WEAR GIFFORD, a pleasant village and parish, on the eastern side of
the river Torridge, 3 miles N.W. of Great Torrington, contains 576
inhabitants, and 1587 acres of land, including the hamlet of
Clifft, and a number of scattered farms. The river is
navigable to this village for small craft, and by means of a canal,
barges, &c., go up as high as Torrington. A large earthenware
manufactory has lately been established here; and in the parish is
a small woollen factory. The manor of Weare was held by the
Giffords at an early period, and afterwards passed to the
Fortescues, who were seated here for several generations, in an
ancient mansion, now occupied by a farmer, and containing a
profusion of richly carved old wainscot, said to have been brought
from various parts of the kingdom. Earl Fortescue is now lord of
the manor, but part of the parish belongs to the Trustees of the
late Lord Rolle, and a few smaller owners. The Church (Holy
Trinity,) is a plain structure, containing monuments of the
Fortescue, Rolle, and other families. The rectory, valued in
K.B. at £13. 5s., and in 1831 at £180, is in the
patronage of Earl Fortescue, and incumbency of the Rev. Wm.
Fortescue, of George Nympton. The parsonage is a small building and
the glebe is 17 acres. The Wesleyans have a small chapel here. In
1671, John Lovering left £100 for the endowment of a
Free School for 16 children of this parish; £50 for the poor
of this parish; £40 for the poor of Great Torrington; and
£10 for the poor of Huntshaw. These legacies were laid out in
the purchase of 8A. 11P. of land at Barnstaple, now let for about
£30 a year, half of which belongs to the school, and
one-fourth to the poor of Wear Gifford.
Bate John, butcher
Braginton Geo. lime merchant, &c.
Chapple Wm. schoolmaster
Edgworth Mr Thos. || Lamerton Mrs
Fry Susan, corn miller
Mitchell Rev Henry, M.A.
Palmer Rev Chas. E. curate, Rectory
Saunders Sarah, shopkeeper
Short Wm. tailor
Turton John, woollen manufacturer
Warman Jph. vict. Fortescue Arms
Watts Thos. || West Miss
Wear Gifford Pottery Co. earthenware manufacturers
BLACKSMITHS.
Ford Wm.
Tucker Adam
BOOT & SHOE MKS.
Cole James
Isaac George
Parr John
CARPENTERS.
Downing George
Lamerton Wm.
FARMERS.
Alford Wm.
Ashton John
Balsdon John
Channings Danl.
Downing Thos.
Harris Wm.
Kidwell Ann
Kidwell Wm.
Newcombe Wm.
Tout Edward
Last updated: 26 Jul 2009 - Brian Randell
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Weare Giffard 
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