CHIPSTABLE
The ancient parish of Chipstable lay on the
southern slopes of the Brendons 4 km. west of
Wiveliscombe. (fn. 1) It was in two parts, both treated
below. The main part of the parish, roughly rectangular in shape, measured 2 km. from east to west
and 3.5 km. from north to south. A detached area
some 2.5 km. north of the northern boundary, beyond
Huish Champflower and reaching to the Brendon
ridgeway, included East Withy and Chitcombe
farms. (fn. 2) In 1881 the total area was 2,252 a. (fn. 3) In 1884
the detached area was added to Huish Champflower,
reducing the parish to 1,936 a. (fn. 4) In 1933 Raddington
was joined with Chipstable to form the civil parish
of Chipstable, giving a total area of 1,398 ha.
(3,454 a.). (fn. 5)
The parish occupies land which falls from 338 m.
on Heydon Hill in the north-west to c. 120 m. in the
extreme south-east, on slates, siltstones, and sandstones of the Pilton and Pickwell Down beds. (fn. 6) Its
western boundary with Raddington is marked largely
by the wide Old Way. (fn. 7) The River Tone marks the
eastern boundary, its narrow, steep-sided valley
heavily wooded in the north, but widening sufficiently
further south for the establishment of two farmsteads
and the straggling hamlet of Waterrow at two crossing places. From Waterrow another valley runs
north-west across the parish to Chipstable village, at
the 250 m. contour. The south end of the parish
includes a shallow valley beyond the abrupt southern
slope of Biballs Hill.
Chipstable village comprises the church, former
and present rectory houses, former school, two
farms, and a few cottages. Waterrow is the name
given from the mid 19th century to scattered settlements in the Tone valley formerly called East and
West Skirdall or Skirdle, which became the largest
settlement. (fn. 8) Cottages at Elms Green, south of
Chipstable village, and at Bulland were mentioned
in the mid 19th century. (fn. 9) Farms are spread widely
through the rest of the parish: Chitcombe and East
Withy were established by 1306, (fn. 10) Withycombe,
Trowell, Severidges, and Above Church by 1327, (fn. 11)
and Pinkhouse by 1451. (fn. 12) Trowell Farm is a 15th-century long house with linenfold panelling similar
to work at Muchelney Abbey. (fn. 13) Furze and heath
were found, probably near the Chipstable-Raddington boundary, in the 1440s. (fn. 14) There were areas of
common pasture on Heydon (264 a.), Lydon (32 a.),
and Biballs (14 a.) hills until they were inclosed in
1837, (fn. 15) but no common arable fields have been
traced. Field names and shapes indicate a park on the
demesne in a watered valley in the centre of the
parish. (fn. 16) Woodland on Heydon Hill and elsewhere
was established in the 1830s by John Stone, lord of
the manor, and was then 'abounding with black and
other game'. (fn. 17)
From 1786 the turnpike road from Wiveliscombe
to Bampton (Devon) entered the parish over Yeo
Bridge (fn. 18) and from Waterrow climbed Biballs and
Shute hills before descending into Raddington. (fn. 19)
The route was improved c. 1824, entering Waterrow
further south over Biballs Bridge and curving southwards into the valley below Shute Hill. (fn. 20) The same
valley was the route of the Devon and Somerset
railway, opened in 1873, which entered the parish
over Waterrow viaduct. (fn. 21) Venn Cross station, partly
in Chipstable and partly in Clayhanger (Devon), was
closed with the line in 1966. (fn. 22)
The Travellers' Rest inn, immediately north of
Biballs Bridge, was established in 1819, and continued until 1851 or later. (fn. 23) The Rock House inn,
later the Rock inn, also at Waterrow and in 1840 a
private house and smithy, (fn. 24) had become an inn by
1851. (fn. 25) It was still open in 1982.
A total of 56 people signed the Protestation in
1642. (fn. 26) There were 301 people in the parish in 1801.
After a fall to 288 in 1811, the total rose each decade,
reaching 395 in 1851. Then began a steady decline,
the figure of 420 in 1871 including the families of
workmen building the railway. By 1901 the population was 265, and in twenty years it reached 277. In
1931 the total of 335 included the inhabitants of Raddington ecclesiastical parish. In 1971 the population
of the civil parish, which included Raddington, had
fallen to 273. (fn. 27)
MANOR AND OTHER ESTATES.
Celric held
CHIPSTABLE in 1066, but by 1086 he had been
succeeded by the monks of Muchelney. (fn. 28) The monks
remained in possession until their house was surrendered to the Crown in 1538, (fn. 29) the manor having in
the mid 15th century been assigned to the monastic
cook. (fn. 30) The Crown almost immediately sold the
manor to Edward Seymour, earl of Hertford, (fn. 31) who
sold it later in the same year to Roger (later Sir Roger)
Bluet of Greenham in Stawley. (fn. 32) The Bluets were
said to hold of the Crown in chief in 1615. (fn. 33)
Sir Roger Bluet, alive in 1548, (fn. 34) was followed by his
son John (d. 1584) (fn. 35) and by John's son Richard (d.
1615). Richard was succeeded by his grandson John
Bluet, a minor. (fn. 36) John died in 1634, when his four
surviving daughters, the oldest aged nine, shared the
estate. (fn. 37) Much of the land was sold from the 1680s onwards, but quarter shares in the chief rents of the
ancient freeholds of the manor and the church house
were retained by the descendants of some of the Bluet
daughters until the mid 18th century. (fn. 38)
Anne, the eldest daughter of John Bluet, married
Cadwallader Jones of Greenham before 1652. (fn. 39) Her
son, also Cadwallader, had succeeded to his mother's
estate by 1687, (fn. 40) and John Jones of Burlescombe
(Devon) retained a share of the chief rents until 1715,
when he sold them to the rector of Chipstable, Simon
Richards. (fn. 41) John Bluet's second daughter, Mary,
married first Sir James Stonehouse and in 1659 John
(later Sir John) Lenthall of Besselsleigh (Berks., now
Oxon.). (fn. 42) William Lenthall (d. 1686), (fn. 43) son of Mary,
was followed by his son John. John sold most of his
property in Chipstable in 1706 and 1707, his share of
the manor passing in 1706 to Miles Corbett of Lyons
Inn, London. (fn. 44) Before 1743 the share had been
acquired by David Yea of Oakhampton in Wiveliscombe, who in that year sold it to Simon Richards. (fn. 45)
John Bluet's third daughter, Dorothy, married
Henry Wallop of Farleigh Wallop (Hants). Their son
John (d. 1694) was succeeded first by his elder son
Bluet (d. 1707) and then by his younger son John (cr.
Baron Wallop and Vct. Lymington 1720, and earl of
Portsmouth 1743). (fn. 46) Lord Lymington sold his share
of the demesne, Chipstable farm, to David Yea in
1726, (fn. 47) but retained his share of the chief rents, the
church house, and other land until 1742, when he sold
his estate to Gregory Jeane of Bradford on Tone. In
the following year Jeane sold his share of the chief
rents and the church house to Simon Richards. (fn. 48)
John Bluet's fourth daughter, Susan, married John
Basset of Heanton Punchardon (Devon). Their son
John (d. 1686) was succeeded by his son, also John
(d. 1721). John Basset was followed by his son Francis
John, who in 1739 conveyed his share of the chief
rents and the church house to Simon Richards. (fn. 49)
By 1743, therefore, Simon Richards was in possession of the chief rents of the former manor, and of
other former manorial demesne holdings including
the church house. His estate, known as the manor or
reputed manor, passed on his death in 1751 to his
brother Richard, and then to Richard's nephew
Simon Richards (d. 1804), rector from 1784. The
manor was settled on Simon and his wife Anne in
1782 and was conveyed by Anne to her son, Simon
Slocombe Richards, when he became rector in 1809.
Richards sold the manor to John Carige of Wiveliscombe in 1815, and in 1818 it passed to Charles
Templer of Honiton (Devon), curate 1818–28 and
lessee of the glebe and tithes. (fn. 50) Templer sold the
manor in 1827 to John Stone; and Stone, then living
in Bath, sold it in 1839 to Arthur Capel of Stroud
(Glos.). (fn. 51)
Arthur Capel died in 1889 and was succeeded by
his son Arthur (d. 1931) and then by his grandson,
Air Vice Marshal Arthur John Capel. On the latter's
death in 1979 the estate passed to his daughter,
Mrs. Anne Deshon. (fn. 52)
Chipstable farm, based on the capital messuage of
the manor, was divided like the manor into four
parts. By 1687 at least one quarter was let to the
Langdon family, and passed to George Musgrave (d.
1721) of Nettlecombe under a lease of 1698. (fn. 53)
George's second son, Dr. Richard Musgrave of
Dulverton, (fn. 54) held three shares of the farm by 1726,
but in the same year a reversionary lease to David
Yea of Oakhampton began his family's connexion
with the farm which continued until 1802. (fn. 55) In 1726
Richard Musgrave reserved the hall, parlour, and
buttery, and the rooms over them, together with a
garden and stable. (fn. 56) The house was described as
newly built in 1802. (fn. 57)
Between 1827 and 1838 John Stone, as lord of the
manor, built a house called Bulland Lodge in the
north-east corner of the parish on part of his farm of
Withycombe. (fn. 58) Surrounded by gardens and woodland, with lodges, coach houses, and stables, the
house was described as 'very eligible and peculiarly
beautiful'. It was extended to designs by Richard
Carver c. 1840. (fn. 59) The house was occupied by the
Capel family until 1980.
There were five medieval freeholds on the manor.
One, later identified as Halsdown farm, was held in
1461 by Henry Perys, probably in succession to the
Brooke family, Lords Cobham, who held in 1448. (fn. 60)
George Stewkeley (d. 1494), of Marsh in Dunster, was
holding it by 1490, and was succeeded by his son
Peter, then a minor. (fn. 61) Peter's son Hugh (d. 1585) was
followed by Hugh's son Sir Thomas (d. 1639). Sir
Thomas's son Hugh (cr. Bt. 1627) died in 1642, and
was followed by his son, also Hugh, who died without male heirs in 1719. (fn. 62) The rent for Halsdown was
still recorded in Sir Hugh's name in 1741, (fn. 63) but it
was not claimed later.
Chitcombe and East Withy were freeholds by
1324. (fn. 64) The Dyke family held a freehold by 1461,
probably in succession to Thomas Bratton, (fn. 65) which
was identified as East Withy farm by 1637. (fn. 66) The
freehold descended in the Dyke family to Elizabeth
(d. 1752) daughter of Thomas Dyke, who married
Sir Thomas Acland, Bt. Their son John Dyke Acland
(d. 1778) was succeeded by his son, also John, who was
named as a freeholder in 1782. (fn. 67) The freehold continued in the family, passing through the marriage of
Elizabeth Dyke Acland with Henry George Herbert,
Lord Porchester, later earl of Carnarvon, to the
Herbert family. It was sold by the 4th earl of Carnarvon c. 1886. (fn. 68)
John Sydenham held a freehold by 1448 which
may be identified as half of Bovey farm in 1741. (fn. 69)
The chief rent was said in 1782 to be payable by the
Revd. Alexander Webber. (fn. 70) The fifth medieval freehold, described in 1741 as at Sedgebarrow, (fn. 71) was held
by Robert Tanfield from 1460 and by 1637 was
occupied by John Talbot. (fn. 72) Men of that name were
owners until 1741, (fn. 73) but by 1782 the rent was owed
by Thomas Wright. (fn. 74) The estate has not been located.
Sir John Davie of Bittescombe in Upton was charged
with a chief rent in 1782 for land called Monkton
meadow in succession to James Welsh, who had held
it in 1715. (fn. 75) It may be the land held with Bittescombe
manor in 1554. (fn. 76)
ECONOMIC HISTORY.
Chipstable gelded for
2½ hides in 1086 but there were 6 ploughteams, of
which 1 was in demesne with 2 serfs, and 5 were
worked by 16 villeins and 2 bordars. There was only
½ a. of meadow, but 100 a. of pasture; and woodland
measured ½ league long by 2 furlongs broad. (fn. 77) The
release in 1461 of a freeholder occupying customary
land from the obligation to plough for 1 day, make
hay for 2 days, and thatch the lord's barn (fn. 78) may indicate the dispersal of the former demesne farm.
Certainly by 1535 the monks of Muchelney had let
their land in Chipstable, and rents produced £11
16s. 4½d. (fn. 79) At Severidges Farm, the centre of a holding
of c. 60 a. of land in 1399, (fn. 80) the presence in the 16th
century of a corn-drying kiln and a curing chamber
suggests mixed farming. (fn. 81) By 1543 part of the common pasture on Heydon Hill was being cultivated. (fn. 82)
Nevertheless pasturage and particularly sheep farming appear to have been more important than arable
farming. Pasture held in severalty and straying sheep
were recorded in the 15th century. (fn. 83) In 1535 the
rector's tithes of wool and lambs were valued at
£4 18s., compared with the £5 11s. from all other
tithes. (fn. 84) In 1643 a tenant farmer at Hilland had sheep
valued at £17 10s., wool valued at £1 6s., and only
5 cattle; Thomas Sedgeborrow (d. 1642) had sheep
valued at £79, wool at £22, and cattle at £39, compared with corn at £75; Gregory Robbins (d. 1683),
a carpenter, had 70 sheep and lambs representing a
quarter of the value of his entire possessions. (fn. 85)
From the later 17th century the established tenant
farms were converted to freeholds, although the process was prolonged because of the division of the
manor. The Surrage family, for instance, bought the
freehold of one quarter of Trowell farm in 1687, but
did not acquire the last quarter until 1739. (fn. 86) The
freehold of Bulham, later Bulland, was similarly
acquired by the Hellings family in four stages between 1701 and 1739. (fn. 87) By 1741 all but three small
farms and a few cottages had been converted to
freeholds. (fn. 88)
Sub-leases for terms of years were already established practice before the conversion to freeholds had
been completed. Three parts of Chipstable farm were
let from 1727 for 21 years, with covenants to prevent
more than two successive arable crops, ploughing
pasture less than six years old, and cutting clover and
trefoil before it was three years old. Part of the former
park was then under flax. (fn. 89) A rent of 6d. an acre was
payable for ploughing the commons. (fn. 90) By 1806 oats
was the largest corn crop, a dairy was established at
East Shutt, and bullocks were raised at East Withy. (fn. 91)
In 1810 the farmer at East Withy had a flock of 100
sheep. (fn. 92)
By 1796 there were 20 farms in the parish, ranging
from Chipstable farm (207 a.) and East Withy (154 a.)
to a holding of 20 a., more than half measuring over
50 a. Sir William Yea held both Chipstable farm and
Halsdown. (fn. 93) By 1803 the former was divided into six
units. (fn. 94) There were 14 farms of over 50 a. in 1840,
including the 257 a. of new inclosures on Heydon
Hill, then owned by Arthur Capel, part of which was
later to become North Combe farm. (fn. 95) By 1851 consolidation of farms in the south part of the parish had
resulted in a holding of 340 a. at West Bovey and
other increases at Wadhams and Trowell. (fn. 96) The
Capels acquired Wadhams, Marshes, and Millbeer
farms in the 1890s (fn. 97) to build up a substantial estate
in the north-east quarter of the parish, based in the
1980s at Withycombe farm.
In 1840 there were an estimated 1,030 a. of pasture,
800 a. of arable, and 112a. of wood. (fn. 98) In 1905, excluding East Withy and Chitcombe, there were 1,130 a.
of grassland, 537 a. of arable, and 203 a. of wood. (fn. 99)
In 1976 four fifths of the civil parish of Chipstable,
including Raddington, were under grass; there were
ten dairy farms and five farms specializing in cattle
and sheep. (fn. 100)
Two clothiers in the parish were accused of illegal
trade practices in 1631. (fn. 101) A fuller was living in
Chipstable between 1824 and 1827. (fn. 102) Two smithies
and several workshops were established near the turnpike road at Waterrow by 1840, (fn. 103) and a tradition of
agricultural machinery manufacture, begun by 1823
in the person of a share maker, (fn. 104) was continued with
a machine maker in 1851. (fn. 105) The firm of W. H. Pool
and Sons at Waterrow, founded by Henry Pool,
carpenter, in 1847, were patentees of a calf feeder in
the 1870s, and sold a wide range of farming machinery.
A. J. Pool (d. 1957), who continued the business and
made oil engines, was also a professional photographer. (fn. 106) In the later 19th century there were several
shops at Waterrow, by that time the largest settlement
in the parish. (fn. 107)
Mills.
There was a mill at East Withy, on the
border with Huish Champflower, before 1187, (fn. 108) but
no further trace of it has been found. A tenant was
released from his obligation to procure a millstone
for the lord in 1461. (fn. 109) There were said to be two mills
on the manor by 1538, (fn. 110) and there were two in 1637
and 1647, one a corn mill, the other a fulling mill. (fn. 111)
The former, known as Bullworthy's after the tenant
in 1652, (fn. 112) was occupied by Roger Bishop in 1721 and
by John Rossiter in 1766, (fn. 113) and was owned and occupied by Bishop Stone in 1840. (fn. 114) The mill, known as
Manor mill, stood north of Waterrow, and remained
in use until c. 1908. (fn. 115) It was driven by a long leat
which was diverted from the River Tone at Yeo
Bridge. (fn. 116) A second mill stood in 1840 in the centre
of Waterrow. (fn. 117) It has not been traced later.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Court rolls for the
manor have survived for nine sessions during the
period 1448–51 and for ten sessions between 1459
and 1465. (fn. 118) Courts seem to have been held until the
last tenant farms were sold in the mid 18th century.
The tenant of the manor house from 1718 had to
provide lodging for the steward, his servants, and
two horses for two days and two nights twice a year. (fn. 119)
In the 15th century the court nominated three or four
men for appointment as reeve, and the reeve received
the income from some woodland to support himself
in office. (fn. 120)
Chipstable tithing was joined with Raddington by
1569. (fn. 121) The parish had two churchwardens and two
overseers by 1642. (fn. 122) No records of parochial government have been traced. The overseers repaired the
church house in the 18th century and may have used
it as a poorhouse. (fn. 123) The parish became part of the
Wellington poor-law union in 1836, and was in the
Wellington rural district from 1894 and Taunton
Deane district, later Borough, from 1974. (fn. 124)
CHURCH.
Ownership of the church of Chipstable
was confirmed to the monks of Muchelney in 1239. (fn. 125)
The benefice remained a sole rectory until 1929,
when it was united with Raddington. (fn. 126) From 1967
until 1971 the living was held as a curacy-in-charge
with Huish Champflower and Clatworthy, to which
it was united in 1971. (fn. 127)
The advowson descended with the manor in the
possession of the monks of Muchelney until 1538,
but the Crown presented to the living in 1305 and
1463 when the abbacy was vacant. (fn. 128) After the Dissolution the descent of the patronage has not been
traced until 1597 when a rector was presented by
grant of John Bluet of Greenham. (fn. 129) Both the Crown
and another John Bluet presented in 1629 at a single
vacancy. (fn. 130) At the next presentation in 1670, after the
division of the manor, Cadwallader Jones and his wife
Anne appointed a rector. (fn. 131) In 1695 Joseph Wyatt was
said to be patron as son and heir of the previous
rector, (fn. 132) but in 1707 the presentation was made by
Gregory Jeane, appointed for that turn in respect of
the Wallop share of the manor. (fn. 133) The advowson was
subsequently acquired by Simon Richards, rector
1707–51, and it descended to his son Simon, who was
appointed rector by the bishop at his own request in
1751. (fn. 134) The Richards family retained the advowson:
Richard Richards, the last rector's uncle, presented
in 1781, (fn. 135) John Harvey, as a trustee of Simon
Richards of Chipstable, in 1784, (fn. 136) and Anne Richards,
Simon's widow, in 1806. (fn. 137) Simon Slocombe Richards
was instituted at his own request in 1809. (fn. 138) The
advowson passed, probably on the death of S. S.
Richards in 1853, (fn. 139) to Charles Dare of North Curry
and Samuel Knight Pollard of Taunton, and they
presented Dare's son Walter in 1855. (fn. 140) In 1857 the
patrons were Charles Dare and John Rendell of
Taunton. (fn. 141) By 1875 the advowson had been acquired
by the rector, William Nicholetts, and it remained in
his family until transferred to the bishop of Bath and
Wells in 1937. (fn. 142)
The living was assessed at £11 1s. 6d. net in 1535, (fn. 143)
and was said to be worth £80 c. 1668. (fn. 144) The net
income was £340 in 1831. (fn. 145) Tithes were assesssed at
£10 9s. in 1535, (fn. 146) and a tithe rent charge of £263 16s.
was agreed in 1842, including £11 4s. from the newly
inclosed commons, £6 from glebe when let, and 8s.
from the mills. (fn. 147) The glebe was worth 21s. in 1535. (fn. 148)
There were 37 a. in 1571 (fn. 149) and the same amount in
1840, (fn. 150) of which c. 26 a. were sold in 1924. (fn. 151)
In the early 17th century the rectory house was a
building of two storeys, having a parlour, hall, kitchen, buttery, and malt house on the ground floor,
and chambers including a study above. The house
was newly repaired c. 1629. The adjoining farm
buildings included a two-storeyed barn. (fn. 152) The house
was said to be 'in decent repair for an old house' when
occupied by the curate in 1840. (fn. 153) It was rebuilt on a
large scale c. 1870, and c. 1967 was sold, to be replaced c. 1975 by a new house to the south. The
former rectory house was known in 1982 as the
Grange. (fn. 154)
John de Wamberg, appointed rector in 1326, was
at the same time licensed to receive holy orders and
to be absent for study. (fn. 155) Master John Petherton,
rector 1409–19 and a licensed preacher in the diocese, (fn. 156) was succeeded for a short time by Master John
Storthwayt, later a prominent diocesan official. (fn. 157)
Nicholas Browne, rector by 1584 and until 1597, let
the parsonage to a local farmer with the obligation to
find a curate. (fn. 158) There was some neglect in the 1620s,
when the rector of Stoke Pero acted as curate. (fn. 159)
Rectors seem to have been resident during the 18th
century, including three members of the Richards
family, who were also lords of the manor and patrons.
A fourth member, S. S. Richards, rector from 1809,
was absent in 1815 because of illness, (fn. 160) and seems
never to have lived in the parish thereafter. He died
in 1853. (fn. 161) In 1815 a schoolmaster from Wellington
served both Chipstable and Raddington, and held
one service in Chipstable each Sunday. (fn. 162)
In 1840 the curate occupied the rectory house and
held both morning and afternoon services. (fn. 163) On
Census Sunday 1851 the morning congregation
totalled 162, including 52 children from the Sunday
school; the afternoon congregation was 172 with the
same number of children. (fn. 164) William Nicholetts,
rector 1857–1901, lived in the parish, rebuilt the
church and rectory house, and, according to a churchwarden, visited the sick 'with great delight'. By 1870
he was preaching two sermons each Sunday, and
celebrations of communion increased from four to
six each year. (fn. 165) Cottage meetings held at Waterrow
in the earlier 19th century were resumed in 1854. (fn. 166)
A church house was being leased by the lord of the
manor to the churchwardens by 1647. (fn. 167) Quarter
shares in the house were bought by the rector from
the Bluet heirs in 1715, 1739, and 1743. (fn. 168) The church
hall at Waterrow, used for both services and social
activities, was designed by A. B. Cottam and built in
1908. (fn. 169)
The church of ALL SAINTS was so dedicated
by 1531. (fn. 170) The medieval building, comprising chancel, nave with south aisle and south porch, and west
tower, with windows of the 15th and early 16th
centuries, (fn. 171) was demolished except for the tower in
1869, and was replaced by a building in the Geometrical style by Benjamin Ferrey. (fn. 172) The old arcade,
with angel capitals, and bench ends carved with the
Bluet arms, Renaissance heads, and a huntsman,
were retained.
Five bells were recast in 1861 and a sixth was added
in 1901. (fn. 173) The plate includes a cup of 1792. (fn. 174) The
registers date from 1694, but volumes from 1559
were in existence in 1812. (fn. 175)
NONCONFORMITY.
Cottage meetings organized
by Congregationalists from Wiveliscombe were held
at Waterrow from 1854 and a Sunday school was
established there in 1885. Bethel chapel was built in
1890, and was considered unsectarian in its allegiance. It was in use in 1982. (fn. 176)
EDUCATION.
There was a schoolmaster in the
parish in 1675. (fn. 177) By 1819 there was a school where a
few children were taught to read, (fn. 178) and by 1825 there
were three day schools and two Sunday schools, with
a total of 34 pupils. (fn. 179) No school survived into the next
decade, but day schools were re-started in 1830 and
1831, having 22 pupils between them by 1835. A new
Sunday school was started in 1833. (fn. 180) A building, comprising a dwelling on the ground floor and a schoolroom above, was conveyed for a school in 1836. (fn. 181) The
school was linked with the National Society by 1847
and was supported by subscriptions. In 1847 it had
26 children. (fn. 182) The building continued in use until
1876, and later became a church hall. It was largely
rebuilt after a fire c. 1961, (fn. 183) and in 1980 had been
converted to a dwelling called the Old School House.
The National school was replaced in 1876 by a board
school 1 km. south-east of the village opposite Chipstable Farm. (fn. 184) The school, which until the 1930s had
over 50 pupils, took juniors only from 1937, and was
closed after fire damage in 1956. The children were
transferred to Wiveliscombe. (fn. 185)
CHARITIES FOR THE POOR.
Five sums of £5
had been given to the parish by the 1780s for the
benefit of the second poor. Two of those sums were
given by John Talbot and George Huish at unknown
dates; the remainder were bequeathed by John
Parrat in 1712, James Surrage in 1716, and John
Hellings in 1762. In 1826 the interest of 25s. was
being paid at Easter to about twenty people not
otherwise relieved. (fn. 186) In 1843 the charities, said to
have been distributed in bread, were declared to have
been 'lost for many years'. (fn. 187)