The History of Strelna 1871 -1945

Frances and Malcolm Billinge 2020

Introduction

Strelna is on Lower Down and was built on land which had previously been common land of the Manor and Borough of Bovey Tracey. The land was owned by the Earl of Devon at the time of the Tithe survey and map of 1841 (Devon Heritage Centre,DEX/4/a/TM/BoveyTracey1), but William Robert Hole of Parke had become responsible for the payment of the tithes for both Soldridge and Lower Down. Tenants had rights of common on this land so no buildings were erected on it.

The area where Strelna now lies was shown as the common land, below and to the west of field numbered 1110 on the 1841 Tithe Map (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Tithe Map 1841 showing Soldridge, with adjacent fields and common land below and to the west. By kind permission of Devon Heritage Centre.

Common land was being enclosed throughout the country in the nineteenth century and Lower Down was acquired by six owners when it was enclosed between 1864-1868. They were (1) Alexander Adair of Colehayes, (2) Rev. Mr Marwood Tucker of Wilsworthy and Francis Baring Short of Bickham, (3) Susannah Hole widow and William Robert Hole of Parke, (4) Rev. William George Parks Smith of Torquay, (5) John Lethbridge Cowland of Launceston and (6) William Kitson of Torquay. These were all prominent landowning families in Bovey Tracey at that time (Devon Heritage Centre 312M/TH/913 Deed of Conveyance with Respect to the Division of Lower Down 1864 and map).

The map accompanying the conveyance outlined the extent of the common land. Understandably there were still no buildings on the land (Fig. 2). The next map of the same year showed Lower Down being divided between the six different landowners with Rev. Marwood and Francis Baring Short acquiring the land on which Strelna would be built (Fig. 3; Devon Heritage Centre 1864 Map of Lower Down Inclosure1311M/4/11ii).  A section of map shows the triangle of land acquired by Tucker and Short east of the northbound track to Soldridge Farm and above the pink and orange road which is the current road on Lower Down. The red and white ‘road’ is the granite tramway, the thin blue line is Bovey Pottery Leat.

Figure 2. Map 1864  accompanying the conveyance of Lower Down. By kind permission of Devon Heritage Centre.

Figure 3. Map of Lower Down showing land acquired by Tucker and Short

Their seals were shown on the final conveyance (Fig. 4).

Figure 4. Seals of Marwood Tucker and Francis Baring Short on the 1864  conveyance. By kind permission of Devon Heritage Centre.

First Reference to Strelna

1871 The first reference to Strelna was in the 1871 Census so it was built some time between 1864 and 1871. By 1871 William Parkin, an agricultural labourer, was living there with his wife Jane (The National Archives, 1871 Census). He was forty-eight and had been born in Chittlehampton in 1833, his wife aged forty-five was born in Winkleigh in 1836. In the Census the residence was called Strelna House.

It was not unusual for labourers in Bovey Tracey to have originated from elsewhere in Devon. What might seem unusual is for an agricultural labourer to be living in what is now a large residence. Perhaps William Parkin and his wife Jane were acting as caretakers, or possibly the accommodation at that time was less grand. The only other houses nearby on the census enumeration were Soldridge which was north east of the property, and Moorside which was on the Haytor Road.

What more do we know of William Parkin? In 1869 he won first prize for spring onions at the Bovey Tracey Horticultural Society Flower Show (The Western Times 26 August, p.8). We do not know if he was living at Strelna at the time. In 1851 he had been a farmer of twenty acres in Chittlehampton with his wife Grace, his one-month old daughter Norah, and his mother Mary who was a widowed farmer’s wife. Unfortunately for William his wife Grace died in 1859. In 1861 William was still a farmer of twenty acres but then a widower with children aged ten, six and four. His mother still lived with him. Although he had remarried to Jane some time before he moved to Bovey Tracey by 1881 he was again a widower agricultural labourer then living in Atherington. By 1891 he was still a widowed agricultural labourer working in Warkleigh near South Molton. He died there aged 70 in 1897.

The Hounsell Family 1778- 1901

By 1778 Dr Henry Strangways Hounsell was listed as the owner of Strelna in White’s Directory (William White, 1878/9 History Gazetteer and Directory of Devon, William White, Sheffield, p.73). Henry Hounsell was a physician whose main house was in Tormohun (op.cit. p 809). This would suggest that Strelna was a holiday residence, and perhaps used as a hunting and shooting lodge. Not an unusual thing at that time as various houses in Bovey Tracey such as Yarner House, Stonelands and Indio were all used in this way by their owners. The Dartmoor setting of Strelna would have been ideal for the hunting and fishing pursuits which were popular at that time. Dr Hounsell may have owned Strelna since it was built but in 1871 his residence on that census was listed as The Laurels in Tormohun.

In June 1879 the marriage took place of Henry Hounsell’s daughter Beatrice to Harry Trelawney Eve (Fig. 5). This was reported in the local newspaper describing Dr Hounsell being of both The Larches, Warberry, Torquay and also of Strelna. As this was a summer wedding the setting of Strelna further supports its use as a holiday residence (The Western Times 27 June 1879 p. 5).

Figure 5. 1879 Marriage of Hounsell, and Eve. Bovey Tracey Parish Church Records.

 The Census of 1881 took place in March and recorded Frederick Kellaway, a gardener, as the resident of Strelna. He was only twenty-two, born locally, and living there with his wife Emma. This again suggests that the residents were caretakers of the house.

1883 and 1884 newspaper reports showed Dr Hounsell continued to be of Strelna (East and South Devon Advertiser 7 July 1883, p.7; ibid. 6 September 1884, p.2)

In 1886 Dr Hounsell died.

1887 The Ordnance Survey map showed the property as Strelneo (Fig. 6).

Figure 6. 1887 Ordnance Survey Bovey Tracey

By 1889, following her husband’s death Mrs Hounsell lived at Woodlands, in Torquay (Kelly’s Directory of Devonshire, London, Kelly and Company, p. 576).

On the 1891 Census Dr Hounsell’s daughter and her husband Harry Trelwaney Eve and their children were the residents of Strelna. Harry Eve was a barrister who soon purchased extensive property in Bovey Tracey and on the southern edge of Dartmoor. By 1892 he also owned Pullabrook, and later he purchased Yarner. By 1902 he also held Holwell, Southsands and North, South, Middle and East Challacombe in Manaton parish. He had also purchased Knowle and by 1903 he also owned Forder, Shewte and Rock Vale Lustleigh to add to his Pullabrook and Yarner property porfolio. (Devon Heritage Centre, 5595 add3 Box 13082 Michelmore and Company, 1902, 1903). Eve became the liberal M.P. for Ashburton  from 1904-1907 (Yarner on www.boveytraceyhistory.org.uk) and was knighted in 1907 (Fig. 7).

Figure 7. The Right Hon. Sir Harry Trelwaney Eve

Mrs Hounsell died in 1897 and her daughter and son-in-law inherited Strelna.

Henry Raymond Bennet 1901- 1909

The next inhabitant of Strelna was Henry Raymond Bennet as shown on the 1901 Census. We do not yet know if he owned or rented then property. Henry Bennett was a man of independent means.  He was a widower living with his Indian tea-planter son and two daughters, a cook and a housemaid. Henry was a fellow of St John’s Cambridge and had been a Captain of the Dorset Royal Volunteers (Census and Cambridge Alumni records). He was a man of standing in the area and by 1905 sat on the Grand Jury of the Devon Quarter Sessions (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 28 June 1905, p. 4). That same year his daughter Constance married Rev. James Hawthorne, who was the curate of the Parish Church (The Western Times 6 October 1905, p. 11).

Henry’s son the tea-planter Henry Cecil Charlton Bennett did not stay in Bovey Tracey for long as by 1902 he was back on his plantation in Darjeeling (English Overseas Mail 24 April 1902, p. 13). He was one of many families in Bovey Tracey at the time who had links with trade in the British Empire.

In 1906 the next OS map of the area was published showing that there were still no other houses along that part of Lower Down (Fig. 8).

Figure 8. 1906 OS Map Lower Down Bovey Tracey

The Japp Family 1910-1914

By 1910  the Japp family were living at Strelna (Kelly’s Directory of Devonshire and Cormwall,1910, London, Kelly’s Directories Ltd Devonshire p.913; idid. 1914, p. 945) We learn from the Census of 1911 that the previous resident, Henry Bennett, had moved to Whitchurch. A descendant of the Japps has informed us that his understanding was the property was rented. David Japp was a land appraiser and valuer who moved frequently as part of his career (Figs 9 and 10). We know that from at least 1903 David Japp was the estate officer for Harry Trelawney Eve on the Pullabrook estate (The Western Times 11 December 1903, p.1). Japp renting Strelna from 1910 suggests that the property was still owned by Harry Trelawney Eve.

Figure 9. David Japp. Kindly provided by his descendant.

Figure 10. The Japp family at Strelna. Kindly provided by his descendant.

Sale of Strelna 1918

The Great War changed lives for so many people including The Right Hon. Sir Harry Trelwaney Eve who lost his son killed in action in 1917. Soon afterwards Eve advertised Strelna for let on a ninety-nine year lease and most of his other Devon properties for sale which included Pullabrook, Yarner, Shewte and land at Colehays (The Western Times 13 December 1918, p.1, Strelna for let; ibid. 20 December 1918, p.11 for sale Eve’s Devon properties.). Sale particulars in Devon Heritage Centre show that Strelna was sold and this marked the end of Eve’s links with Bovey Tracey (DHC, Yarner Estate, parishes of Bovey Tracey and Lustleigh, Devon, 1918, 547B/P/1783).

The Vicary Family 1930- 1945 The Vicary family of Dyrons Newton Abbot were prosperous merchants in the wool trade. Octavia Vicary, as a widow, left Dyrons and moved to Strelna from at least 1930 when she was advertising for staff (Western Morning News,11 June 1930, p. 2). She was recorded as living there on the 1939 National Register. Octavia died in March 1945 and in September of that year her family were selling a year-old cooker at Strelna (Western Morning News 24 September, p.4). Another branch of the Vicary family, the brother of Octavia’s husband Charles, had owned Stonelands in Bovey Tracey since at least 1903 and that was used as a holiday and entertaining residence (London Daily News 5 October 1903, p.1). William Vicary was the owner, he was a J.P., sat on many civic boards and was entertained by Lord Clifford at Ugbrooke (The Western Times 14 September 1906, p.10). Perhaps this family link was why Octavia moved to Strelna.

Conclusion

Currently no details are available for owners after the end of World War II. The land around Strelna now has many more houses than when it was built. It would seem that its early owners used it as a summer residence which was a common practice at the time for owners who mainly lived in Newton Abbot or Torquay. Its most illustrious owner so far was The Right Hon. Sir Harry Trelawney Eve.

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank David Japp’s descendant for kindly providing details about, and photographs of, the family.

dav

THE OLD MANSE MARY STREET,

Previously HILL HEAD and a Nonconformist Chapel

Frances Billinge 2024

INTRODUCTION

There is a house half-way up Mary Street which is now called The Old Manse (Fig.1). Previously it was known as Hill Head and contained a nonconformist chapel.

 

 

 

 

Figure 1. The Old Manse Mary Street (Frances Billinge 2019).

 

The earliest map of Bovey Tracey was in 1640 and showed no houses at what was later called Hill Head being above the then houses on Mary Street and the top of Hind Street. (Fig 2).[1]

Figure 2. Map of the Manor of Bovey Tracey 1640 showing unbuilt on land marked V where Hill Head would be built the following century. By kind permission of Devon Heritage Centre.

The first reference to a house on the site was in 1726 when James Satterley sold to Isaac Taylor, ‘a newly erected mansion, stable, courtledge and herb garden with an orchard and about an acre of land at Hill Head in Bovey Tracey, together with rights of pasture on Bovey Heathfield’.[2] James Satterley was a sleamaker, meaning he was involved in the weaving trade and made the reeds for stocking frames. Before James Satterley owned the land the owner was Amice Pinsent. We learn from this document that Charles Challis of Lions Inn Middlesex was involved in the transaction on the financial side, and Isacc Taylor was a baker from Bovey Tracey. The witnesses to this indenture were local men Joseph Inglett, John Hellyer and William Daymond. Although James Satterley was successful enough to build and own property and run a business he could not write his name and so made his mark on the document. Challis and Baker both signed their names.  

Isaac Taylor died in 1734 and the house was inherited by his wife Wilmotte Taylor.[3] Wilmotte  could not sign her name. In 1737 Wilmotte leased the property to George Miller, a yeoman from Lustleigh.[4] When Wilmotte died in 1753 the property passed to her two daughters Ann and Mary Taylor. The witnesses were local men John Steere, William Winsor, and Thomas Durston.[5]

From 1759 the property went from the various inheritors and Ann and Mary Taylor to  Samuel Knowling a sergemaker. Only one person could sign their names on the deeds- Isacc and Wilmotte Tylor’s daughter Mary who was by then Mary Dicker.[6]

In 1773 the property passed from Samuel Knowing to William Hole, the major landowner in the parish.[7] William Hole died in 1779 and this property passed to his son, also called William.[8] Although this William was a wealthy and successful cartographer and estate manager when he died in 1812 he did not leave a will, perhaps because he never married. His estate passed to his brother Robert Hole of Stickwick. The house known as Hill Head was auctioned as part of his estate in 1813 and purchased by Moses Savery a clothier of Bovey Tracey among others. Savery then passed his part to John Jones an attorney of Exeter. By this time all interested parties could sign their names.[9] Moses Savery was also involved in the development of the Baptist Church nearby in Hind Street.[10]

When John Jones died in 1819 his part of Hill Head was inherited by his wife Harriet. Robert Hole still held part of it and when he died in 1820 his estate went to his son William and others. In 1823 when William Hole junior was of the age to deal with his various properties the ownership of the house became less divided as it passed from him, Harriet Jones and others to Elizabeth Croker.[11]

In 1824 Elizabeth Croker died and the property passed to William Creed a gentleman of Abbotskerswell and Susannah Crout a spinster.[12] They then sold it to John Mogridge a surgeon of Bovey Tracey in 1829.[13]

In 1833 John Mogridge sold it to Robert Tucker, a gentleman of Ashburton, trustee for Maria Elizabeth Tucker who was still an infant.[14]

The 1841 Tithe Map showed how built-up Mary Street and Hill Head were by then (Fig.3).

Figure 3. Tithe Map of Bovey Tracey 1841 with blue arrow marking Hill Head,later The Old Manse. By kind permission of Devon Heritage Centre.

 

In 1846 Robert Tucker sold the house to Miss Julia Puddicombe a spinster of Reading.[15] This was to be a significant development in the history of nonconformity in the parish. The Puddicombes, a well to do family had owned land in the area since at least 1640.[16] In 1767 they were recorded as living in Church Stile, one of the larger residences in the town (Fig. 4).[17]

 

 Figure 4. Church Stile. Kindly donated by Helen Cowell.

The Puddicombes were supportive of nonconformity and were involved in the Baptist Church which was already meeting in Hind Street. From the 1820s they had been subscribers to its Sunday School for which they provided prizes.[18] In 1846 Julia Puddicombe, the niece of the family living at Church Stile, purchased Hill Head while she was the owner and proprietor of a school in Reading.[19]

Although Julia Puddicombe owned Hill Head she was not living in it.  In 1857 a Free Church (nonconformist) was built attached to Hill Head. This was a year of considerable religious disquiet in Bovey Tracey as some residents were expressing their anger with the ‘High Church’/Tractarian views of the local vicar Revd the Hon Charles Courtenay, who was a brother of the Earl of Devon. Courtenay had built a new church in Brimley which followed ‘High Church’ liturgy, and he was now trying to re-order the parish church in a way which some residents considered to be ‘popish’. At a meeting of the Parish Vestry it was reported that there was a movement to build a free church in the town.[20] This movement worked with speed and on 21 September the new Free Church was opened as a place of worship.[21] The architect and builder was Mr Lock and it could hold a congregation of two hundred. The newspapers reported that the local Puddicombe family and others helped build it. Deeds together with extant architecture in The Old Manse and a 1955 plan confirm that the Free Church was built behind and attached to the much older house called Hill Head at the top of Hind Street. (Fig. 5).[22]

Figure 5. Plan of Old Manse and Chapel 1955. Bovey Tracey Heritage Centre.

Newspapers in 1858 and 1860 reported on this new Free Church. By 1861 Julia Puddicombe had returned from Reading and was living at Church Stile.[23] In 1864 Julia sold Hill Head to Rev. Charles Wilson of Plymouth, minister of the Gospel.[24] The deeds described that part of the hereditaments were now used as a chapel or a place of worship. In 1866 Rev. Wilson sold the house and its chapel to Messrs A. Rooker and Alexander Hubbard, both gentlemen of Plymouth and Thomas Windeatt of Tavistock.[25] By 1866 it was also referred to as a Congregational Church with Rev. William Ritchie being the Independent Minister at Hill Head.[26] Ritchie was also closely involved with the British School in Mary Street which had been established to counteract the Tractarian teaching in the Church of England National School.

By 1869 the deeds of the house described in detail the trustees and ‘the purposes of the meeting house or place of worship for service of God by the Society or Congregational of Protestant Dissenters of the denomination known as Independents.’ The  number of trustees of the property had increased and they sold it to particular trustees named as Rev. Charles Wilson, who already had a share, and Rev. Frederick Evans Anthony Minister of the Gospel, Edwin Polkinghorne merchant, William Armstrong a merchant, Jospeh Pillman a draper, Thomas Gourd an accountant, Charles Cox and John Walter Wilson a gentleman, all of Plymouth and John Sparke Amery of Ashburton a gentleman; with financial support from Alfred Rooker, William Lavers, Alexander Hubbard, William Derry and John Windeatt all gentlemen of Plymouth, Thomas Windeatt of Tavistock a gentleman, Richard Peake of Hazelwood near Kingsbridge a gentleman and Rev I. Coombes of Torquay a Minister of the Gospel. This meant that several people had a religious and financial interest in supporting the non-conformist chapel and place of worship in the town.[27]

The 1871 Census showed that Mary Street had then become Hill Street as it rose past the Hind Street turning. Hill Street had Church House (also called Hill Head) where James Young, a minister of the congregational church, was living with his wife and child.[28] The gazetteer of 1873 listed his dwelling as Hillhead.[29] From 1877 – 1879 the Independent/Congregational minister was Rev. W. Cotton of Hill Head.[30]

In 1880 a new Wesleyan Chapel on Mary Street was being constructed.[31] This meant that Bovey Tracey then had a Baptist Chapel, a Congregational Chapel and a Weslyan Chapel which showed how popular the non-denominational movement was in the town. On the 1881 Census Henry King the Congregational Minister with his wife and two children were listed as living at Hillhead. He was still the Congregational Minister in 1889. By the time of the 1891 Census Melanethon L. Gooby was the Congregational Minister living there.[32]

1892 was the first reference to Hill Head being called The Manse. This was in connection with the Gooby residence when Rev. Gooby’s daughter, Miss Gooby, received a prize.[33] By 1893 Rev. Gooby was described as living at The Manse and from then on this was the name of the house.[34]

A title document of 1921 referred to the property as the Congregational Chapel Manse and Trust property in Bovey Tracey.[35] In 1928 a new site on Fore Street was found for the Congregational Chapel and School. This is now the Methodist Church.[36]

The Old Manse continued to be owned by trustees and in 1955 a decision was made by the Supreme Court that the Congregational Union mortgage was donated to the funds of the charity, in other words the original mortgage of 1866 had never been repayed. Effectively the matter of any money owing on the property was closed.[37] Following this judgement the Charity Commission agreed that the property could be sold. The Devon Congregational Union sold The Old Manse to William Robinson Thomas a master baker of 3, Blenheim Terrace. This was the conclusion of any religious financial interest in the property.

 

CONCLUSION

Hill Head was an important contribution to the development of non-conformist/independent religious worship in the town. The Puddicombe family of Reading and Church Stile bought the property and in 1857 supported an independent  place of worship to be built attached to and behind it. Hill Head became known as The Old Manse. Later the nonconformist congregation were able to build a large chapel on Fore Street. The Old Manse was let to various individuals and it was not until 1955 that it became a private property free from religious ownership. 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to the owners of The Old Manse for their assistance with this research; and to Woolcombe Beer Watts, Solicitors for donating the records of the ownership of this property which played an important part in the history of religious worship in Bovey Tracey, these records are now kept at Bovey Tracey Heritage Centre.

 

Abbreviations

DHC Devon Heritage Centre

BTHC Bovey Tracey heritage Centre

[1] DHC Map of the Manor of Bovey Tracey 2802Z/11640.

[2] BTHC 1726 February 8 Lease and Release.

[3] BTHC 1734 August 5  letters of Administration.

[4]  BTHC 1737 November 2 Indenture.

[5]  BTHC 1753 March 29 Indenture.

[6] BTHC 1759 March 13 Indenture.

[7] BTHC 1773 June 26 Assignment.

[8] BTHC 1782 April 29  Will and Probate.

[9] WBW 1813 April 13 Assignment.

[10] Frances Billinge, 2019. Baptist Church Bovey Tracey (www.boveytraceyhistory.org).

[11] WBTHC 1823 March 31 Indenture.

[12] BW 1824 April 9 Assignment.

[13] BTHC 1829 May 15  Assignment.

[14] BTHC 1833 April 25 Indenture.

[15] BTHC 1846 September 29 Assignment.

[16] See note 1.

[17] DHC 2160A/PO/3/2/23 Overseers of the Poor Apprenticeship Records.

[18] DHC box 3574 Baptist Church Bovey Tracey Account Book Baptist Sunday School.  

[19] Royal Berkshire Archives D/EX1942/2/3/3 Lease.

[20] The Western Times 5 April 1857, p.7.

[21] The Western Times 26 September 1857, p.7.

[22] BTHC 1955 July 12 Charity Commission Report and Supporting Plan.

[23] The national Archives 1861 Census.

[24] BTHC 1864 November 22 Assignment.

[25] BTHC 1866 April17 Assignment.

[26] 1866 Post Office Directory of Devonshire, London, Kelly and Company, p. 734.

[27] BTHC 1869 January 11 Abstract of Title.  

[28] The National Archives 1871 Census.

[29] Kelly’s Directory of Devonshire, London, Kelly and Company, p.57-8.

[30](The Western Times 18 December1878, p .8;1878 J. G. Harrod and Co’s Directory Royal County Directory of Devonshire, London, Harrod J.G., pp. 72-3; 1878-9 William White, History Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire, Sheffield, Robert Leader, p.167-8).

[31] The Western Times October 26, p. 5.

[32] The National Archives 1881 and 1891 census; Kelly’s Directory of Devonshire, 1889, London, Kelly and Company, p.68).

[33] Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 16 April 1892, p. 2.

[34] Kelly’s Directory of Devonshire and Cornwall and Devon ,London, Kelly and Co., p.70).

[35] BTHC 1921 August 23 Abstract of Title.

[36] Exeter and Plymouth Gazette June 28,1928  p.7; Veronica Kennedy, 2004. The Bovey Book, Bovey Tracey, Cottage Publishing, p. 88).

[37] See note 23.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walter

Walter

we know that

In 1888

Frances Billinge, Gail Ham, Judith Moss and Julia Neville, 2019. Schools for the Poor in Mid-Nineteenth-Century Devon: Towards an Explanation of Variations in Local Development in Studies in Church History ,5, 307–323. https://www.cambridge.org/core

I was part of a Devon History Society project which researched nineteenth century education. Our article has now been published in the journal of the Ecclesiastical History Society . It is an analysis of elementary school development in the three contrasting Devon communities of Bovey Tracey, Throwleigh, and Dartmouth. during the mid-nineteenth century. This was a time of intense interest in the expansion of education amongst the labouring poor, but scholars have found it difficult to explain why schools were established in some places but not in others. With information from local sources, we identify the social context in which developments did (or did not) take place and the actions of the relevant interested parties. A significant variable accounting for success or failure is the availability of a local champion with the skills not only to persuade others of the merits of a school, but also to seize opportunities to further the project and manage the relationships necessary to assure its success.

For Bovey Tracey it was the work of Annie Croker which led to the establishment of non-denominational education for the poorest children. Further information on Annie Croker can be found in Pioneering Women under ‘Topics.’

Frances Billinge June 2019.

Cromwell

in

THE OLD MANSE MARY STREET

Some preliminary notes – Frances Billinge January 2019

INTRODUCTION

The earliest reference to a congregational minister in Bovey Tracey is from 1866. In 1870 the congregational minister was described as living at the ‘Free Church House’. The 1871 Census confirms that this was on Mary Street. By 1878 it was referred to as ‘Chapel House’. It is not until I892 that we find the first reference to it being called ‘The Manse’ and being connected with the Congregational Church.

HISTORY OF THE DWELLING /MEETING HOUSES OF THE NON-CONFORMIST CHURCHES

1780 Land Tax Assessment refers to a house for pious uses. This is held by feofees, and John Soper is the occupier and the tax is 12 shillings.There is no indication who the feofees are, where in the parish this house is sited, or which denomination uses it. (Devon Heritage Centre microfiche).

 1809 Charity Commission on schools in 1907 made reference to Wesleyans being in Bovey by 1809 and having their own land. This reference is in connection to provision of Sunday schools. Possibly this was the land delineated on the 1841 Tithe Map see below. (Parliamentary Papers Endowed Charities, Devon, 1908. pp.1-16)

1813 Devon Heritage Centre Baptism Register Wesleyan Chapel Bovey Tracey from 1813(Devon Heritage Centre 1517D/0/4 Baptism Register: Wesleyan Bovey Tracey Chapel 1813- 1942. These have not yet been checked)

1822 Date referred to by the charity commission report of 1908 which stated that by this date there was a meeting house for the Particular Baptists and another for the Methodist Wesleyans.

Figure 1 Baptist Chapel Hind Street. Frances Billinge 2018.

We have evidence for the Baptist chapel being on Hind Street Fig.1.(Baptist  Church Bovey Tracey, Frances Billinge 2018 boveytraceyhistory.org.uk)

Figure 2. Wesleyan Chapel on the South side of Mary Street at the turn of the 19/20^th Century. David Lewis Collection

Figure. 3 Bovey Wesleyan Church Jubilee 1930. David Lewis Collection

1841 Tithe Map and Apportionment. The dwelling which is now called the Old Manse is on the North side of Mary Street just above where Hind Street joins it. This house is number 1551 on the Tithe Map and described as a dwelling house with courtledge, and above and beside it is a garden and also an uninhabited building such as a barn. Lower down Mary Street on the southern side is a chapel number 1503. The chapel comprises eight perches of land surrounded on three sides by garden. It is shown as an uninhabited building. There is no indication which denomination met at this chapel.  On the 1841 Census no-one is listed as living there.  By 1841 all of these properties were owned by the Lord of the Manor the Earl of Devon. Next door to the chapel was a smith’s shop, number 1504. Next door down are 1505 and 1506 both inhabited cottages before the turning in the road leading down to what is now called Town Hall Place.

1843 and 1845 a congregation of Wesleyans referred to in newspaper reports.

1844 Land Tax Assessment Hugh Collander is the proprietor and together with others is the occupier of the Wesleyan Chapel and the tax is 1s 6d (Devon Heritage Centre 2160A/PD/1).

1850 William White, History Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire (Sheffield, Robert Leader) p.470 ‘… a Wesleyan and a Baptist Chapel the latter built 1823 near the site of the old one. Rev Wm Brook Baptist [Minister].

1856 Post Office Directory of Devonshire, (London, Kelly and Company) p. 40.  ‘Wesleyan chapel Mary Street, various ministers.’

1857 Billing’s Directory and Gazetteer of Devonshire (Birmingham, Martin Billinge) p. 312. ‘The Wesleyan chapel which is small has no stated minister.’

This was a year of considerable religious disquiet in Bovey Tracey as some residents were expressing their anger with the ‘High Church’, also known as Tractarian, views of the local vicar The Hon, and Rev Charles Leslie Courtenay. Courtenay had built a new church in Brimley which followed ‘High Church’ liturgy, and he was now trying to re-order the parish church in a way which some residents considered to be ‘popish’. At a meeting of the parish vestry it was reported that there was a movement to build a free church in the town.(The Western Times 5 April 1857, p.7.) This movement worked with speed and on 21 September the new Free Church was opened as a place of worship. (The Western Times 26 September 1857, p.7.) Mr Lock architect was the builder and it would hold 200. A local family by the name of Puddicombe and others helped build it. Architecture extant in The Old Manse confirms that this was the site of the Free Church.

1858, 1860 Newspaper references to a Free Church.

1866 Post Office Directory of Devonshire, (London, Kelly and Company) p .734. Rev William Ritchie Independent [Minister]Hill Head; 1866 Dr Ritchie minister of the Congregational Church.

FIRST REFERENCE to the FREE CHURCH HOUSE

1870 Morris’ Directory for Devonshire (Nottingham, Morris and Co.) p.460. ‘There are places of Worship for Baptist, Christian Brethren, Independents and Wesleyans.’. Rev Henry Bool, Baptist [minister], Rev James Young congregational [minister], Free Church House. No mention is made of where Christian Brethren met. The Bovey Book, (Veronica Kennedy, 2004, Cottage Publishing) p. 67 says after the [British] school closed the hall it was sited in on Mary Street was sold to the Brethren in 1912. As they were in Bovey Tracey from at least 1870 the Brethren must have been meeting somewhere else before 1912. The Brethren had 35 members in the interwar years then dwindled to a dozen.

Figure 4. Brethren Meeting House from1912. Frances Billinge 2018.

1871 Census. Mary Street becomes Hill Street as it rises past the Hind Street turning. Hill Street has Church House where James Young, a minister of the congregational church, is living with his wife and child.  A newspaper report of that year referred to him as, ‘Rev Young the pastor.’ and also to the Congregational church. This shows that the Free Church which was sometimes called the Independent Church was becoming known as the Congregational Church.

1873 Kelly’s Directory of Devonshire (London, Kelly and Company) p.57-8. Lists Baptists, Independents, Wesleyan and Christian Brethren, with Rev. James Young Independent [Minister of] Hill Head.

1877 Rev. W. Cotton Congregational minister (The Western Times 18 December, p.8)

1878 J. G. Harrod and Co’s Directory Royal County Directory of Devonshire (London, Harrod J.G.) pp. 72-3. This refers to three chapels for Dissenters – Primitive Baptists, Rev. Love; Independent Minister Rev. William Cotton; Wesleyan Rev. Daniel Eyre Minister p.72; Rev W Cotton, Independent of Hill Head.

1878-9 William White, History Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire (Sheffield, Robert Leader) p.167-8.  ‘The Baptist Chapel has a new Ministers House purchased 1875. The Independents have also a place of worship here. Rev. W. Cotton Congregational, Chapel House, Mary Street; Rev. Charles Love, Baptist [Minister], Rowell House.

1880 Report that a new Wesleyan church is to be built (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 7 May p. 2) Figures 2 and 3.

1881 Census. After forty-six dwellings Mary Street becomes ‘Hill on High Street’. Henry King the congregational minister with his wife and two children are listed as living in the dwelling listed as 69 by the enumerator (this is not a reference to a house number as they were not used in Bovey Tracey at that time, it is merely the next number on the enumerator’s list. Sometimes an enumerator would go up one side of a street and down the other, but at other times he might criss-cross the street, so this makes it difficult to pinpoint a property without other evidence). Following number 69 the enumerator carried on and eventually listed Cross Cottage which is on the top South side of Mary Street/Hill on High Street and then he listed Hind Street.

The Baptist Minister Joseph Pearce was listed as living on Hind Street. We know this was in the house above the Baptist Chapel and called Rowle House/ Rowell’s House. The deeds of this house have been seen which confirm this being the Baptist minister’s residence. [Deeds of Hind Street House. Private collection].

1887 O.S. Map. Congregational chapel marked on Mary Street. No reference to Methodist/Wesleyan chapel.

1889 Kelly’s Directory of Devonshire (London, Kelly and Company) p.68. Refers to Baptist, Congregational and Wesleyan Methodist chapels. Rev, John King was the congregational minister.

1891 Census. Melanethon L. Gooby congregational minister was living on Mary Street with his wife and child.

1891 Census. Annie Warner and her sister with their father were living on Hind Street. Annie was a governess and the Wesleyan Minister Rev. F.W. Jeffries lived with them as a visitor, this could mean he lived there and was a ‘visitor’ in the sense of a paying guest/lodger.

FIRST REFERENCE TO THE MANSE

1892 This is the first reference so far found to a house being called ‘The Manse’. This was in connection with the Gooby residence when Rev. Gooby’s daughter, Miss Gooby, received a prize. (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 16 April)

1893 Kelly’s Directory of Devonshire and Cornwall and Devon (London, Kelly and Co.) p.70. This lists the Baptist Chapel 500 places, Congregational Chapel 130 places and Methodist 200 places. ‘Rev Melancthon Lewis Gooby, Congregational, The Manse’ Rev Ashford Smith [Baptist] at Rowle House.

1901 Census This listed the Wesleyan Chapel on Mary Street with no-one living there. Melanchon L. Gooby Congregational Minister and his wife were boarders at William and Jennie Pascoe’s boarding House on Fore Street.

1902 Kelly’s Directory of Devon (London, Kelly and Co.) p.83-4. Lists Rev. Ralph Blake  [Congregational] The Manse Mary Street; Baptist chapel 500; Congregational 130; and Methodist Wesleyan 200; Rev Wm Payne Baptist [Minister] Rowle House.  

1906 OS map. Congregational chapel in same place on Mary Street and again no mention of the Methodist Chapel.  

1906 Kelly’s Directory of Devon (London, Kelly and Co.) p.86. Describes the Baptist Chapel as having been erected in 1772 with 500 places ; Congregational  erected in 1857 with 140 places;  and Wesleyan Methodist with 200 places . Rev Wm Henry Payne Rowell House, Baptist [Minister].

1910 Kelly’s Directory has the same description with Rev John Robert Way Baptist [Minister]

1927 The Western Times 28 Jan.p.8. Reference to a wedding in connection with the Wesleyan school chapel.

1928 January 26 The Western Morning News, p.8.  Weslyan School room mentioned. Present given by Rev. L Sanders on behalf of members of the church to Mr H. Meredith a local preacher and Sunday School Superintendent

1928 June 18, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette p.7. ‘Congregationalist have secured a new site for their chapel and school which will be in Fore Street’. There is also a reference to this in Veronica Kennedy, 2004. The Bovey Book, (Bovey Tracey, Cottage Publishing) p. 88.

CONCLUSION

There was a Manse in Mary Street which was connected with the Congregational church. In 1857 this church was built and opened as a place of worship. At that time it was called an Independent Church. Architecture of the current house confirms that this was the site of the new church built as an extension to the existing house. The latter is thought to have been built in the early 1700s, but could have been earlier than that. (Private collection of transcription of deeds from 1725.) The Congregational minister generally lived there from 1866. It is first recorded as being called a Manse from 1892.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Grateful thanks to the owners of The Old Manse for their assistance with this research.