed by a Dinner and annual business. The Village is decked with garlands and there is dancing in the street.' (From a Paper by R. Pearse Chope, read to the Devon Association in 1936.)
121

Mardle—Marl. Soil consisting mainly of limestone and clay. The old name for Blackborough was Marlpen or Mardle Pen.
Hamm (Old English). Frequently written as Ham. An enclosed possession; a fold; commonly used to denote land in the bend of a river, probably from ,`hamm' meaning the bend of the knee. See Field Names.
Barton—Bere-ton (Old English). Literally Barley Farm, but in the Middle Ages it was used to denote a grange situated on the outskirts of a manor, where the lord's crop was stored. Much used in the Southwest to describe the manor farm.
Leases. 'Early leases were for a term of years. By the late 15th century they were beginning to be for "three lives"—those of the lessee and of two other persons nominated by him. They were usually for 99 years or three lives, whichever was the shorter' (W.G.H.).
Geology. 'On and around the margin of the Blackdown plateau, the greensand contains enormous quantities of flint which have been used for rough walling for domestic buildings and in a number of churches' (W.G.H.).
Wool and Cloth Industry. For many years sheep farming was particularly important to the country, and our sheep produced excellent wool which was exported to the Continent in vast quantities. The Staplers (see below) exported wool to foreign countries—we would probably refer to them as 'middle men'. They became very wealthy on the custom dues they levied. I suspect that they were not over-popular. However, the Staplers and Clothiers bought large estates and founded great country families. This is especially true of the South-west, where many families built in the grand manner.
Note: Stapler—one employed in assorting wool according to its STAPLE. Staple: the thread or pile of wool—raw material; obviously the grade of wool.
Sanders. 'Mr. Sanders, son of the Rector of Kentisbeare, was appointed Head-Master of Blundell's School, Tiverton in 1684.' (From 'Blundelliana' by Herbert Rankelor, Assistant Master Blundell's School. Read to the Devon Association 1891.)
The Great Snowstorm of 1881. 'This commenced on January 18th. The snow fell without intermission for three days with a fierce north-east wind continuing the whole time. In the deepest roads the snow was drifted to the height of the hedge depth, or 12 to 15 feet. The Way Wardens employed from 30 to 50 men to shovel the snow from the roads, and this was done for several days' (George Dennis).
122

i

1887 The Drought. 'Jubilee year 1887 will long be remembered in Devonshire as a year of severe drought. Nothing like it having occurred within the memory of the oldest inhabitant. The Spring was cold and dry. The summer hot and dry' (George Dennis).
1891 The Great Snowstorm. 'On March 9th this year a fearfully severe storm of wind and snow visited this locality. It had all the characteristics of an American Blizzard. The Roads and Railways were completely blocked in all directions for many a day. This storm differed from the Snowstorm of 1881 in that the snow was of very much more specific gravity' (George Dennis).
1892 Severe Frost in June. 'After a long protracted winter and cold spring three or four days of hot weather ensued. A sharp frost occurred on the night of 14th-15th of June. Thermometers in Cullompton registered 16 degrees of frost. In low damp situations potatoes and kidney beans suffered immensely' (George Dennis).
1947 The Cold Spell. Comment from R. A. Abigail, Rector 1946-47: `The intensely cold weather we had from mid-January to mid-March (there were 21 degrees of frost on February 23rd) is probably responsible for much of the sickness in Kentisbeare. At the time of writing, three parishioners are in hospital, and five others seriously ill. To all we extend our sympathy, and our best wishes for "a happy issue out of all their afflictions". By freezing the School's water-supply and drainage the cold spell has provided the children with a much-appreciated holiday.'
Blizzard at Christmas. The great blizzard which ushered out 1962 and heralded in 1963 will not be forgotten by those of us who walked on the hedge-tops and dug ourselves out of drifts. It was an event which, though producing a magnificent sight, was not one which many people would wish to see again. Many animals perished in the moorland areas of the county.
The Great Drought of 1976. The most severe drought known in this country occurred in the summer of 1976. Like the drought in 1887 (page 121), it was preceded by a dry spring. Many shrubs and garden plants died; even old, established forest trees wilted and in some cases died. Kentisbeare was spared the heath and forest fires which devastated some areas.
The use of garden hose-pipes was forbidden, and car owners were not allowed to wash their vehicles. Stand-pipes appeared in some towns.
Many of us wondered if it would ever rain again, but relief came in September, since when we have had more rain than we need or desire.
123

Coronation of George II
1728 Paid out for ye Coronation of King George. 13s.
Lord Nelson's Victory
1805 Paid the Ringers on account of Lord Nelson's Victory at Trafalgar lls. 6d.
Victory over French
1814 Paid for a prayer of Thanksgiving for the Victory over the French by the Allied Armies. 2s.
1816 Paid for a form of Prayer of Thanksgiving for Victory over the French at Waterloo. Is. 6d.
Boer War 'In the Autumn of 1899 war broke out between the Boers and ourselves, and various members of families in and about Kentisbeare fought bravely for Queen and Country. In December one young fellow in the Devon Regiment, by name Harry Wovel, was shot dead, and before the war closed, three other lads belonging to the neighbourhood, if not to the Parish, were laid low. A collection was made in Kentisbeare for the families.' (Quoted from an old 'scrap' book kept by George Dennis.)
Laura Clarke—organist from 1893 to 1910. Laura walked every Sunday from Hollis Green to play the organ of St. Mary's Church, Kentisbeare.
Plaque mounted on the Organ Console reads:
The Organ was removed from the chapel to the gallery in 1970 by Theobald Patrick Probyn Butler and Vera Elizabeth, his wife, of Kentisbeare House. As a token of Thanksgiving for the 25 happy years they had lived in the Parish.
DEO GRATIAS.
Centenary Celebrations (1830 to 1930) at the Baptist Chapel in 1930. From a contemporary account of the celebrations it must have been a day to remember, not least by Mr. Stanley Cottrell, who was 'at the organ throughout the day'. A feat worthy of mention in the 'Guinness Book of Records'.
1897. The first Flower Show organised by the Kentisbeare and Blackborough Cottage Garden Society was held in Lane's Field on August 12th 1897. The Committee were greatly helped by Mr. H. Sprats, the new schoolmaster.
124

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O.H.-J

The Forge. The property known as the Old Forge in all probability was originally just a cottage, thatched, and with its front wall in line with the other cottages on the Post Office side. It is logical to assume that the projection towards the road was erected at a later date, and originally had a thatched roof supported on oak posts and partially open on the road side. No doubt the rimming of cartwheels and other sizeable jobs were done outside the building.
The smith must have been in great demand, and one is entitled to believe that many of the smaller items such as door hinges, window fasteners, ironwork in roof trusses, nails and studs still found in the neighbourhood were made by him. (J.S.)
Schools. 'About 1860 there were probably no less than six schools in the parish, ranging from the Dame's school to a school of semi-public school type. The largest of the Dame's schools had some connection with the Church, and it is a pity the site of it opposite to the Church was not secured after it was burnt down' (E.S.C.).
Glinisters. There were three cottages on the other side of Glimster's facing Bridge House. They were burnt down about 1900—'on the day before the Flower Show'. (Recollections of W. Symons and W. Howe.)
Law and Order. Extract from the Parish Clerk's Accounts: 1749-50 Edward Butson for timber and for making ye
stocks.	16s. 9d.
Edward Sanders for Iron gate for stocks.	9s. I Id. Robert Salter for loak (original spelling) and
Chayn for the stocks, drawing them down and
putting them up.	2s. Od.
1754	Peter Palmer for a warrant and expense in
order for the prosecution of Henry Slade for
stealing one duck.	2s. Od.
Constables. Minutes of the Vestry meeting held on September 22nd, 1842. At a Vestry meeting held this day pursuant to Notice for the purpose of making out a list of qualified persons to serve as Constables for the Parish of Kentisbeare with Blackborough in compliance with an Act of Parliament passed on the fifth and sixth years of Her Present Majesty's Reign. When the undernamed persons were appointed:
Abraham Cleeve 	Pirzwell	Yeoman
Robert Persey	France	Yeoman
William Rabjohns .... Morti mers	Yeoman
Thomas Venn	Sowell	Yeoman
John Wyatt	Stowford	Carpenter
125

O.H.-J

lie

Richard Ellacott	Bunker's Hill 	Yeoman
Robert Frost	Kingsford	Yeoman
Samuel Ackland 	Kentisbeare Village Shop-keeper
Robert Stark 	Hollis	Yeoman
Robert Dennis	Croyle	School Master
Henry,Bishop	Kentisbeare Village Shoemaker
Thomas Persey	Kentisbeare Village Yeoman
Name Pulling, Pullinge, Pullyn, Pullins, Pullen or Poleyn. The following note was found, written on a scrap of paper, in one of the Rate Books:
154— Thomas Poleyn assessed in goods in Kentisbeare.
1569 George Pullinge, harquebesser, of Kentisbeare appears in
Queen Elizabeth's 'Armada array'. [Harquebus—a portable
gun supported on a tripod by hook or on forked rest.] 1588 George Pullyn assessed in lands at 20/ in Kentisbeare. 1570, 1580, 1588 William Pullyn assessed in lands at 1/ in
Kentisbeare.
1633 George Pullen admonition granted of George Pullen of Kentisbeare.
1816 John Pullen of Kentisbeare granted admonition.
Enquiry by Alexander Pulling, Rector of Hemyock December 7th. 1923.
1798 to about 1815 John Pullin, or Pulling, was at Wood Barton.
The Queen's Jubilee, June 21st, 1887. 'The grand national rejoicing was here, as elsewhere, well observed: the entire population, regardless of sex or age, vieing with each other in doing their utmost to honour the auspicious day that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Good Queen's accession to the Throne.
'Subscriptions to the amount of £60 9s. 6d. came in almost without solicitation. A Committee of about 50 gentlemen with a Ladies' Committee of over 20 managed very satisfactorily to carry out the following programme—after an excellently arranged Service in the Church, a cold luncheon for the Committee and Band, a dinner consisting of Ilb. roast or boiled beef to each individual man, or boy over ten, with Ilb. of bread, hot potatoes, and Ilb. of plum pudding and also 1 pint of beer or cider per head. A tea with cold roast or boiled beef with an unlimited supply of cake, bread and butter to the women and children. Both meals were going on simultaneously with the Luppitt Brass Band stationed in the centre of the Village playing lively tunes. From 5 to 8 o'clock Races, Sports and Dancing in Lane's

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Fields with the Brass Band and the Village Grotesque Band alternately playing.
`A grand bonfire on the spur of the Blackdown Hills overlooking Blackborough Church to commence with rocket signals at 10.
`The Ladies distributed the large amount of eatables after tea to those women and children who chose to accept; and five of the Gentlemen Committee attended the following day to give away a large amount of beef, bread and pudding.' (Probably written by George Dennis.)
Price List for the 1887 Celebrations
4 gals. milk	 4s. 6d.
180 lbs. cake @ 5d. lb. 	£3 15s.
49 loaves of bread	 18s. 42d.
9 lbs. tea 	 17s. 6d.
36 lbs. sugar 	 7s. 6d.
An unspecified amount of beef @ 72'd	per lb.
Sir Thomas Watson, Bart., M.D., F.R.S., Eminent Surgeon. He was baptised in 1792 and his sisters in 1795 and 1797. He was born in Kentisbeare, probably at Westhayes. From his obituary in the 'British Medical Journal' 1882: 'Few men in any profession have descended to the grave honoured, beloved and respected in a higher degree than Sir Thomas Watson.'
Two Busy Men in the Early Years of This Century 1905 Mr. Hussey—Thatcher.
1926 Mr. William Cox—Westhays—Thatcher.
Abid, Albert. (See Dulford House, page 96.) He was the first man to have a motor car in the village—a Rolls-Royce, which he valued sufficiently to have the 'hump- backed' bridge levelled on the Cullompton Road at Batsford Priory. This was done at his own expense in 1906. The Abids employed a large number of servants at Dulford House. There was a vault in the grounds of Dulford Park in which the Abid family were interred, but the bodies were later exhumed and re-interred at Broadhembury. The house remained unsold and was later demolished.
Shoe-in-a-Wall. Mr. and Mrs. F. Western own a shoe found in the old cob wall of their house. This is an artisan's shoe of about 1700. The practice of putting a shoe in a wall was regarded as a good-luck charm.
Extract from an Old Account Book Kept by George Berry, and now in the possession of Mrs. W. R. Richards.
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February 1839. A new cart in exchange for an old.
The old shafts to be returned.	£6 8s. Od.
May 1844.	Settled for one year's rent due Christmas 1843
£4 14s. 6d.
Settled for pigs, wood and potatoes received towards
next year's rent.	£0 5s. 32'd.
1894. 'On December 4th, 1 n accordance with the Local Government Act, a meeting of the electors of this Parish was held in the National Schoolroom to appoint members of the newly constituted Parish Council and also one member for the District Council upon whom would also devolve the duties of Guardian. The following members were elected:
Messrs Lockyer 	Blacksmith
S. Manfield	Farmer
F. Miller	Labourer
J. Potter	Labourer
W. Pring	Carpenter
J. Saunders 	Farmer
W. Selway	Publican
Rev. J. Smith	Baptist Minister
J. Slowman	Farmer
Rev. T. Wyndham 	Rector
Mr. R. W. Bazley at a subsequent meeting was chosen Chairman, and the Rev. J. Smith Vice-chairman. Mrs. T. Wyndham was elected District Councillor.' (By the unnamed contributor who continued to add to the book started by George Dennis.)
Whetstone Pits. Whetting or sharpening stones were found in the greensand on the top of the Blackdown Hills. There is a six-mile stretch of 'workings' consisting of pits driven into the side of the hill. Cross galleries were made using large quantities of timber for props. As with all mining, the health of those working is often at risk, and the, dust in these pits proved a source of pulmonary trouble.
At one time some 24 pits existed employing 70 men, women and boys, who lived in the 33 or more cottages on the Ponchydown Strip and in Blackborough Village. It is thought that the original workers came from Wales. Among those who worked the pits were Hugh Coombe, Daniel and John Pring, George Farley, the Baker Family, Richard James, Henry and William Potter, James and Francis Thomas, Richard Bright, Thomas Bond and Joseph Radford. The last worker in the pits was John Rookley who lived at Sainthill. He worked by himself until 1929.
The stones were sold annually in May in Waterbeer Street, Exeter, the men travelling from Blackborough through the night with their laden donkeys and ponies.

F

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Industries, apart from agriculture and building, included: Whetstone Pits
Sander's Pottery
Glass Factory—no documentary evidence, but rumour has it that there was a glass factory in the village.
Paper-making
Weaving Factory—Cockram's
Soap- bol ling—Hurley's
Cider-making. To judge by the number of cider cellars, apple stores and 'presses', vast quantities of cider must have been consumed.
`The Marriage of Prince George of Wales, the Duke of York and Princess May of Teck, 1893. July 6th was observed as a half holiday. Service was held in the Church at 3 o'clock, the Church bells chiming for half an hour previously. After this a public tea was given in the Square, which was enjoyed by many of the local inhabitants of Kentisbeare and Blackborough. After tea sports were held in a field near the Village lent by Mr. Chave (George Dennis).
1893. 'On Thursday, March 23rd, 1893, George Dennis, who had been for about 25 years one of the Church Wardens and during that time had been at the head of nearly everything connected with the Parish, died suddenly, being generally much missed and much regretted by those who knew him' (T. J. Wyndham, Rector).
Now, 84 years later, I add my tribute to George Dennis, whose history scrapbook—'Records from 1866'—has provided me with many interesting items included in this chapter.
Radford. On a brass plate on the carved lid of the font in Blackborough Church:
CARTITAS TUAE ORA PRO ANIMA JOHHANIS RADFORD 1809.
OBIT A.D.V.KAL. APR. M. DCCXC
John Radford lived at Providence Cottage. He was Church Warden at Blackborough.
Activities in the Village in 1977
Church Christian Fellowship meetings.
Sunday School.
Brownies.
Ballet Dancing for Girls.
W.I. founded 50 years ago.
Mother's Union. Started by Mrs. E. S. Chalk in 1925. Wives' Group started in 1964.
Royal British Legion. Men's and Women's Sections. Football Club (2 teams).
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Cricket Club.
Newly-formed Tennis Club.
Young Men's Club at the 'Reading Room'.
Wyndham Arms Social Club, which includes Darts, Skittles and Tugof-War.
Yoga Classes for Women.
Parent-Teacher's Association.
Parish Council.
(Details supplied by May Western.)

I

List of Dwellings in the
Prospect Cottage
Lane's Cottages
La Lanea Ford Farm Merry Orchard
Bridge Cottage
Millhayes
Bridge House Wynsonne Garth
Gleneagles The Firs
Ken brooke Brookside Glimsters Glimster's Cottage
Butson's
The Bungalow
Priesthail
Bishop's Cottage
Old Bishop's Farm
Pound Cottage
Silver Street (12 houses) Court Barton Golden Park (4 houses) Orford Court (3 cottages) Fairholme
Holmefield
Parson's Close (22 houses) Westhayes
Wressing
Square Oak Culmleigh Wressing-at-the-Green Jameson's Mead Cottage
Goodiford Farm
Brook House Goodiford Mill

Two Villages in 1977.
italics
Goodi ford Cottages
Wood Barton Kingsford
Lower Kingsford Cornerways Leaflands
Copse
Ashleigh
Orway Porch The Cabin Orway Farm Orway Cross The Bungalow
(Broad Road) Forest Glade Woodstock Oakleigh
Four Horse Shoes Kentismoor Farm
Rare Avis Aller Farm
Aller House Farm Maddock's Alleigate Cottage
Hom House Greenacres Beechfield
Lower Moneysland
Higher Moneysland
The Elms Beggars Roost
The White House Stowford Water
Higher Henland
Lower Henland
Hollis Farm Hollis Green Hen lei gh France Cottage

The old names are in
Lower Sainthill
Chapel Cottages Higher Sainthill Sainthill
Hill View
Sainthill (cottages) Brookfield Cottages Brookside
Hillgate
Bishop's Farm
Culm View Farm Derson
Rose Cottage
Old Butchery
The Retreat (Lark Rise) Folly Cottage
The Old School House Village Shop
The Old Forge
Orchard Close
Blue Gentians Woodlands
Gables
Hill View
Warren's
Wyndham Arms Orway Crescent
High Street (3 houses) Fore Street (2 houses) Chancery Cottage Higher Sainthill France Farm
Wes twinds
Postwood Gardens Rectory Cottages Ken tisbeare House Warren's Farm (new) Warren's Farm
The Rectory

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I

Colepark
Pirzwell
Endicott's (Pirzwell
Cottage)
Mortimer's (Ballyman's) Sandfield
Halsbeer
Sowell's
Bicknell's
Homefield Croyle
Whispers Homeleigh Oak Grove
Croyle
Croyle Garage
Croyle Flat Brick House Myrtle View
Silver Park (4 houses) Woodlane Cottages
France Farm Ponchydown Farm
Poole Farm Fringewood

Cobbler's Stall, now called Ponchydown Cottage Primrose Cottage
Spring Cottage
Brae Bower
Robin's Cottage
Rose Cottage The Old Post Office
The Old School House Ty Bach Twt
Bari
Adagio
Moorhayne Cottage Moorlands
Norwood
Kentisview
Oakfield
Kentismoor Farm House Chentisbera (Kentismoor Cottages)
Elysia
Old Bakery
Bakery Cottage

The Cottage
Kilimani
Beaumont
Galliards
Providence Cottage
West View
Sycamore Cottage Blaydon Cottages
The Paddock
Coombe Farm
Hill Close
Church Cottage
No. 19 Blackborough Ponchydown House (The Old Inn)
The Buildings Nos. 1, 2, 3 The Village Hall (The
Old School) Blackborough House Westerne Farm
Westerne Cottages
West Winds
Beacon Cottage

(Details supplied by May Western and Mary Brown.)

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conclusion

ONE is not able to say that any history book is finished. My own thoughts are of surprise that there was so much to discover—in fact I have had to 'prune' information. This is probably true of all villages and I am sure vast quantities of interesting facts are awaiting discovery.
Obviously our two villages were very important commercially, being situated so near the main highways and in the centre of the woollen industry, with Blackborough also producing the valuable whetstone. There is still much to write about.
I have done my best to be as accurate as possible, but I cannot guarantee the accuracy of all the facts presented, and would crave your indulgence if you find any errors.

FILE NUMBERS of documents quoted in this book in the care of the Devon Records Office, Exeter. 1926B/W/ET/10/1/5
Enrolled Deeds No. 1293
2282 M/58
886B/T/7

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