NORTH TAWTON

From Kelly's Directory of Devon (& Cornwall), 1902

Transcribed by Caroline <tilburycm <AT> netscape.net>

NORTH TAWTON ... in the Northern division of the country, North Tawton hundred, South Molton petty sessional division, Okehampton union and county court district, rural deanery of Okehampton, achdeaconry of Totnes and diocese of Exeter. ....

Water was conveyed into the town ... in the year 1851, ... and the Okehampton Rural District Council have since taken steps to provide a further supply, at a cost of £2,500; gas works were erected in 1869, at a cost of £750, and are the property of Henry Gibbings esq. A complete system of drainage was carried out in 1894-5, under the superintendence of Edward Ellis C.E. of Exeter, at a cost of £700.

... the church affords 600 sittings. ... The living is a rectory, net yearly value £600, with 91 acres of glebe, valued at £160, and residence, in the gift of and held since 1850 by the Rev. Robert Hole B.A. of University College, Oxford, surrogate, and J.P. There is a Congregational chapel, erected in 1834, with 300 sittings; one for Bible Christians, seating 150 persons; and a meeting-room for Plymouth Brethren, with 60 sittings.

Here are large woollen mills, a branch factory belonging to Messrs. J. Shaw and Sons Limited, of Halifax, enlarged in 1887, and employing about 150 persons in the manufacture of serges and top making; here also are Mr. J. C. Tavener's flour mills, which are lit by electricity.

The market is held on Thursday. Fairs for cattle and horses are held on the 3rd Tuesday in April, 2nd Tuesday in October and a fat stock show 1st Tuesday in December, and great markets are held on the last Thursdays in February and June, and 1st Thursday in August.

The poor have £1 16s. 8d. yearly, distributed in bread; C. Kelland in 1758 left £20; and in 1887 the Kelland-De Bathe charity of £1 yearly was founded by W. H. Kelland esq. as a memorial to Richard Kelland, of Lapford and De Bathe, ob. 1603. ...

The area is 5,951 acres of land and 16 of water; rateable value, £[9],150; the population in 1901 was 1,528 in the civil and 1,682 in the ecclesiastical parish."

Post, M.O. & T.O., T.M.O., S.B., Express Delivery,
   Parcel & Annuity Insurance Office (Railway Sub-office.
   Letters should have 'R.S.O. North Devon' added)
   Frank SKINNER, postmaster.
   Letters received from London, Bristol, Exeter
   & all parts at 4.44 & 10.10 a.m. & 3.10 p.m.;
   dispatched at 10.20 a.m. & 3.45 & 7.55 p.m.;
   deliveries commence at 7 & 10.15 a.m. & 3 p.m.;
   sundays, delivery 7 a.m.; dispatch, 7.55 p.m.
   Parcels 15 minutes before each dispatch.

COUNTY MAGISTRATES OF THE SOUTH MOLTON PETTY SESSIONAL DIVISION
   Chairman, the senior magistrate present.
   FORTESCUE Earl of D.L., Castle Hill, South Molton
   PORTSMOUTH Earl of D.L., Eggesford house, Wembworthy R.S.O.
   EBRINGTON Viscount D.L. Exmoor, South Molton
   POLTIMORE Lord P.C., D.L., Court hall, North Molton
   BEADON Lieut.-Col. John Hammet, Blackerton, East Anstey, Dulverton R.S.O., Somerset
   BRYAN Richard Stawell esq., Grilston cottage, Bishopsnympton, South Molton
   BUCKINGHAM Aaron esq. Lake, Kingsnympton, Chulmleigh
   BUDD Francis Nonus esq., North Tawton R.S.O.
   BUSH Dudley John Campbell esq., Fort house, South Molton
   CROCKER John esq., East street, South Molton
   CUTCLIFFE George esq., Goombe house, Witheridge, Morchard Bishop R.S.O.
   DUNNING Major Richards Horwood, Hilliers, Winkleigh
   HATHERLY Narcissus Collins R.N., M.D., 123 East street, South Molton
   HOLE Rev. Robert B.A., Rectory, North Tawton R.S.O.
   JOHNSON Ronald Frederick Godolphin esq., Windleigh Court, Winkleigh R.S.O.
   MATTHEWS Rev. Prebendary John B.A., Knowstone, South Molton
   PRESTON-WHYTE Robert James esq., Leigh house, Chulmleigh
   REW Thomas esq., Sannacott, North Molton, South Molton
   SNELL William esq., Broad Nymet, Bow R.S..
   TANNER Rev. John Vowler B.A., D.L., Rectory, Chawleigh, Chulmleigh
   TAVENER James esq., Melhuishes, North Tawton R.S.O.
   THOROLD George Aubrey William esq., M.A. Hudscott, Chitlehampton, Umberleigh R.S.O.
   WILKIN John Frederick M.D., Rose Ash court, South Molton
   The chairman, for the time being, of the South Molton Rural District Council, is an ex-officio magistrate.
   Acting clerk, George Langdon FULFORD
Petty sessions are held at the Market house, bi-monthly on the first thursday at 12 noon.

County Police Station
   Sergeant Thomas GAMMON, in charge
   + 1 constable

Sexton
   William Oliver PRIEST

Public Officers
Assistant Overseer & Collector of Taxes,
   John Ellis PYKE
Clerk to Commissioners of Taxes,
   George L. FULFORD
Certifying Factory Surgeon, Medical Officer & Public Vaccinator, North Tawton District, Okehampton Union
   Montagu CUTCLIFFE M.R.C.S.Eng., L.R.C.P.Lond.
Registrar of Births & Deaths for North Tawton Sub-district, Okehampton Union,
   John Ellis PYKE;
   deputy registrar: Edward GOSS
Inland Revenue Officer
   Alfred W. NORTON
Town Crier
   John SKINNER, Exeter street

Schools
A School Board of 5 members was formed Feb. 21, 1872
   clerk to the board, Edward GOSS
   attendance officer, George DAVEY, North Tawton
Board (boys & girls, built in 1875, for 300 children;
   average attendance, 80 boys & 75 girls
   James Chanter PIERCE, master
   Sarah Louisa PIERCE, mistress
Board (infants), acquired in 1875, & holding 125 children
   average attendance, 76
   Miss Kate BOWDEN, mistress

Railway Station
   George RISBRIDGER, Station master
Agents to South Western Railway Co.
   LEWIS & Son
Omnibus from "Ring of Bells" meets all trains
Carriers:
   WEEKES, through from Hatherleigh to Exeter,
   thurs. returning sat.;
   BALL, daily from Hatherleigh to
   North Tawton station

Banks
Devon & Cornwall Banking Co. Lim. (sub-branch of)
   (open on thursdays & fair days);
   draw on Barclay & Co. Lim., London EC
Dingley, Pearse & Co. (Okehampton Bank) (sub-branch)
   open thursdays & fair days only;
   draw on London City & Midland Bank Lim., London EC
National Provincial Bank of England Limited (sub-branch of);
   open on thursdays & fair days;
   draw on head office, 112 Bishopsgate within, London EC

Other
Gas Works
   (Henry GIBBINGS, propr.)
North Tawton Co-operative Society Limited
   (Tom O. BENNETT, sec.)
Reading & Recreation Rooms
   (Charley LETHEREN, sec.)