Chumleigh Devon Family History Guide

Chumleigh is an Ancient Parish and a market town in the county of Devon.

Parish church:

Parish registers begin:

• Parish registers: 1653
• Bishop’s Transcripts: 1610

Nonconformists include: Bible Christian Methodist, Independent/Congregational, Society of Friends/Quaker, and Wesleyan Methodist. 

Adjacent Parishes

• Cheldon
• Wembworthy
• Burrington
• Romansleigh
• Kingsnympton
• West Worlington
• Meshaw
• Chittlehamholt
• Ashreigney
• Chawleigh

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

CHULMLEIGH, or Chumleigh, a small town, a parish, and a sub-district in South Molton district, Devon. The town stands on a gentle eminence, at the right side of the river Taw, on the Roman road from Exeter, 3 miles NE of Eggesford r. station, and 8 S by W of South Molton. It was the scene of a skirmish, in 1645, between the royalists and the parliamentarians. It has a head post office, of the name of Chulmleigh, North Devon, three inns, a parish church, two dissenting chapels, and two charity schools; and is a seat of petty sessions and a polling-place. The church is later English; consists of nave, chancel, and aisles, with a square massive tower; has an elegant carved oak screen, and a fine stone font; and was repaired in 1852. Markets are held on Wednesdays; and fairs on Easter Wednesday and the last Wednesday of July. The parish comprises 8,815 acres. Real property, £7,644. Pop., 1,705. Houses, 344. The property is subdivided. The manor belonged to the Courtenays and the Russells; and passed to the Rev. P. Johnson. Stone manor belongs to the Earl of Portsmouth; and Elstone manor, to Earl Fortescue. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Exeter. Value, £415. Patron, the Rev. R. Hole. The sub-district contains eleven parishes. Acres, 35,286. Pop., 5,062. Houses, 1,020.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

Maps

Vision of Britain historical maps

Administration

• County: Devon
• Civil Registration District: South Molton
• Probate Court: Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple
• Diocese: Exeter
• Rural Deanery: Chumleigh
• Poor Law Union: South Molton
• Hundred: Witheridge
• Province: Canterbury