Oakhampton, an ancient borough, situated near the source of the river Oke, 195 miles from London. It has sent representatives to Parliament ever since the 28th of Edward I. when it made its first return. The second was in the seventh of Edward the Second; we find no more returns until the 16th of Charles the First, when the town began again to exercise the privilege.

The right of election is in the freeholders and freemen, being made free according to the charter and bye-laws. The number of voters is about 200. It is governed by a mayor, eight burgesses, os many common-council men, a recorder, and town-clerk. The Mohuns were lords of Oakhampton till the year 1711, when Charles Lord Mohun was killed in a duel with the Duke of Hamilton, and leaving, no issue, the honour became extinct.

Oakhampton is several miles from the source of the Ockment, which rises on Dartmoor. There are two streams which join near Oakhampton, viz. the east and west Ockment. A few miles from Oakhampton is Cawsand-hill, the highest point of Dartmoor.

About one mile south-west of the town, on a rocky eminence, are the ruins of a castle, erected by Baldwin de Brionus, and dismantled by Henry the Eighth, on the attainder of Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter.

The church is situated on a hill at some distance from the town. There is also an ancient chantry chapel in the market-place, at present in use. The town consists of 308 houses, and 1090 inhabitants. The river Ock, or Oke, is but a small river, joining the Torridge about two miles south from Hatherleigh.

OKEHAMPTON (or Oakhampton) is an ancient municipal borough, market and union town and the head of a county court district, on the East and West Okement rivers, on the high road from Exeter into Cornwall, adjoining Dartmoor, with a station on the main line of the London and South Western railway, and is 22 miles west-by-north from Exeter, 30 north-by-east from Plymouth, 16 north-north-east from Tavistock, 19 ½ north-east from Launceston, 22 east-by-south from Holsworthy and 197 ½ by rail, via Exeter, from London, in the Western division of the county, partly in the Lifton and partly in the Black Torrington hundred, Hatherleigh petty sessional division, rural deanery of Okehampton, archdeaconry of Totnes and diocese of Exeter. The town, incorporated by charters granted by James I. in 1623 and Charles II. in 1684, was formerly governed by a mayor, recorder, eight principal and eight assistant burgesses; but under the provisions of Schedule I. of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1882 (45 and 46 Vict. c. 50) the then Corporation became extinct, and the inhabitants petitioned for a new charter, which was granted 24 June, 1885, and the Corporation now consists of a mayor, four aldermen and twelve councillors. Under Section 1, subsection 3, of the “Local Government Act, 1894” (56 and 57 Vict. c. 73), the parish was divided, namely:-Okehampton Borough and Okehampton Hamlets, or rural. The town is well lighted with gas by a company formed in 1858 with a capital of £1,200. The electric light was also adopted in 1885, and additional plant laid down in 1889 in 1896. The inhabitants are supplied with water by high pressure from a reservoir dependent on springs on the Okehampton Park estate, adjoining the town on the south, and in 1893 the Local Government Board granted the sum of £800 for the purpose of increasing the supply. A complete system of drainage was carried out in 1886—7 by the new Corporation, under the superintendence of Edward Appleton C.E. of Torquay, at a cost of £2,300. In 1887 the east bridge was widened 10 feet and about two-thirds of the town repaved, at a cost of £1,850: the Local Government Board also sanctioned a further loan of £400 for paving the footpath between the town and the railway station, but the town is now paved throughout. The church of All Saints, originally built in 1261, was rebuilt in the 15th century and again in 1844, under the direction of Mr. Hayward, architect, of Exeter, the old church, with the exception of the tower, having been destroyed by fire in 1842: it is now an edifice of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel with vestry on the north side, nave of five bays, aisles, north and south porches and an embattled western tower, with crocketed pinnacles, containing 6 bells, cast in the churchyard in 1750: there is a good octagonal panelled font: the tower is Transitional and Late Decorated: the stained east window was added at the restoration, and there are several other stained windows, three of which, as well as the eagle lectern and carved oak pulpit, are memorials to John Dovrnall M.A. archdeacon of Totnes and vicar of this church, who died in April, 1872: in 1891 a beautiful reredos, by Hems, of Exeter, was erected by the parishioners; and in May, 1892, brass gas standards and altar rails were erected, the chancel enlarged and fitted with new choir seats, the tower opened and the organ removed to the north side of the church, at a total cost of about £700, under the direction of Messrs. Fulford and Harvey, of Exeter, as a memorial to the Rev. C. W. H. Holley M.A. vicar 1872—92: in 1894 choir stalls of oak, raised upon a platform of the same material were placed in the chancel at the cost of an anonymous donor, a lady; the fronts of the desks are pierced with tracery, and the stall ends terminate in carved fleurs-de-lis: there are 600 sittings: in the churchyard, entered by lych gates through avenues of elms, on the south and east, are gravestones with French inscriptions to prisoners of war who died here in 1811—15: the avenue on the south is almost entirely paved with gravestones of the 17th century: in 1888 half an acre was added to the churchyard for burial purposes. The register of baptisms and marriages dates from the year 1716; burials, 1678. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £366, including 232a. 2r. 22p. of glebe, with residence, in the gift of Mrs. Charles Holley, and held since 1900 by the Rev. Arthur Linzee Giles M.A. of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and surrogate. The ancient episcopal chapel of St. James, formerly belonging to the Corporation, but now in the hands of the Charity Trustees, consists of nave, and an embattled western tower with pinnacles of Early Perpendicular date, and containing a clock and 2 bells: the east window is Decorated, and in the nave, rebuilt in 1862, are some plain windows of the Early English period. There are two small iron mission churches in connection with the parish church, St. Luke’s at Meldon, erected in 1894, and seating 60 persons, and St. Paul’s, Brightley, erected in 1897, with 60 sittings; Divine service is conducted in each every Sunday afternoon. The Congregational chapel, in North street, built in 1800, will seat 350 persons. The Baptist chapel, in Fore street, erected in 1889, has sittings for 200 persons. The Wesleyan chapel, in West street, erected in 1841, has 220 sittings; there is also a small Wesleyan chapel at Kigbeare, erected in 1863. The Bible Christian chapel, East street, erected in 1868, will seat 250. The Town Hall, in Fore street, is a plain but ancient building, used for magisterial and other local meetings, and will hold 300 persons: the ground floor contains a small library and reading rooms belonging to the Literary Institution. The Corporation insignia consists of two maces and two borough seals; the maces, which form a pair, exactly alike in every particular, are of silver, 3ft. 1in. in length; the heads, surmounted by open arched crowns, are adorned with the royal arms of George III. those of the Duke of Bedford, and the arms of the borough; both maces, which have the hall marks of 1761—2, were presented by John, 4th Duke of Bedford K.G. and recorder of Okehampton, the Rev. John Vickry being then mayor: one of the seals is that of the portreeve, which exhibits a triple-towered castle, a legend around it and the date 1788, the whole within a wreath of oak leaves and acorns; the other seal displays the borough arms, “checky or and az. two bars arg.” and a battlemented tower as a crest: the Corporation also possess a loving-cup of massive silver, with the hall marks of 1672—3, the initials “T. K.” and a shield charged with three crescents. The Market, at the back of the Town Hall, forms an extensive range of spacious buildings, with ample conveniences. A butter and poultry hall was erected in 1880, at a cost of £1,000; and further improvements, including a room for technical instruction, were carried out in 1893 at a cost of £400, of which amount £200 was contributed by the County Council. The principal support of the town arises from its market, large quantities of agricultural produce being forwarded to all parts. Saturday is the market day, and a great cattle market is held on the first Saturday in every month. The market tolls are let for £358. A fair for cattle is held within the borough on the second Tuesday after March 11th, and a horse fair in October. The Workmen’s Club, in St. James’ street, contains reading and recreation rooms; there are about 60 members. A swimming bath, 100 feet by 30 feet, was erected by a company in 1890 in the Western Park, opposite the castle; the water, obtained from the hillside, is kept fresh by the maintenance of a constant flow through the bath. In 1895 a drinking fountain of granite was erected in Station road, as a memorial to William Trevor-Roper and Marion Luxmoore, by Mrs. E. C. Trevor-Roper, his widow, and sister of M. Luxmoore. Only two flour mills and one small bone manure factory are at work here. The cabinet making works of Mr. Geen employ a number of hands. An Agricultural Association was formed here in 1890 and 1891, meetings being held at the Town Hall. The White Hart hotel, on the Parade, has spacious coffee and dining rooms and private sitting and billiard rooms, together with very extensive stabling. There are also substantial and comfortable inns, including “The Red Lion,” the “Plume of Feathers,” “London,” and the Temperance hotel. The “Okehampton United Charities,” by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners in 1873, were vested in the lord of the manor, the mayor, ex-mayor, vicar, the borough overseers and 8 elected trustees, two of whom retire annually by rotation; the gross annual income, derived principally from land and houses, amounts to £700, which sum is chiefly applied to public uses. Okehampton Park, consisting of 1,050 acres, belongs jointly to Mrs. Trevor-Roper and Mrs. Lees, the daughters of the late Rev. John Luxmoore, having been purchased in 1780 by Charles Luxmoore esq. of Kingston-on-Thames, from the Earl of Devon: ninety acres have been leased for a term of 999 years, for the use of the Royal Horse and Field Artillery, who encamp and practise here for about five months annually: there are permanent stables and other buildings. In the Meldon valley is a vein of granulite, suitable for glass-making and stone ware. On the slope opposite the castle are the remains of an ancient British village, and the route of the old Roman road or King’s way from Cornwall to Exeter can also be traced. About half a mile south-west of the town are the remains of the ancient castle of the Courtenays, once lords of Okehampton: these ruins stand on a rocky mound surrounded by trees, with the West Okement winding at its base: there are considerable remains of the chapel, still retaining a piscina, and of the banqueting hall, with a huge chimney, and the heralds’ tower and other parts still remain: the keep, a small quadrangular structure, is possibly Norman, but the lower portions of the castle belong to the transition period between the Decorated and Perpendicular: a wall near the keep has a singular recess, perhaps for an oratory: the castle was traditionally built in the year 1058, by Baldwin, a Norman Earl of Devon, and after being held by the Redvers and Courtsnay families, was dismantled in 1539 by Henry VIII. and in the reign of Charles I. descended by marriage to the Mohuns, Barons Mohun of Okehampton: it is now the property of John Reddaway esq. of Curworthy, Inwardleigh: a small charge is made for admission to the ruin. Oaklands, half a mile north of the town, the seat of Major-Gen. Edmund Hunt Holley R.A., J.P. was erected in 1820 in the Greek Ionic style: the river Okement runs through the estate, which is extensive and abounds in picturesque scenery. The ancient custom of tolling the curfew bell is still observed here. The Charity Trustees, Maj.-Gen. E. H. Holley, who is lord of the manor, William Augustus Francken, Mrs. Lees, William Chave Nainby-Luxmoore esq. of Thorganby Hall, near Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, Simon P. Brendon Newcombe, Edmund Pearse Northey, and Thomas Westcott esqrs. are the chief landowners. The area of Okehampton Urban parish is 503 acres; rateable value, £7,349; the population in 1901 was 2,568; the area of Okehampton Rural parish is 9,049 acres; rateable value, £7,456; the population in 1901 was 654.

Petty Sessions are held at the Police court the last Tuesday in every month at Hatherleigh & at Okehampton Town hall, on Wed. at 11 a.m.. in the middle of the month The following places are included in the Petty Sessional division:-Ashbury, Beaworthy, Belstone, Broadwoodkelly, Exbourne, Hatherleigh, Highampton, Honeychurch, now transferred to Sampford Courtenay, Iddesleigh, Inwardleigh, Jacobstowe, Meeth, Monkokehampton, North Lew, Okehampton, Okehampton Hamlets, Sampford Courtenay & Sheepwash.

VOLUNTEERS

4th Volunteer Battalion Devonshire Regiment (D Co.), Drill hall, Market street; Capt. & Hon. Major H. C. Biddell V.D.; Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. R. J. Lomas M.D., V.D. medical officer.

OKEHAMPTON UNION

Board day, alternate Saturdays, at 11 a.m.. at the Board room, Union workhouse.

The Union comprises the following parishes:-Ashbury, Beaworthy, Belstone, Bondleigh, Bratton-Clovelly, Broadwoodkelly, Bridestowe, Chagford, Drewsteignton, Exbourne, Germansweek, Gidleigh, Hatherleigh, Highampton, Honeychurch (now transferred to Sampford Courtenay), Iddesleigh, Inwardleigh, Jacobstowe, Meeth, Monkokehampton, Northlew, North Tawton, Okehampton Urban, Okehampton Rural, Sampford Courtenay, South Tawton, Sourton, Spreyton & Throwleigh. The population of the union in 1901 was 15,754; area, 133,370 acres; rateable value in 1900, £96,186.

The Workhouse, in Castle road, is a structure of brick, & will hold 230 inmates.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with Times of Services

All Saints’ Church, Rev. Arthur Linzee Giles M.A. vicar; 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; daily at 8 a.m..; & 7 p.m. summer & 4.30 p.m. winter; litany, Wed. & Fri. 12 noon.

St. James’ Episcopal Chapel, St. James’ square. Rev. Arthur Linzee Giles M.A. chaplain; 3.30 p.m. summer & 7 p.m. winter; Fri. 8.15 p.m. winter.

Bible Christian, East street, Rev. S. G. Jenkins; 3 & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 8 p.m.

Baptist, Fore street, Rev. George James Whiting; 3 & 6.30 p.m.; Tue. 8 p.m.

Congregational, North street, Rev. Francis Bullen Wyatt; 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; Tue. 8 p.m.

Wesleyan Methodist, West bridge, Rev. James Finch & Rev. W. Jessop Winter; Rev. Abraham S. White & Rev. William S. D. Winter, supernumeraries; 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 8 p.m.

SCHOOLS

A School Board of 5 members was formed December 15, 1871, for Okehampton, & re-formed, with an addition of 2 members, Jan. 9, 1872, for Okehampton Borough & Okehampton Hamlets; Charles Sprague, 1 West st. clerk to the board.

School, North street (girls & infants), reconstructed in 1874 & enlarged in 1877, at a cost of £1,670, for 400 children; in 1895—6 two class-rooms were added at a cost of about £800; average attendance, 150 girls & 126 infants.

School, East street (boys), erected in 1896—7 at a cost of about £1,650, for 220 boys; average attendance, 170.

School, Fowley Down (mixed), erected in 1896 at a cost of about £650, for 60 children; average attendance, 35.