Tiverton, pleasantly situated upon an eminence. The rivers Exe and Lowman run on each side of the town, and unite a little below it. Tiverton is the next in consequence to Exeter. The surrounding country is, perhaps, more beautiful than any other part of the north of Devon, and the town itself the most agreeable to reside in. The name is derived from Twyford, or Two-ford town, from the situation between two fords, the Exe and the Lowman, upon which bridges have long been erected; the Exe rises a little above Tiverton, upon Exmoor, and after a course of about 30 miles, fails into the sea at Exmouth.

Tiverton was incorporated by James the First, in 1615, and the government of the town vested in a mayor, twelve capital burgesses, and twelve assistant burgesses, to be chosen out of the most discreet and honest inhabitants of the town and parish.

The right of returning the two members to parliament was also granted to the same persons; and in the reign of George the First another charter was obtained, in consequence of the former having, by some neglect, been forfeited, which, in its principles and its most important clauses, is precisely similar to that of James the First.

The old church being too small for the number of inhabitants, another church was built in a very handsome style of architecture, and dedicated to St. George, and rendered a perpetual curacy by act of parliament. The old church is a large stone building, and very ancient, and dedicated to St. Peter. The altar is ornamented with a noble painting of St. Peter being delivered from prison by angels: it was the gift of the celebrated Mr. Cosway, and painted in his best style. He was a native of this town, which gave birth also to Mrs. Cowley, the dramatic poet, and to the present Alderman Wood, twice Lord Mayor of London.

In Gold-street is situated Greenway’s alms-houses and chapel; one of the poor men is allowed a small additional sum to read prayers at stated times. The building is of stone, and in the front is the following inscription, but which is almost obliterated:

"All good people that may pass by,

Pray for the soul of John and Joan Greenway"

There is also a chapel attached to the old church, founded by this family, and called after their name. Some ancient alms-houses are erected in two other parts of this town, and liberally endowed. Here are also two Presbyterian meeting-houses, and a Wesleyan chapel.

But the glory of Tiverton is its noble free grammar- school, founded by Peter Blundel, at first a poor clothier, but afterwards a rich merchant. This school was erected in the year 1599, for 150 scholars, and handsomely endowed for the support of the masters, and exhibitions for scholars to Baliol College, Oxford, and Sidney College, Cambridge. The founder used to say, that if he was no scholar himself he would be the means of making more scholars, than any scholar in the kingdom. The school-house is a fine building, replete with every conveniency; the late Samuel Wesley left his situation in Westminster-school, to become the head master of Blundel’s, which he enjoyed until his death. In the front of the gate of the great court is a long inscription in brass, relative to its foundation.

Here is also an English free-school, founded by Robert Comins, or Chilcot, in 1609, and a public charity school, beside a Sunday school.

The trade of Tiverton was formerly very great, in the manufacture of serges, duroys, druggets, &c.; but for the last fifty years, this trade has been gradually declining. A few years since a cotton factory was established, and last year, some gentlemen from the North of England, through the riots and destruction of their machinery, came and settled at Tiverton, and set up their factories: being pleasantly situated, a number of genteel families, with small fortunes, have lately become residents.

Two markets are kept weekly, on Tuesday and Saturday, which are remarkably well supplied with all sorts of provisions. This town has been very unfortunate in fires, and almost consumed three times; in 1598, six hundred houses were burnt down; in 1612, the loss was estimated at 35, 000l.; and in 1731, another fire destroyed 200 of the best houses, with several manufactories, to the amount of 150, 000l.; and on Whitsun Eve 1785, between sixty and seventy houses were consumed, and since that, ten houses were burnt in Peter-street.

In 1732, an act of parliament was passed for rebuilding the town, in which it was enjoined that the new houses should be covered with lead, slate, or tile, instead of thatch; that no perilous trade should be carried on in the streets; no stacks of corn, straw, hay, &c. erected there; that fire engines should be provided against similar accidents; that houses should be pulled down, to put a stop to any future fires; and that particular houses should be pulled down for widening the streets and passages.

This town is remarkably clean, as a branch of the Lowman is so contrived above the town as to run with a rapid current through each street; the streets being upon the descent, the water is continually running, and this serves the inhabitants for all the domestic purposes of life; the superfluous water rejoins the Lowman below the town.

This town is nearly three quarters of a mile in extent from river to river, and closely built, beside the suburbs. The castle has a commanding appearance, though built in the year 1110. It has withstood many sieges, between contending parties; but suffered much between Cromwell and the Royalists. It is the property and residence of Sir Thomas Carew, Bart. Adjoining the town, and facing the Exe, is Colley-Priest, some years since the seat of J. Hay, Esq. A navigable canal has lately been formed from Holcumbe to Tiverton, a distance of about seven miles, but at present it is only used for the conveyance of lime for manure.

Opposite the town is a ridge of hills, called the Shrink-hills, which runs nearly half a mile parallel with the town; and from these hills a panoramic view may be taken of the town, with the Lowman running beneath to join the Exe.

The town and parish of Tiverton are divided into three portions or rectories, each rector performing the duties of both churches alternately. Adjoining Tiverton, on the road to Exeter, is Bickley, rendered remarkable for being the birth-place of Bampfylde Moore Carew, surnamed King of the Beggars; he was bred up at Blundel’s school, and reputed a good scholar; his father was at the time rector of Bickley; and, although descended from one of the most ancient families in Devon, and allied to others, yet nothing could draw him from a life of mendicity. He died at a great age, and was buried at the adjoining parish ground of Cadleigh, his body not being permitted to be interred in the family vault of the Carews.

A chalybeate spring, discovered a few years since at Ayshford near Tiverton, has lately been resorted to with eminently beneficial success in various cases of inveterate scrofula, &c.

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TIVERTON (i. e. Twy-ford-Town) is an ancient municipal borough, head of a union and county court district, and gives its name to a hundred; it is in the North Eastern division of the county, head of a petty sessional division, West Tiverton rural deanery and archdeaconry and diocese of Exeter, and is situated partly in the valley of the rivers Exe and Lowman, which here meet; it is 165 miles by road end 184 by railway from London (Great Western), 14 by road and rail north from Exeter, 62 by road and 66 by rail south-west from Bristol, 30 south-east from Barnstaple, 46 north from Dartmouth, 67 north-east from Plymouth, 25 north from Exmouth, 26 north-by-west from Sidmouth, 77 from Bath and 156 from Birmingham. The town is about a mile in length, the chief portion standing on elevated ground on the left bank of the Exe; a steep descent called “Angel hill,” leads to the bridge, connecting the town proper with the lower town, denominated “West Exe.” There are four principal streets, which are wide, and occupied by good houses and handsome shops. A branch line, 5 miles in length, connects the town with the main line of the Great Western railway; and the Exe Valley line from Exeter to Dulverton, where it joins the Devon and Somerset railway from Taunton to Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, passes through the town; it was opened in 1884—5 and affords a quick and attractive route from Exeter to North Devon. All these lines are worked by the Great Western Railway Company. The “Lodge Estate” contains many villas. The Grand Western Canal, terminating at the south-east end of the town, extends to the limestone quarries in the parish of Burlescombe, and is 11 miles in length; it is now the property of the Great Western Railway Company, and is only used occasionally.

The ancient fords crossed respectively the Exe and the Lowman, at points now spanned by bridges; that crossing the river Exe is a handsome structure of 5 arches, originally erected in 1590 by Walter Tyrrel, draper, who left a considerable endowment to keep it in repair; and it has since been widened; the bridge over the Lowman has three arches.

A charter of incorporation was granted in the year 1615 to the inhabitants of Tiverton by James I. with the privilege of returning two members to Parliament, but this charter was surrendered in 1683 and another with a few almost nominal changes issued by Charles II.; in 1692 a fresh charter was granted by William and Mary, but in 1723 no mayor, owing to dissensions, being lawfully elected, the municipal privileges lapsed and the government fell into the hands of the lord of the manor, portreeve and county magistrates until their municipal status was restored by a new charter, dated Dec. 4, 1724 (11 George I.), designating the corporation “The Mayor and Burgesses of the Town and Parish of Tiverton.” Under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1835 (5 and 6 Wm. IV. c. 76), this borough is included amongst those which hold commissions of the peace and quarter sessions, and is divided in three wards-viz, Westexe Ward, Lowman Ward and Castle Ward-and governed by the borough magistrates, a recorder, mayor, six aldermen end eighteen councillors. From the date of its incorporation the town became a parliamentary borough, returning two members, but under the provisions of the Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885, the independent representation ceased, and the borough was merged in the Tiverton or North Eastern parliamentary division of the county.

In 1262 Amicia, widow of Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon, caused a stream of water to be diverted and conducted into the town from Norwood Common, about 4 miles north, for the benefit of the inhabitants; it enters the town at Town's End, and from this point is distributed by conduits and open channels through every street, and by an Act of Parliament passed in 1767 the authorities are enabled to levy fines on persons who may divert the stream or any portion thereof from its course, or render the same unfit for the use of the inhabitants. In 1880 waterworks were constructed by the Corporation at Allers farm about 2 ½ miles distant, where the water is filtered and thence conveyed to the town in iron mains for household use; the total cost of this work was £4,000: further improvements were made in 1886 at a cost of £1,600: in 1889 an additional supply was obtained from Warnicombe hill, 2 miles east, by an adit being driven 220 yards into the hill side, the result of which was the provision of a high level supply of water of great value: a still further supply was obtained in 1892 from springs rising on a farm at Chettiscombe, 1 ½ miles north. In 1886 the Corporation constructed a new intercepting sewer, with an outfall at the sewage farm near Holwell, 1 mile south, and great improvements have since been made in the sewerage throughout the town, under the direction of Mr. J. Siddalls C.E. the borough surveyor. The town is lighted with gas from works in the Station road, erected in 1840, and now belonging to the Corporation.

In 1598, 1612, 1661, and six times during the 18th century, the town was greatly damaged by fire and the losses by the first two of these only was estimated at £350,000.

The parish church of St. Peter, in St. Peter street, was originally a chapel, erected in 1073, on the site of the present chancel, and consecrated in that year by Leofric, first bishop of Exeter; the existing church, a structure of Perpendicular date, consists of chancel, nave, aisles, north chapel, south or Greenway chapel, south porch, vestry and an embattled western tower, 120 feet high, with crocketed pinnacles at the angles, and containing a clock and 8 bells, recast in 1736 from a previous peal of 6, with additions, at an outlay of £229 19s. 6d.; the most ancient portion of the building is the Norman doorway on the north side: the chancel arch, with the Courtenay chapel, supposed to have stood at the east end of the north aisle, was probably erected about 1517; on each side of the arch, within a panel, is a carving of an eagle on a bundle of sticks, flanked by two boars, the Courtenay supporters; in the cornice moulding of the nave are various singular devices, with the dates 1605, 1606 and 1607: the columns of the arcades and the south wall were rebuilt on the erection of Greenway’s chapel, in 1517, by John Greenwav, merchant; this is a structure of Late but elaborate Tudor Gothic, on the south side of the church, with a highly enriched vaulted roof, and a cornice bearing the arms of Greenway and those of the Drapers’ Company; the upper portion of the exterior walls, along the corbel line, is enriched with representations in relief of the chief events in the life of Christ; on the floor of the chapel are brass effigies of John Greenway and Joan, his wife, with a shield of arms of the Merchant Adventurers and the words “Pray for the soul of John Greenway,” but the other shields, inscription and labels are now missing; the chapel was restored in or about 1830; the porch, a fine example of late Perpendicular, also built by Greenway, is panelled above the arch in six compartments, separated by figures and containing various scriptural subjects and a quartered shield of Courtenay and Redvers, impaling England, and representing the alliance of Sir William Courtenay K.B. with Katherine, daughter of Edward IV. and above it the hitherto unexplained crest of an eagle perched on a bundle of sticks, and the whole exterior is embattled, the south aisle, chapel end porch being highly enriched and adorned with emblems of trade and industry, arms, staple and merchants’ marks and cyphers; the columns of the nave arcades have niches inclosing the shields of various noble families; the battlements of the chancel were erected by the Rev. John Newte, in 1709, and are covered with shields of arms, emblems and mottoes: the Courtenay chapel, erected by Hy. Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter, to contain the remains of his father and mother, Sir W. Courtenay K.B. ob. 1511, and the Princess Katherine, his wife, ob. 1527, was destroyed during the civil war, when the church was heid by the Royalists as a military position; within it was an altar-tomb with a recumbent effigy of the princess, and another magnificent tomb, with effigies in alabaster, richly gilt, to Edward, 3rd Earl of Devon (“the blind earl ’), who died at Tiverton Castle Nov. 5, 1419, and the Lady Maud (Camoys), his wife: the rood screen, groined and illuminated in gold and colour, was removed in 1854, and is now in the church of Holcombe Rogus: the interior has two paintings, one of “The Wise Men’s Offering to Our Saviour,” now placed over the vestry door, and another of “St. Peter delivered out of Prison by the Angel,” over the north door, painted and presented by Richard Cosway R.A. in 1784: in the church are many ancient tombs and mural monuments; these include inscriptions to John Prowse, merchant, ob. Sept. 3, 1585, and Alice, his wife, ob. Aug. 13, 1583; George Huckler, merchant and mayor of Tiverton, ob. April 11, 1632; Valentine Hartnoll, mayor, ob. March 10, 1644, and Ann, his wife, June 11, 1649; John and Joan Colman, ob. Feb. 7, 1553; John Waldron, founder of the almshouses, ob. July 18, 1579; to the family of Newte, 1668—1792; and to Mary Shepherd, 1622; Mary Garnet, 1621; Nicholas Nemlett, 1633; Robert Hoare, 1687; John West, gent. 1630; Thomas Hawkins and other merchants, 1689; William Clark, of Bridwell, 1618; Roger Giffard esq. with arms, 1603; Thomas Monk, 1649; Samuel Foot esq. M.P.; Richard Spurway, first and fourth mayor of Tiverton, and others of that family; John Goddard, mayor, 1663; and to the families of Thorne, 1685—1734; Blundell, 1696—1822; Gilbert, 1790—1807; Burridge, Atherton and others: the organ, originally built in 1696 by Bernard Schmidt, has a richly carved case, by Grinling Gibbons: a brass reading-desk and alms-dish were presented in 1894 by Mrs. Lloyd-Jones, another alms-dish has been given by the Rev. Donald M. Owen B.D. and a silver gilt communion service was presented by Miss Jones, at Raster, 1900: the total length of the church, including the tower is 163 feet, and the width, with aisles, 72 feet; It was considerably altered and reseated in 1819—21, the screen inclosing Greenway’s chapel removed and the floor levelled; in 1853—6 the whole building was thoroughly restored and reseated at a cost of £4,000, under the direction of Mr. Ashworth, architect, of Exeter: there are 1,200 sittings. The parish registers date from the year 1559. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £627, with 236 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of trustees, and held since 1895 by the Rev. Percy Richard Scott M.A. of Clare College, Cambridge, prebendary of Exeter Cathedral and surrogate.

St. George's church, in Fore street, is a plain, oblong building of stone, in a Modern Classic style, consisting of nave, aisles and a western turret containing a clock and bell; the church was begun in the year 1714, completed in 1730, and consecrated October 11, 1733, by Dr. Stephen Weston, bishop of Exeter: the interior is surrounded by three galleries, supported, as well as the roof, by a double row of Ionic pillars, forming three aisles; the building was extensively repaired in 1841—2, when the roof was raised and reconstructed: the stained east window, with a full-length figure of St. Andrew, was the gift of Miss Walker, of Tiverton, and cost about £70: there are mural monuments to Mr. Henry Blagdon, 1716, and Mrs. Mary Peard, 1780, benefactors to the church, and others: adjoining the west entrance to the church is a marble monument to Mrs. Hannah Cowley, dramatic writer, and a native of this town, who died March 11, 1809; adjoining the east entrance is a similar monument to the Rev. Samuel Wesley M.A. of Christ Church, Oxford, headmaster of Blundell’s school 1734—9, who died November 6th in the latter year; he was elder brother of the Rev. John Wesley M.A. founder of the Methodist body, and wrote “The Battle of the Sexes” and other poems: the communion plate was given by Mr. John Upcott, merchant, of Tiverton: the church was restored in 1896 at a cost of £700, when the galleries were reseated and the windows reglazed: it will now seat about 800 persons: the churchyard was enlarged in 1825, and contains a fine yew tree, planted by Mr. Thomas Owen in 1796. The registers date from the year 1890. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £387, with residence, in the gift of the Misses Carew, of Haccombe, and held since 1895 by the Rev. John Seymour Granville Hill M.A. of Cavendish College, Cambridge.

The Catholic church, dedicated to St. John, nearly a mile west of the town, is an edifice erected in 1821, in the Early English style, consisting of chancel and nave, and will seat 250 persons; attached is a priest’s residence. The Baptist chapel, in Newport street, was founded in 607; the present building, erected in 1876, will seat 800 persons, and has registers of births from 1767. The Congregational chapel, in St. Peter street, erected in 1831, at a cost, including land, of about £5,000, has sittings for 700 persons: connected with this chapel are memorial rooms. There are also chapels at Elmore and Bolham. The Bible Christian chapel is in St. Andrew street, and will seat 450 persons. The Wesleyan chapel, in St. Peter street, built in 1814, is of brick and stone, with adjoining Sunday schools, and has 600 sittings. The Plymouth Brethren meet at Heathcoat Hall in Wellbrook street. The Cemetery, on the Park road, at a short distance from the town, was formed in 1855, and is under the control of a Burial Board of 9 members; it covers about 7 acres, and has two mortuary chapels.

The Town Hall, built in 1864, in place of the old structure, erected soon after 1615, is an edifice in the Veneto-Italian style of the Renaissance period, from designs by H. Lloyd esq. of Bristol, with frontages in Fore street and St. Andrew street: the ground floor contains the county court and borough surveyor’s and accountant’s offices, committee, magistrates’ and waiting rooms and police lock-up cell: on the first floor is a public hall, about 70 feet in length, fitted up as a court of justice and council chamber, with a large gallery: there is also a jury room, a retiring room for the Recorder and magistrates and a mayoralty room, about 50 feet by 20 feet. In the hall are portraits of George I., II. and III. as well as a full-length portrait of George III.; and others of the late Viscount Palmerston K.G., G.C.B. &c. M.P. for Tiverton 1835—65, the late John Heathcoat esq. M.P., F. Hole esq. presented by Viscount Palmerston, and another of the late William N. Massey esq. M.P,; there is also a fine marble bust of Viscount Palmerston, presented by W. North Row esq. J.P. a former mayor, the cost of which was 180 guineas. The total cost of the building amounted to about £12,000. The Corporation insignia include two maces, a mayor’s chain and badge, water bailiff’s staff and borough and mayoral seals: the maces, of silver-gilt, form a pair 46 inches in length, of the usual form: the shafts are unusually elegant, and richly decorated with raised and chased foliage work; the heads bear the arms of the borough and the national emblems, crowned, and are finished with a cresting of crosses and fleurs-de-lis, from which spring open arched crowns: the hall marks give the date 1727—8: the mayor’s chain and badge, made in 1876, consist of a series of ornamental links attached to a small shield, with a mace on either side, and the badge, pendent from this, displays the arms of the borough, as on the town seal, surrounded by a ribbon: the water bailiff's staff is a fine bamboo rod, terminating in a silver ball supporting a shield of the town arms: the town seal exhibits the church, castle and school, and below these the “twy” fords, crossing the Exe and Lowman, all within a legend: the mayor’s seal bears a wool-pack and inscription.

The Drill and public hall, erected by a limited liability company, was opened in 1884, from plans prepared by Mr. Mitchell, of Southampton, and comprises a large hall and rooms for a caretaker; the total outlay in respect of the hall and other portions of the premises was about £3,000: the hall is 80 feet by 50 feet, and at the southern end is an alcove with platform, and on either side are retiring rooms: a gallery was added in 1892; it will hold 1,250 persons, and is used for theatrical performances, public entertainments and parochial purposes; the building also includes a volunteer armoury and stores: a small hall on the east side, 40 feet by 22 feet, and holding 150 persons, was erected in 1885.

The Borough police station, in St. Andrew street, was built in 1844—6, and is a substantial modern building, erected at a cost of about £5,000: in 1872 the white flag floated over the parapet for upwards of 200 days, there not being any prisoners confined during that time.

The Fire brigade station, in St. Andrew street, was rebuilt in 1898, at a cost of £150; it is of red brick and contains a new steam fire engine and a fire escape.

Tiverton was formerly noted for its woollen manufactures, but that trade, which sprung up here in the 14th century and continued to prosper through many years, fell into decay towards the close of the 17th century and has now become extinct. The principal manufacture now carried on is that of lace, established here in 1816, by the late Mr. John Heathcoat; the factory of Messrs. Heathcoat and Co. now the largest for that purpose in the West of England, and situated in the lower part of the town, employs about 1,000 hands, including 130 children: the machinery is driven by turbines, and in dry weather a steam engine is used: tulle is the principal product.

The brewery of Messrs. Starkey, Knight and Ford Limited, covers several acres of ground, and a fine water supply is obtained from a bore-hole, nearly 500 feet deep; there are also several flour mills in and near Tiverton.

The Market, in the centre of the town, at the back of Fore street, Peter street and Bampton street, was erected in 1830—1, at a cost of about £9,000, and is a light covered building, with good approaches from all sides, and a spacious area for pigs, sheep and cattle and stalls for butchers; there is also a provision, poultry and butter department, enlarged in 1897; within the market, and facing Fore street, is a clock: Tuesday is the principal market day and Saturday is a small market: there are two fairs for cattle, horses and sheep on the first Thursdays in June and October: there are great markets for cattle on the second and last Tuesdays in each month.

The principal hotels are the “Palmerston” and the “Angel.”

There are three clubs:-the Constitutional, in Bampton street, opened in 1895, is a spacious stone building containing two billiard rooms, card and reading rooms, a buffet and steward’s quarters, and has now over 300 members; the Tiverton Club (social), in St. Peter’s street, opened in 1896, has 65 members; the Liberal Club, in Angel Hill, contains billiard, bagatelle, card and reading rooms, with steward’s quarters, and has about 300 members.

The Tiverton Infirmary and Dispensary, in Bampton st. was established in 1852, and has 21 beds. The number of in-patients treated in 1900 was 163, and of out-patients 1,386. The institution is supported by voluntary contributions; accident, casualties, and cases demanding immediate attention are admitted free on application and other patients on subscribers’ recommendations.

Greenway’s Almshouses, in Gold street, were founded by John Greenway, of Tiverton, by will dated 6th August, 1529, “for the habitation of five poor men, to have their continual abideing and habitation in the same and every one of them weekly 8d. and to pray dayley for me, the said John Greenway, Johannah, my wiffe, and for all Christian people”: many additional houses have been added and the weekly allowance increased, in consequence of the increased value of the land devised: these almshouses now (1901) hold 17 married couples and 16 widows; each man is allowed 5s. a week, and on the man’s death the widow receives a gratuity of £1 and she is allowed a month in which to move out: there are six “out pensions” of 8d. each weekly, the recipients being known as “Tyrrell’s eightpenny men”: the property of Greenway’s Trust comprises £1,664 in Consols (producing £45 11s. annually) and houses and lands with an aggregate rental of about £412; the pew rents of Greenway’s chapel in St. Peter’s church also go to the charity; the original building, a quaint edifice of stone, is enriched with carvings similar to those on the south side of St. Peter’s church, and includes the badge or device of an eagle perched on a bundle of sticks, and an invocatory inscription for the souls of the founders; it was thoroughly restored in 1866, and a chapel is attached in which divine service is held daily.

Waldron’s Almshouses, Wellbrook street, built in 1579, were endowed by John Waldron, the elder, of Tiverton, merchant, by deed bearing date October 19, 1577, for eight poor men, each of whom receives 2s. weekly, 8s. yearly extra as milk money and 12s. 6d. as a New Year’s gift: the income is £46 a year, derived in part from dividends on £800 Consols and in part from a rent-charge of £24 yearly: the charity was further increased in 1885. by the bequest of Mr. John Hatswell, of Tiverton (£518), which is now invested in Consols, and produces 15s. 6d. half-yearly for each almsman: attached to the house is a small chapel, with a good timber roof, restored in 1891 by the late Mrs. Patch: the buildings are in the old-fashioned style, with overhanging galleries, and are enriched with the arms and merchant’s mark of the founder, his monogram and several rhyming inscriptions in old English characters: the Rev. Benjamin Mills M.A. vicar of St. Paul’s, is chaplain; services are held in the chapel on Sundays at 5 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 3 p.m.

Slee’s Almshouses are in St. Peter street, and were endowed by George Slee, in 1610, for six poor women, each of whom receives 1s. weekly, together with a gift of 3s. 6d. monthly from Anna Maria Turner’s Charity and other sums from Elsie Besley’s Charity and Mary Marshall’s Trust.

Every occupant of the above almshouses receives annually three cwt. of coal, one third of which comes from the Custom-Wood Charity.

The Exe bridge trust, dating from 1563, and producing £250 a year, is mainly applied in bread, subject to the cost of repairing the bridge; the market trust, producing £220 yearly, is also distributed in bread. Rice’s charity now averages about £120 yearly, derived from, a farm at Ash Thomas and other property, is for annuities to relations of testatrix, or in default to other poor persons. The total income of these, and various other charities distributed in bread and clothing, together with the endowments of the almshouses, exceeds £1,100 a year.

In 1891 Mr. Thomas Ford erected near Lowman green a block of buildings called “The Homes,” containing 12: sets of rooms for 24 inmates; each pair of occupants has-a living room and bedroom and there is a well-appointed chapel on the first floor.

A Home for children afflicted with incurable diseases has been established in a farmhouse, known as “Fire Beacon,” and standing on a hill overlooking the Exe valley, about. 2 ½ miles north of the town: the inmates are ten in number; the Home was instituted and is maintained at the sole expense of Mrs. Unwin.

The People’s Park, formed in commemoration of the Jubilee of Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria, in 1887, and situated at the northern end of the town, is a little over 6 acres in extent; part of the land was given by John Coles esq. of London, and the cost of laying out is estimated at £4,000.

Tiverton Castle, beautifully situated on the left bank of the Exe, and immediately adjoining the north side of St. Peter’s church, is now used for the purposes of a farm and a private residence; it is supposed to have been built about 1106 by Richard de Ripariis or Redvers, first Earl of Devon of that family, and continued to be the chief residence of the families of Redvers and their successors, the Courtenays, until the attainder and execution of Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter, 9 Jan. 1539—40: the manor was restored by Queen Mary, together with the marquessate, to his son, Edward, on whose death it passed by the marriage of co-heiresses into other families; the Carews, of Haccombe, have been owners since 1759 The castle shared in the wars of Stephen’s reign, and in the contests of the rival roses, being alternately held by both parties: during the Civil War it was garrisoned for the king, and in 1645 was besieged by General Massey and taken by storm, 19th October, 1645: it was once the splendid residence of the Courtenays, and is now occupied by Charles Fetherstonhaugh: the principal gateway of the castle is on the east side; a structure of two storeys, with an octagonal turret at the north-west angle remains, together with some other portions: under the castle wall on the west side is a covered way, supposed to pass under the town and terminate in Gold street.

Mrs. Hannah Cowley (nee Parkhouse), a dramatic writer, was born here in 1743: this was also the birthplace, in 1740, of Richard Cosway R.A. son of the then master of Blundell’s school. John Cross, an historical painter, born in 1819, was the son of the manager of the lace factory here.

There are many residences in the outskirts of the town Kinghtshayes Court, the residence of Sir John H. Heathcoat-Amory bart. D.L., J.P. and M.P. for Tiverton 1868—85, erected in 1869, is a handsome mansion in the Domestic Gothic style, from designs by the late Mr. Burgess; it stands in a prettily wooded park of about 200 acres, containing fine specimens of the oak, cedar of Lebanon, ilex and pireas insignis, and a Wellingtonea gigantea, over 75 feet in height; this park was formerly part of the demesne of the Courtenays, Earls of Devon, and lords of Tiverton, as is shown by the existence in situ of an ancient boundary stone, called the “Whitstone,” at the end of a lane, near the modern gardens of the mansion: Southwood is the residence of Walter John Llewellyn esq. J.P.; Hensleigh House, of Ian Murray Heathcoat-Amory esq. J.P.; Collipriest House, of Charles Robert Sydenham Carew esq. J.P.; Hayne House, of William Cowper Ludovic Unwin esq. J.P.; Broomfield, of Major Smith Harrington Gardner J.P.; Broomhill, of the Rev. John Dickinson M.A.; Exeleigh, of A. Clarke-Jervoise esq.; Tidcombe, of W. Rayer Harinar esq.; Howden Court, of Ashton Arundel Mackenzie esq. and Ashley Court, of F. S. Dayman esq. The Misses Carew, of Haccombe, are ladies of the manor.

The parish was divided by Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, about the end of the 13th century, into five portions, viz., Clare Portion, Pitt Portion, Priors Portion, Tidcombe Portion and All Fours Portion, which included several hamlets: Clare Portion contained the hamlets of FROGWELL, 3 miles north-west, LURLEGH, 2 ¼ miles north-east, and WITHLEIGH, 3 west, Pitt Portion contained the hamlets of CHETTISCOMBE, 1 ½ miles north-east, BOLHAM, 1 ¼ miles north, and COVE, 5 miles north: Priors Portion contained the hamlets of ASHLEY, 3 miles south, and BICKLEYBRlIDGE, 4 ½ miles south: Tidcombe Portion contained the hamlets of CHEVITHORNE, 2 miles north-east, WEST MERE, 3 north-east, and EAST MERE, 3 ½ north-east, CRAZE LOWMAN, 3 north-east, and MANLEY, 2 ½ south-east.

In 1886 the incumbencies of two portions became vacant and an Order in Council was obtained for a rearrangement, with the result that the two surviving rectors divided the parish between them as rectors of Pitt-Clare and Tidcombe-Priors Portions, districts being assigned to the ecclesiastical parishes of Cove, Withleigh and St. Paul’s, Westexe. In 1889, on the death of the rector of Pitt-Clare portion, the parish was, under the same Order, further divided into three more ecclesiastical parishes. The southern part of the town and a considerable part of Tidcombe portion in the country being assigned to the vicarage of St. George’s; another district, formed mainly out of Tidcombe, part out of Pitt, to the vicarage of St. Thomas, Chevithorne, and the remainder to the rectory of St. Peter’s.

The parish and borough are co-extensive, and include 17,585 acres of arable and pasture land and 95 of water; rateable value, £52,295; the population in 1891 was 10,892, including 9 officers and 123 inmates in the workhouse, and in 1901, 10,382.

The population of the municipal wards in 1891 was:-Castle, 2,518; Lowman, 4,659; West Exe, 3,715.

The population of the ecclesiastical parishes in 1891 was:-St. George, 2,233; St. Peter, 4,031; Chevithorne, 605; Cove, 308; Westexe, 3,142; Withleigh, 573.

Petty Sessions are held at the Town hall, every alternate Tuesday, at 11 a.m.. The following places are included in the petty sessional division:-Bampton, Bickleigh, Cadbury, Cadeleigh, Calverleigh, Clayhanger, Cruwys Morchard, Halberton, Highley St. Mary, Hockworthy, Huntsham, Loxbeer, Morebath, Oakford, Stoodleigh, Templeton, Thorverton, Uplowman, Washfield.

TIVERTON JOINT HOSPITAL BOARD Consists of two ex-officio members, viz.:-the Mayor of Tiverton & the Chairman of the Tiverton Rural District Council for the time being, & 10 elected members, five elected by the Tiverton Town Council & five by the Tiverton Rural District Council Clerk, Charles Marshall Hole, 9 Angel hill Treasurer, Hammond Giles, 33 & 35 Bampton street The Tiverton & District Hospital for Infectious Diseases, situated on the Halberton road, 2 miles west, was erected in 1900, & is a structure of Ted brick, from designs by John Siddalls C.E. & stands in grounds 3 acres in extent: the administrative block consists of medical officers’, nurses’ & caretaker's rooms, kitchen, 4 bed rooms, bath room & the usual offices; pavilion No. 1 contains 10 beds, allowing 1270 cubic feet to each patient; the emergency pavilion has 3 beds, with a cubic space of 2,000 feet to each bed; the laundry block is fitted with Dr. Thresli's current steam disinfector and has in addition ambulance sheds & a mortuary; water of excellent quality is obtainable from a 6 inch bored tube well, sunk 150 feet in the sandstone, but at present the town water is laid on: the sewage runs into a subsidence tank, from which it passes into an automatic flushing tank, & is discharged through a series of agricultural drain pipes: the total cost was £6,000.

VOLUNTEERS

3rd Volunteer Battalion Devonshire Regiment (E Co.), Newport street, Capt. A. Anstey; Sergt. John McDermott, drill instructor.

Cadet Co. Blundell’s school, E. F. C. Clarke, captain; E. G. Peirce, lieut.; Sergt. John Lee, drill instructor.

TIVERTON UNION

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

The union includes the following parishes, viz.:-Bampton, Bickleigh, Bradninch, Butterleigh, Cadbury, Cadeleigh, Clayhanger, Cruwys Morchard, Cullompton, Halberton, Hockworthy, Huntsham, Kentisbeare, Loxbeare with Calverleigh, Morebath, Oakford, Sampford Peverell, Silverton, Stoodleigh, Templeton, Thorverton, Tiverton, Uffculme, Uplowman, Washfield & Willand. The population of the union in 1891 was 28,987 & in 1901 was 27,378; area, 101,847 acres; rateable value in 1901, £186,179.

The Workhouse, in Water la. Bampton street, was erected in 1837—8, at an outlay of £8,800, & will hold 300 inmates.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of services

St. Peter’s (Parish) church, Rev. Preb. Percy Richard Scott M.A. rector; Rev. Edwin Spencer Chalk B.A. curate; 8 & 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 10.30 a.m.

St. George’s church, Fore street, Rev. John Seymour Granville Hill M.A. vicar; Rev. Herbert Smith B.A. curate; 8 & 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; 2nd Sunday in month, 2.30 p.m.; Fri. 7.30 p.m.

St. Paul’s, Westexe, Rev. Benjamin Mills M.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m.. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m. & Saints' days at 11 a.m.

St. John the Baptist, Cove, Rev. Arthur Rawlings M.A. vicar; 11 a.m.. & 3 p.m.

St. Katherine’s, Withleigh, Rev. Richard Medland Germon B.A. vicar; 10.45 a.m.. & 3 p.m.; festivals, 10.45 a.m.

St. Thomas, Chevithorne, Rev. Edward Davis, vicar; 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m. in winter & 3 p.m. in summer.

St. John’s Catholic, Very Rev. Canon William Walsh, priest; Sun. mass, 10.30 a.m.. followed by benediction.

Baptist, Newport street, Rev. Joseph Frank Toone B.A. 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; Mon. 7.30 p.m. & Wed. 7 p.m.

Bible Christian, St. Andrew street, Rev. William Veale; 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; Mon. & Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Congregational, St. Peter street, Rev. Thomas Webster; 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7 p.m.

Congregational, Chapel street, Elmore; 2.30 & 6.30; Mon. 7.30; Thur. 7 p.m.

Congregational, Bolham; 6.30 p.m.

Plymouth Brethren, Wellbrook street; 10.45 a.m.. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.; Mon. & Thur. 7.30 p.m.; Sat. 8 p.m.

Salvation Army Barracks, Chapel street; 7 & 11 a.m.. & 3 & 6.30 p.m. Sun. & daily 8 p.m.

Wesleyan Methodist, St. Peter street; 10.30 a.m.. & 6.30p.m.; Wed. 7 p.m.

Wesleyan Methodist, Chevithorne; 2.30 & 6 p.m.

Mission Hall, West Exe north; 6.30 p.m.

Mission Boom, 95 Chapel street; 3 & 7 p.m.

SCHOOLS

Blundell's Free Grammar School, Halberton road, was founded in 1604 by Peter Blundell, who by his will, dated 1599, devised the sum of £2,400 to be laid out in the purchase of land, & directed that a school should be erected thereon sufficiently large to hold 150 boys & certain masters, the boys not to be admitted until six years of age, nor to remain after attaining the age of eighteen; he also charged his lands & tenements to pay the masters’ salaries, & devised the sum of £2,000 to be applied in establishing six scholarships; & there are also scholarships arising from other gifts & bequests to this school: the new buildings, occupying an elevated site of 20 acres on the Halberton road, about a mile from the town, & erected at a cost of about £20,000, are in the Tudor style, from designs by Messrs. Hayward & Son, of Exeter, & include a large school-room & class-rooms for 300 boys, a school chapel, gymnasium, chemical laboratory, workshop & engineering room, lecture room & library, sanatorium, fives court, pavilion, school shop & swimming bath; besides the school house there are four large boarding houses attached to the school, & arranged to hold 160 boys: the old school, at Lowman green, south-east of the town, now converted into gentlemen’s residences, was a long building of one storey, in the Tudor style, with large projecting porches & a bell-cote with cupola containing one bell, dated 1613: the fine timbered roof of the school-rooms was a copy of one in the chapel of Frithelstock Abbey, near Torrington, & much of the wood work is believed to have formed part of the wreckage of the Spanish Armada: over the gateway is an inscription in Latin, engraved on a brass plate, & below that the following inscription:-“This Free Grammar School was founded at the only cost & charge of Peter Blundell, of this town, some time clothier, Anno Domini 1604, AEtatis suae 81.” Attached to the school are five scholarships at Balliol College, Oxford, each of the annual value of £60, tenable for five years; three exhibitions of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, of the like annual value, tenable for three years; three exhibitions of the yearly value of £30 each, tenable for four years, in any college, either at Oxford or Cambridge; one of the annual value of £42, tenable for five years, at Balliol College, & open to all boys educated at this school; there are also 18 scholarships or exhibitions of the annual value of from £50 to £60 each, tenable for four or five years at Oxford or Cambridge, & several entrance & foundation scholarships of from £12 to £40 yearly, tenable at the school; boys are not now admitted until nine years of age, but may remain until nineteen or longer with special permission; under the new scheme of 1876 boys are prepared for the universities & professions & for the higher branches of the civil service, special encouragement being given to candidates for the Civil Service of India to reach an Honours standard both in classics & mathematics, besides keeping up at least one modern language; & there are separate classes under specially qualified masters for the Army, Navy, London University Matriculation & other examinations. The school is under the management of trustees appointed under the will of the founder, and in accordance with a decree of the Court of Chancery in 1846 is free to all: the income amounts to about £1,000 yearly. Augustus Lawrence Francis esq. M.A. late Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, is headmaster.

Technical Science & Art School, 34 Fore street, & Barrington street. Both day & evening classes are held, under fully qualified masters, for instruction in all branches of science & art; there is also a manual department, in which instruction is given in iron & smiths’ work, carpentry & joinery, decorative work & modelling in clay; commercial subjects, languages, typewriting & shorthand are also taught.

The Tiverton Middle Schools (boys’ & girls’), Castle street (formerly the Blue Coat charity school) was established in 1714, for the education of a limited number of boys & girls, under governors; the schools were erected in 1841—2, from designs by Mr. G. A. Boyce, a native of Tiverton, & have been much enlarged; they will hold 150 children; average attendance, 75 boys & 70 girls; Rev. William French M.C.P. & F.R.G.S, headmaster. Bluecoat scholarships in connection with the Education Committee of the Devon County Council are tenable in these schools; masters for drawing, science, carpentry & other technical subjects attend from the Technical schools.

A School Board of 9 members was formed July 2, 1874; Edward Frederick Childs Clarke, 24 Gold street, clerk to the board; Richard Thome, 32 St. Andrew street, attendance officer.

Board (mixed), Bolham, built in 1889, for 100 children; average attendance, 48.

Board (formerly British) (mixed & infants), Elmore, for 200 children; average attendance, 161; founded by the late Ambrose Brewin esq. & presented to the Board with endowment in 1877; the buildings are spacious and substantial, with class-rooms on the upper floor & a playground in the rear.

Board (infants), Bampton street, for 200 children, founded by the late Ambrose Brewin esq. & presented to the Board with endowment in 1877; average attendance, 155.

Board (mixed), Chevithorne, for 140 children; average attendance, 62.

Board (mixed), Withleigh, for 58 children; average attendance, 33.

Board (mixed), Cove, built in 1874, for 70 children; average attendance, 40.

Heathcoat School, Westexe north, adjoining the lace factory of Messrs. Heathcoat & Co. & erected in 1843, at the sole expense of J. Heathcoat esq. is in the Tudor style, from designs by Mr. G. A. Boyce, & comprises a centre & two projecting wings, united by an open cloister, with entrances in the front; in 1892 a large hall was added for the teaching of drawing & sloijd; the school will hold 800 children; average attendance, 242 boys, 231 girls & 209 infants; there is also an evening school, under the headmaster of the day school, where about 200 youths are instructed.

National (boys, girls & infants), St. Andrew street, first established in 1818, at a cost of £241 5s. 6d. & rebuilt on a new site in 1841, at a cost of £1,400, from plans by Mr. Hayward, of Exeter; a new infants' school was erected in 1890, the old one being converted into boys’ class rooms; the school will hold 500 children; average attendance, 305.

Chilcott’s Free, St. Peter street, founded by Robert Comins, alias Chilcott, in 1611, for 100 poor boys, natives of the town, is a building in the Elizabethan style, with a master’s house & garden, commanding a view of the river Exe; over the entrance is an inscription recording its foundation; average attendance, 41.