Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for CHUDLEIGH

CHUDLEIGH, a town, a parish, and a sub-district in Newton-Abbot district, Devon. The town stands on an eminence, at the left side of the river Teign, 3½ miles ENE of Bovey r. station, and 10 miles SSW of Exeter. It consists of one main street and three minor ones. It was devastated in 1807 by a fire which destroyed nearly 200 houses; and it now presents a modern appearance. It formerly had a palace of the bishops of Exeter; but the only remains of this are a portion of the walls and a dungeon. It was a busy, active place previous to the formation of railways; but it is now quiet and declining. A considerable woollen trade was, at one time, carried on in it; but has disappeared. Markets are held on Saturdays; and fairs on Easter Tuesday and 2 Oct. The town has a post office‡ under Newton-Abbot, a chief inn, an ancient parish church with massive tower, three dissenting chapels, and a free grammar school; and publishes a weekly newspaper. -The parish comprises 6, 037 acres. Real property, £11, 162. Pop., 2, 108. Houses, 455. The property is subdivided. The manor belongs to Lord Clifford, and gives him the title of Baron. The chief seats are Ugbrook Park, Lord Clifford: Kerswell House; Filleigh, J. Kelly, Esq.; Whiteway; and Rocklands. The scenery is strikingly picturesque, and in many parts romantic. Numerous limestone rocks diversify it, cut by fissures, and tangled with wood; and one of these, called par excellence Chudleigh Rock, towers into high prominence, commands charming prospects, embosoms a fairy glen, and is pierced by a deep cavern which the surrounding peasantry represent as haunted by the Pixies. A blue limestone, known as Chudleigh marble, is extensively quarried; and good cider is largely produced. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Exeter. Value, £550.* Patrons, Trustees for the Inhabitants. -The sub-district contains six parishes. Acres, 23, 736. Pop., 6, 748. Houses, 1, 401.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a town, a parish, and a sub-district"   (ADL Feature Type: "cities")
Administrative units: Chudleigh CP/AP       Chudleigh SubD       Newton Abbot RegD/PLU       Devon AncC
Place: Chudleigh

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