Great Torrington Contents & Search

OR Great Torrington, is a small but respectable and prosperous market-town and parish in the hundred of Fremington, 196 miles from London, 36 from Exeter, and 6 from Bideford; finely situated partly on the summit, and partly on the declivity of a noble eminence forming the eastern bank of the river Torridge, over which there are two bridges. This town was incorporated by Queen Mary, and is governed by a mayor, recorder, eight aldermen, a town-clerk, and twelve burgesses. It once was represented in parliament, but has not sent members since the reign of Henry VI. The manufactures of Torrington comprise gloves and coarse woollen goods, the former being the principal branch of trade. Lead is found in the neighbourhood, but not in sufficient plenty to excite speculation. A canal, cut by Lord Rolle, through his own lands, communicates with Bideford, and is an accommodation to the intercourse of the two towns.

Here are two churches, the most ancient of which is furnished with a library; the living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of Christ Church College, Oxford. The charities by which the poor of Torrington are benefited are considerable, consisting of several ancient alms-houses possessing an extensive right of commonage; a charity school for 30 boys; another upon the national plan; and annual benefactions, contributed by various persons, amongst whom was Mary, Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII., who resided here some time. From a spot called the 'Bowling-green' (said to he the site of an ancient castle) south of the town, the prospect is extremely beautiful; the river, in particular, is seen to great advantage. The neighbourhood of Torrington contains many handsome residences; amongst the principal seats that ornament it are, 'Stevenstone,' the seat of Lord Rolle; 'Heanton Sackville,' Lord Clinton; 'Cross,' Thomas Stevens, Esq.; 'Buckland,' Colonel Fortesque; &c. The weekly market is held on Saturday, and a large one for cattle annually on the third Thursday in March. The fairs are, the 4th of May, the 5th of July, & the 10th of Oct. Torrington parish contained, in 1821, 2,538 inhabitants.

POST OFFICE, Ann Hobbs, Post Mistress. - Letters from London arrive every morning at half-past seven, and are despatched every evening at half-past five. - Letters from BARNSTAPLE arrive every evening at half-past five, and are despatched every morning at half-past seven.

NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY.

Burke James, esq. Glen cottage
Callon William, gent. South st
Callon Richard, gent. High st
Cartwright William, gent. New st
Clinton the Right Hon. Lord, Heanton Sackvilie
Deane Anthony William Johnson, esq. Webbery
Deane Mrs. Elizabeth, Castle house
Fortescue Jno. I. esq. Buckland hse
Furse John Henry, esq. Halsdon
Furse Rev. Petr. Wellington, South st
Gawtree John, gent. South st
Green Miss Dorothy, Potacre st
Hall Miss Sarah, South st
Haverfield Capt. R.N. Beam
Hole Henry, esq. Ebberly
Jackson Rev. Ephraim, Cattle st
Johnson Chas. Wm. esq. South st
Kerslake Rev. William, Dolton
Morgan Rev. George, Parsonage
Palmer Mrs. A. New st
Palmer Rev. John N. South st
Prust the Misses, South st
Pulsford Rev. Thomas, Mill st
Pyke Lieut. Joseph, R.N. South st
Rolle Right Hon. Lord, Stevenstone
Saltren Miss, Petticombe
Sloley John, esq. South st
Snell Thomas, gent. Mill st
Speke Wm. esq. Orleigh court
Stevens Thomas, esq. Cross
Tardrew Wm. esq. Amery house
Woollcombe Robert, esq. Winscot
Yonge Rev. Denys, Castle hill cottage
Yonge Rev. Frederick, Castle hill cottage

ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.

Cann Peter, Potacre st
FREE BLUE COAT SCHOOL Well st - John Harper, master
Gawtree Hanh. (boarding) South st,
Hemborow Mary, High st.
Hodge Jane, South st
NATIONAL SCHOOL, New street - Charles Mountjoy, master

ATTORNEYS.

Glubb William Gill, Potacre st
Hawkins Knowling Henry Castle st
Hole Nicholas, South st
Kingdon Francis (notary public, proctor, town-clerk & coroner)
Smith Montague Edward, New st

AUCTIONEER.

Doe George, South st

BAKERS.

Browne Catherine, Well st
Evans Elizabeth, Well st
Howe Mary, New st

BANKERS.

Loveband, Slade & Co. High st - (draw Jones, Lloyd & Co. London)
SAVINGS' BANK, Charles Johnson, esq. treasurer

BLACK AND WHITESMITHS.

Brent William, New st
Denbow John, Calf st
Gabriel John, New st
Stacy John, Well st

BOOT & SHOE MAKERS.

Bowers Richard, High st
Davy John, New st
Gidley John, Potacre st
Gould William, South st
Hackwill William, Potacre st
Laimbeer Charles, Smith st
Passmore Henry, High st
Slee Richard, New st
Thorne Richard, Castle st

BUTCHERS.

Brown John, Well st
Harper Richard, High st
Heanes George, New st
Moore John, Well st
Moore Robert. New st
Penhorwood Henry, Well st

CARPENTERS.

Barrett William, Castle st
Comb Wm. (& builder) High st
Copp William, Potacre st
Dark William (& builder)
Grant, William, New st
May John, Potacre st

CHINA, GLASS & EARTHEN-WARE DEALERS.

Curtice William, Well st
Doe Mary. South st
Laimbeer Thomas, High st

COOPERS.

Fowler Eliza & Thomas, Well St
Long John, New st
Werry William, Castle st

CURRIERS AND LEATHER CUTTERS.

Adams John, South st
Lovering George, High st
Rude James, High st

DRUGGISTS.

Row Jno. (& spirit dealr) South st
Tapley Hubert Cornish (& stamp distributer) High st

FIRE, &c., OFFICE AGENTS.

ATLAS, Montague Ed. Smith, New st
GUARDIAN, John Dennis, High st
NORWICH UNION, Thomas Fowler, High st
SALAMANDER, Hubert Cornish Tapley, High st
SUN, Henry Pidgeon, South st
WEST OF ENGLAND, Geo. Doe, Smith st

GLOVE MANUFACTURERS.

Baneham Joseph, New st
Chappel John, Well st
Chappel Michael, New st
Pettie James, Well st
Wills William Greek. New st

GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.

Doe Geo. (& spirit dealer) South st
Friendship John, South st
Lovering George, High st
Pidgeon Henry, South st
Veysey Charles, High st
Walker George, High st

HAT MANUFACTURERS.

Burridge Henry, High st
Trestain John, South st
Woollacott George, High st

INNS AND PUBLIC HOUSES.

Barnstaple & Bideford Inn, Eliza Down, New st
Bell, Henry Burridge, High st
Black Horse, Wm. Willis, High st
Black Swan, William Matthews, Potacre st
Boot, George Bowden
Exeter Inn, John Lake. Calf st
Globe (and posting house) James Wills, High st
Glover's Arms, Philip Beer, New st
Malt Scoop, William Wilson Walkey, Well st.
Nelson, Thomas Boone, Mill st
New Inn, Francis William, Well st
Old Inn, John Lloyd, Well st
Plough, James Cork, High st
Rolle's Arms, Wm. Sanders, South st
Vernon Inn, Jos. Chidley, South st
White Swan. James Bastard

IRONMONGERS.

Bartlett William, High st
Dennis John, High st
Fowler Thomas (and patentee for an improved mode of heating
conservatories, picnics, hot houses & large buildings with boiling
water.)
Petherick John, South st
Walker George, High st

LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS

Doe George, South st
Friendship John, South st
Pidgeon Henry, South st
Pridham Richard, Potacre at
Veysey Charles, High st
Walker George, High st

MALTSTERS.

Dallyn William, Potacre st
Saunders William, South st
Tucker Thomas, South st
Waldon William, Potacre st

MILLINERS & DRESS DEALERS.

Laimbeer Jane, South st
Murch Jane, Potacre st
Pidgeon Anna Lowman, Potacre st
Poole Grace, High st
Stoneman Mary, South st
Williams Mary, Harper's court

PAINTERS.

Gunn John (& plasterer) South st
Western Jonathan, Castle st

PERFUMERS & HAIR DRESSERS

Chambers James, High st
Nicholls Joseph, South st

PLUMBERS & GLAZIERS.

Bartlett Richard, Potacre st
Bartlett Williams, High st
Petherick John, Smith st
Shallabeare John, Mill st

SADDLERS.

Cole Thomas, Well st
Holwill John, South st

SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES.

Baker William, Potacre st
Howden William, South st
Hancock John, Well st
Hemborow Mary, High st
Johns Mary, South st
Leathern Richard, Potacre st
McKnoe Joseph, New st
Mallet William, Potacre st
Moorman Agnes, Potacre st
Willis Elizabeth, High st

STONE MASONS.

Cork Walter B. (& builder) Well st
Laimbeer Thomas, Potacre st
Laimbeer William, Potacre st
Tyler George, Potacre st

STRAW HAT MAKERS.

Adams Mary, South st
Chown Mary Ann, Potacre st
Hancock Susan, Well st
Harper Elizabeth, High st
Hearman Alice, Well st
Nicholls Fanny, South st

SURGEONS.

Caddy Edmund Herring, High st
Hole Richard, South st
Johnson Daniel, South st
Owen George, Dolton
Pidler Alexander, Potacre st
Rouse Richard, South st
Vicary Thomas Cornish, South st

TAILORS.

Ashton Philip, New st
Chambers Samuel, High st
Clarke Thomas, South st
Curtice William, Well st
Curtice William, jun. Well st
Essery Joseph, Castle st
SmithThomas, South st
Stoneman William, Potacre st
Tucker Stephen, Castle st

TANNERS.

Kingdon John, Mill st
Stoneman George, jun. New st

WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS.

Dennis John (& Silversmith) High st
Langbridge James, High st

WHEELWRIGHTS.

Langbridge Thomas, New st
Squire Henry, Calf st

Miscellaneous

Bastard George, confectioner, &c. High st
Braginton George, canal agent to Lord Rolle, and Portugese vice consul
for the Devonshire coast, in the Bristol channel
Fowler Thomas, printer, stationer and organist, High street
Friendship William, rope maker, South st
Green William, nail maker, Mill st
Martin Robert, miller, Torrington mill
May William. cabinet maker, New st
Nichols William, nail maker, New st
Pow Rohert, basket maker, Well st
Wills Richard, tallow chandler and soap boiler, South st
Wills Thos. fellmonger, leather dresser & woolstapler, Well st

COACHES.

All call at the Globe.

To BARNSTAPLE, the North Devon (from Plymouth) every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening at five; goes through Bideford.

To BIDEFORD, the Torridge Express (from Exeter) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening at five.

To EXETER, the Torridge Express (from Bideford) every Tuesday & Saturday morning at eight; goes thro' Hatherleigh & Crediton.

To PLYMOUTH, the North Devon (from Barnstaple) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at ten; goes thro' Oakhampton and Tavistock.

CARRIERS.

To BARNSTAPLE, John Bowman, from the Black Horse, every Friday - James King, from the the Bell, and Philip Curtis, from the White Swan, every Saturday

To BIDEFORD, William Handford from Mill street. every Monday, Tuesday & Thursday - & Francis Williams, from Potacre st, every Tues. & Friday.

To EXETER, William Handford, every Monday and Wednesday.

To PLYMOUTH, John Bowman, from the Black Horse, every Monday - and James King, from the Bell, every Tues.

Transcribed - Brian Randell, 17 Jul 1999