STOGUMBER
Stogumber is a large, roughly triangular, parish
stretching 7 km. in each direction in the valley between the Quantocks and the Brendons. (fn. 1) The name
Stogumber, introduced by the early 13th century, (fn. 2)
implies ownership of a place named Stoke by a lord
of whom no post-Conquest trace has been found.
The Domesday name, Warverdinestoch, (fn. 3) perhaps
includes a variant of the same name, indicating a preConquest owner called Warver (perhaps Warner) or
Gomer. The boundaries between Stogumber and its
neighbours on all sides suggest the earlier existence
of a larger unit reaching as far east as the Quantock
ridgeway and embracing the later parishes of Bicknoller and Crowcombe in the east, Elworthy in the
south, Monksilver in the west, and Sampford Brett
in the north. Ecclesiastical links between the wealthy
church of Stogumber, its chapel of Bicknoller, and
the churches of Monksilver and Elworthy suggest
the existence of a minster at Stogumber. (fn. 4) Bicknoller,
while still technically a chapelry, had achieved effective independence by the end of the Middle Ages. (fn. 5)
Halsway was transferred to Bicknoller and Lower
Weacombe to Sampford Brett in 1885, a small area
was joined with Elworthy in 1886, and the small
detached parts of Sampford Brett and Monksilver in
Stogumber were in 1883 and 1884 absorbed. The
civil parish thereafter measured 2,165 ha. (5,349 a.). (fn. 6)
Most of the parish lies on land rising gently westwards from the Doniford stream which marks its
eastern boundary. In the west, between Monksilver
and Elworthy, the land reaches 229 m. at Ashbeer,
falls steeply into a valley which includes the settlements of Combe Sydenham and Culcombe, and then
rises again steeply up an irregular valley into the
Brendons, reaching 381 m. (fn. 7) The higher, western
half of the parish lies on slate, giving way to Lower
Sandstone, conglomerate, and marls towards the
eastern boundary, with gravel along the valleys. In
the extreme north around Capton and Vellow are
pebble beds and Upper Sandstone. (fn. 8) Stone was
quarried at Capton and Vellow, and also near the
southern boundary at Coleford Water. Lime was
burnt at Kingswood, beside the Doniford stream. (fn. 9)
A general mining lease was granted in 1757 for
exploration at Boarpath, on the heath land in the
extreme south-east corner of the parish, but no trace
of workings has been found. (fn. 10)
The earliest settlements in the parish were established largely beside streams which crossed the valley
floor and fed the Doniford stream. Stogumber and
its dependent settlement Preston (priest tun) were
presumably pre-Conquest in origin, and both lie
above the same stream flowing north to Vellow.
Hartrow, Vexford, Coleford, and Embelle, on a
network of streams further south, were all recorded
in the mid 11th century, together with Halsway on
the Quantock scarp, Combe Sydenham in a valley to
the west, and Capton (fn. 11) on high ground overlooking
the coastal plain in the north, where there are traces
of possible Iron Age occupation. (fn. 12) Place names such
as Curdon, associated with a so-called Iron Age
camp known in 1578 as 'dead man's burial', (fn. 13) Catford, and Escott suggest the early development of
secondary settlements.
By the 13th century the more marginal land was
being settled or cultivated at Boarpath and Yeaw in
the south-east, at Cheddermarsh and Carslake near
the Doniford stream, and on the higher ground at
Goodley, on the Brendon slopes above Combe, and
Rowdon, the 'rough hill', an extension of the old
farm at Capton. (fn. 14) Further settlements appeared in
the latter Middle Ages including Rexton, near the
southern border, by the late 14th century, (fn. 15) Fenne
(later Downside) and Culcombe on the Brendon
slopes by the mid 15th century, (fn. 16) and Kingswood
and Northam perhaps later. (fn. 17) Lower Weacombe was
recorded in the 16th century. (fn. 18) Cottages were built
on the edge of Charlwood common, south of Vellow;
there were 3 in 1556, 12 in 1619, and more in the
1630s, the last adjoining Vellow hamlet, the remainder perhaps beside the road between Vellow
and Stogumber village at Kingswood. (fn. 19)
Most of the secondary settlements survive only as
isolated farmsteads, or groups of two or three farms,
but a few are substantial hamlets. Goodley and
Hartrow are deserted, the former a single ruined
building in forest land, the latter an isolated mansion
near a hamlet which survived into the late 16th century. (fn. 20) Halsway and Combe Sydenham evolved as
mansions with attendant cottages. Vellow, part of
the Trevelyan family holding, has the appearance of
an estate village of the 19th century, while Capton is
virtually unchanged from the 1840s and includes
cottages dating from the 16th century. Preston,
which had eight farms in 1791, (fn. 21) was reduced to two
farms and some cottages by 1979. Stogumber village
lies principally on a slope where three roads converge
to cross a stream. The church stands on a prominent
site beside the middle of these roads, south of the
market place, with the medieval vicarage house on
its west and the probable former capital messuage of
the rectory on the south-east. The former rectory
estate, the lands of the probable Saxon minster,
seems to have been concentrated in the area north
and east of the church. The village expanded southeast of the church to Zinch (sentes, thorns) in the
medieval period, (fn. 22) and later south-west across the
stream. New building in the 1970s was again concentrated at Zinch.
There are references to open arable fields at the
principal settlements in the parish. Furlongs or
strips survived at Rowdon in the early 14th century, (fn. 23) at Carslake in the early 18th century, (fn. 24) and at
Over Vexford, Rexton, and south of Stogumber
village towards Preston in the 19th. (fn. 25) There were
considerable areas of common pasture. Charlwood,
shared between tenants of Rowdon and Cheddermarsh, was reduced to 30 a. because of cottage
encroachment by 1724, (fn. 26) and was inclosed between
1796 and 1840. (fn. 27) Heathfield, on the south-eastern
edge of the parish, was shared between Embelle,
Boarpath, and Rexton. Emmel Heathfield was inclosed and known as New Marsh by 1636, (fn. 28) Rexton's
share was called Rexton Gorths or Gorse by 1801. (fn. 29)
Both areas were under woodland and furze in 1979.
In the 16th century tenants of a farm in Elworthy
had rights to pasture sheep on Hartrow Hill. (fn. 30)
Capton tenants had pasture on Capton Down, (fn. 31) part
of which was inclosed by the 17th century, (fn. 32) the rest
by 1796. (fn. 33) The tenants of Halsway manor had
common pasture over 200 a. on Quantock Hill or
Higher Halsway Common, (fn. 34) an area which remained
open in 1979.
Place and field names suggest extensive ancient
woodland, notably in the northern half of the parish,
but reference to the name Vellow (felly, meadow in
newly-cultivated land) (fn. 35) by 1307 (fn. 36) and common
pasture at Charlwood by 1523 (fn. 37) indicate medieval
clearance. Woodland 4 furlongs by 2 furlongs and a
further 71 a. were recorded in Domesday. (fn. 38) By 1840
there were 280 a. of wood, and a similar extent was
recorded in 1905. (fn. 39) In 1976 there were over 300 a.
of woodland. (fn. 40)
A park was recorded at Rowdon in 1307 and
1442, (fn. 41) and there were probably others on the rectory manor (fn. 42) and at Hartrow in the 16th century. (fn. 43)
A park was established at Combe Sydenham by the
17th century (fn. 44) and in 1911 it had 13 a. stocked with
red and fallow deer. (fn. 45) A new park was mentioned at
Hartrow in 1816. (fn. 46)
In the late 17th century there were two main
routes through the parish, both of which presumably
had medieval origins. The route from Bridgwater to
Barnstaple, (fn. 47) following part of the southern boundary of the parish and probably also forming part of
the Saxon 'herpath' from beyond the Quantocks to
the Brendon ridgeway, (fn. 48) forded a stream at Coleford
Water, an 11th-century crossing place, (fn. 49) and proceeded through Hartrow to the parish boundary.
The second route, from Taunton and Crowcombe,
passed through Stogumber village towards Watchet
and Minehead, a route probably used by the military
authorities in 1686. (fn. 50) Minor routes within the parish
linked the many hamlets and farms, creating a network of lanes into Stogumber village and two parallel
routes, one in the east along the Doniford stream,
the other under the ridge above Hartrow through
Ashbeer and Combe Cross to Stream in St. Decumans and thence to Watchet. In 1765 the Ashbeer
route as far south as Hartrow Gate, west of Hartrow
House, was adopted by the Minehead Turnpike
trust, (fn. 51) and in 1778 the Taunton trust extended its
routes from Lydeard St. Lawrence to the same
place. (fn. 52) The Ashbeer route was abandoned in 1806
when the turnpike road was made through Combe
Sydenham to Monksilver and beyond, (fn. 53) and the
highways through the Hartrow estate were subsequently closed in 1816 and 1863. (fn. 54) The new road
from Crowcombe through Bicknoller to Williton in
1807 further reduced the traffic through Stogumber,
leaving the village isolated from main routes. (fn. 55)
There was a 'drinkhouse' at Vellow in 1619, (fn. 56) and
probably another on the Minehead road in 1631. (fn. 57)
An alehouse was suppressed in 1641, (fn. 58) but others
survived; in 1656 it was ordered that no more alehouses in the parish should be licensed. (fn. 59) The Red
Lion was established as an inn by 1668, the Swan by
1680, and the Ram or Black Ram by 1684, (fn. 60) giving
a total of 29 beds and room for 15 horses in 1686. (fn. 61)
There were three other inns or alehouses in the
village in the 18th century: the Wine Hoop was
established by 1723, (fn. 62) the White Horse by 1748, (fn. 63)
and the Dragon by 1752. (fn. 64) There were also three
inns on the developing Taunton-Minehead route:
the Black Dog at Higher Ashbeer by 1729, (fn. 65) the
Fleur de Luce at Combe Cross by 1759, (fn. 66) and the
Rose and Crown at Coleford Water by 1800. (fn. 67) By
1755 there were five licensed alehouses in the
parish, (fn. 68) but only three survived by 1800: the Swan
and the White Horse in the village, and the Rose and
Crown at Coleford Water. The last closed c. 1840. (fn. 69)
The Swan closed c. 1912 (fn. 70) and only the White Horse
survived in 1979, having been extended in the 19th
century to include the former market house and a
skittle alley dated 1868.
In 1623 people were presented for playing bowls
and tennis in the churchyard on Sunday, (fn. 71) and in
1840 an orchard at Capton farm was called the
Skittle Alley. (fn. 72) A Stogumber and Crowcombe
friendly society existed between 1803 and 1822. (fn. 73) In
1828 the Stogumber Union Society was formed; it
met monthly in the club room at the White Horse
and held an annual feast. (fn. 74) In 1873 the society had
52 members. (fn. 75)
There were 133 households in the parish in 1563 (fn. 76)
and 339 men signed the Protestation in 1641. (fn. 77) In
1801 the population was 1,285 and rose to 1,456 in
1851 after which it declined. There was a fall from
1,242 in 1871 to 1,098 in 1891 and to 898 in 1901.
By 1961 the population of the civil parish was only
568 but it rose slightly to 617 in 1971. (fn. 78)
There was some resistance to ship money in
Stogumber in 1637. (fn. 79) In September 1642 royalists
were quartered in the village on their way to Minehead. (fn. 80) Several local people suffered for their loyalty
to the king, including Francis Dodington of Combe
Sydenham, whose estates were confiscated, and
Hugh Gore, Crown purveyor and servant of the duke
of York. (fn. 81) In 1685 three men were hanged at Stogumber for their part in the Monmouth rebellion. (fn. 82)
Robert Dashwood of Stogumber (d. 1610) founded
a family which produced two lines of baronets and
several aldermen of London. Among his grandsons,
born in Stogumber, were George (1617–82), brewer
and alderman of London, John (1620–83), alderman
of London, and Francis (1603–83). (fn. 83) Isaac Gilling,
Presbyterian minister and author, and schoolmaster
at Newton Abbot (Devon) was born in Stogumber
c. 1662. Floyer Sydenham of Combe Sydenham
(1710–87), barrister and scholar, published a translation of Plato. (fn. 84) The cricketer Jack White, captain of
the Somerset team 1927–31 and of England 1929,
was born in Stogumber. (fn. 85)
In 1632 Richard Tucker of Stogumber and a man
from Brompton Ralph bought an estate in New
Somersetshire which they called Stogummer (now
Falmouth, Maine, U.S.A.). (fn. 86)
MANORS AND OTHER ESTATES.
There were
nine separate estates in Stogumber recorded in
Domesday. The Crown had 1 hide at Capton in
demesne, one of the king's clerks had the estate of
the church, reckoned as 2 hides, Roger de Courcelles
had a total of 2 7/16 hides in Coleford, Embelle,
Halsway, and Vexford, and William de Mohun had
2 hides at Hartrow and Combe, later Combe
Sydenham. (fn. 87) The recorded total of land (fn. 88) and the
position of the known holdings suggests the exclusion from Domesday of a large area in the centre of
the parish including Preston, possibly a large part of
an estate which had supported the probable minster
at Stogumber before the Conquest, an estate which
later became the two distinct manors of Stogumber
Rectory and Stogumber.
The 2 hides belonging to the church were held in
1066 by Alvric and in 1086 by the king's clerk
Richer de Andelys or Richer of Stoke. (fn. 89) While the
advowson apparently descended in the Andelys
family, (fn. 90) the land presumably supported successive
rectors until the death or cession of the last rector
between 1276 and 1291. (fn. 91) Thereafter the chapter of
Wells appropriated the estate, (fn. 92) to which more land
in Bicknoller was added in 1330 by grant of Hamelin
de Godele. (fn. 93) The estate, known as the manor of
STOGUMBER RECTORY or STOGUMBER
GODELEY RECTORY, (fn. 94) was held by the chapter
until 1857, when it was transferred to the Ecclesiastical (later Church) Commissioners. The estate was
farmed to individual members of the chapter between 1302 and 1332 (fn. 95) but later to laymen. Richard
Hartrow was farmer by 1452, (fn. 96) followed in 1514 by
Richard Biccombe of Crowcombe, (fn. 97) and then by
members of the Hill family. (fn. 98) The Saffins and then
the Sydenhams were lessees in the 17th century, (fn. 99)
and Sir Philip Sydenham sold his interest to George
Musgrave in 1711. (fn. 100) The Sanford family were lessees
from 1751 until 1865 or later. (fn. 101) Part of the holding,
amounting to c. 110 a. in 1840, was sold by the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners to Langley St. Albyn
in 1868. (fn. 102) No later reference to the manor has been
found.
Hall Place, later Hall Farm, was probably the site
of the capital messuage of the manor. The buildings
included a dovecot by 1439, (fn. 103) and the construction of
a barn was ordered in 1506. (fn. 104) In 1650 the barn was
a stone building of nine bays with a thatched roof. (fn. 105)
The present barn, on the south-eastern edge of the
churchyard, is of seven bays with a jointed cruck
roof, and probably dates from the later 17th century.
The estate held by the Andelys family in the later
13th century and probably part of the land of the
former minster can be traced with certainty only
from Robert de Andelys who held STOGUMBER
in 1284–5. (fn. 106) It seems likely, however, that Robert
was successor to Walter de Andelys, who was in
possession of the advowson of Stogumber in 1214, (fn. 107)
to John de Andelys from whom several men held
land in 1225, (fn. 108) and to Walter de Andelys, son of
John, (fn. 109) who had land in Stogumber and the advowson in 1259. (fn. 110)
In 1284–5 Robert de Andelys held Stogumber of
Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, who was tenant in
chief (fn. 111) in right of his wife Margaret. Their daughter
Alice, countess of Lincoln and Salisbury and widow
of Thomas earl of Lancaster, granted her lordship of
Stogumber to Hugh le Despenser, earl of Winchester, who also acquired her lordship of Trowbridge (Wilts.). (fn. 112) Stogumber was said to be held of
the lordship of Trowbridge in 1352 (fn. 113) and 1468. (fn. 114)
John de Andelys held ½ fee in Stogumber of the
earl of Lincoln in 1303. In 1316 an estate called
Doniford and Stogumber was attributed to four men
who may have been trustees. In 1346 John Durburgh
held the ½ fee in Stogumber which John de Andelys
had held, (fn. 115) and at his death in 1352 had an estate in
Stogumber and Preston. His son Sir Hugh (fn. 116) held the
estate and was succeeded between 1372 and 1378 (fn. 117)
by his son James. (fn. 118) In 1393 the manor was held by
John Dunster (d. by 1396). John Rivers, Dunster's
heir, (fn. 119) sold it in 1396, subject to a life interest of
Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Dodington, to Simon and
Henry Sydenham, sons of Richard Sydenham of
Combe Sydenham. (fn. 120) Simon, later bishop of Chichester, and his brother Henry, may have been in possession by 1417. (fn. 121) Henry died before 1427 and
Simon in 1438. Simon's heir was his nephew John
(d. 1468). (fn. 122) The manor then descended like Combe
Sydenham until 1557 when it passed to John (d.
before 1617), brother of Sir George Sydenham of
Combe Sydenham. John was succeeded by his son,
also John (d. 1625), (fn. 123) whose sons John and Ralph
conveyed the manor to John Boys and his son John
in 1626. (fn. 124)
John Boys, probably the younger, was dead by
1656. (fn. 125) By 1708 half the estate was owned by John
Doble, (fn. 126) and he or a namesake were in possession in
1739. (fn. 127) By 1749 Doble had been succeeded by
Joseph Ware, (fn. 128) and by 1770 by John Doble Ware. (fn. 129)
The other half of the estate was probably held by the
Treble family between 1717 and 1786 or later, (fn. 130) and
both parts may have come to Thomas Cridland (d.
1789) and his grandson Thomas Cridland Luxton (d.
1844). Luxton's estate passed to his sister Frances
(d. 1862), wife of Langley St. Albyn, and then to her
two daughters, Anne, wife of Birt Jenner, and
Caroline (d. 1870) wife of William Wait. Anne's son,
Birt St. Albyn Jenner, mortgaged his reversionary
share in 1882 and in 1895 William White took over
the mortgage, having already acquired the other
share from Caroline's five daughters. (fn. 131) Part of the
Stogumber manor estate, comprising 724 a. of land
scattered widely in the parish, was sold in 1896.
Marwood Notley of Combe Sydenham bought most
of the estate, but no later reference to the manor has
been found.
The manor of CAPTON was held in 1066 by Earl
Harold and in 1086 was royal demesne. (fn. 132) It was
occupied by the Raleghs of Nettlecombe by the late
13th century and the two estates may have been
linked much earlier. By the 1280s the Raleghs' land
extended south from Capton and the estate was
thereafter known as the manor of ROWDON. (fn. 133) The
manor descended like Nettlecombe manor in the
Ralegh and Trevelyan families, but has not been
found referred to as a manor after 1823. (fn. 134)
There was a manor house at Rowdon, with an
oratory, by 1334, (fn. 135) and a 'manor place' was still
standing in 1515. (fn. 136) Rowdon Farm dates largely from
the 19th century.
An estate called COMBE was held in 1066 by
Ailmer, and in 1086 by Turgis of William de
Mohun. (fn. 137) It was later regarded as held of Bicknoller
manor, and Reynold Mohun was recorded as overlord in the 13th century. (fn. 138) Usually described as a
capital messuage, but occasionally as a manor, it was
known from the late 14th century as COMBE
SYDENHAM. (fn. 139)
Richard of Combe was probably occupier of the
land c. 1240 (fn. 140) and William of Combe was mentioned
in 1325. (fn. 141) In 1367 Nicholas Orchard may have held
an estate called Combe Allen, which was sold in the
same year to Richard Sydenham, justice of Common
Pleas. (fn. 142) Richard Sydenham died in 1403 and was
succeeded by his son Henry (d. before 1427) and
Henry by his son John (d. 1468). (fn. 143) The estate was
held by John's widow Joan (d. 1472). (fn. 144) Their grandson John Sydenham (d. 1542) settled it on his son
Henry (d. c. 1519) and Henry's wife Eleanor (d.
1539). In 1544, after John's death, it was said that
Eleanor had an interest in the estate. (fn. 145) John was
succeeded by his son Sir John (d. 1557) who devised
Combe Sydenham to his son Sir George (d. 1597). (fn. 146)
Sir George was followed by his only surviving child
Elizabeth, wife of Sir William Courtenay, and on her
death in 1598 by his nephew Sir John Sydenham (d.
1625). (fn. 147) Sir John was succeeded by his son John (d.
1627). The latter's son Sir John Sydenham, Bt.,
died in 1643 before attaining his majority and was
succeeded by his son John Posthumous Sydenham. (fn. 148)
Sir John's mother Alice, who married Sir Francis
Dodington, occupied Combe Sydenham from 1627 (fn. 149)
until its confiscation in or before 1651. (fn. 150) In 1653
Combe Sydenham was bought by John Ware, (fn. 151) but
was later restored to Sir John Posthumous Sydenham (d. 1696). (fn. 152) In 1693 Sir John sold the entire
estate to George Musgrave (fn. 153) (d. 1721) and it passed
in the direct male line to George (d. 1724), George
(d. 1742), and Thomas. (fn. 154) In 1765, the year before he
died, Thomas Musgrave gave Combe Sydenham to
his sister Juliana, who later married Sir James
Langham, Bt. (fn. 155) In 1796, after her husband's death,
Juliana sold the estate to George Notley of Chillington. (fn. 156) In 1800 part of Combe Sydenham was settled
on Mary Marwood before her marriage to George
Notley. Mary died in 1829 leaving her share to her
husband. (fn. 157) The estate descended with the neighbouring manor of Monksilver in the Notley family
until the death of Marwood Notley in 1903 (fn. 158) when
it passed to his youngest son Marwood (d. c. 1958).
Marwood's daughter sold the estate to E. C.
Campbell-Voullaire c. 1958. (fn. 159) The owner in 1979
was Mr. W. A. C. Theed.
Combe Sydenham Hall lies in a valley bottom, on
a narrow site between the Elworthy-Monksilver
road and a stream. Fragments incorporated in the
west wing of the present building, including remains
of a medieval tiled floor, suggest that by the early
16th century it was of substantial size and quality.
Sir George Sydenham, whose initials and the date
1580 appear on the porch, remodelled the house and
was probably responsible for extending it to enclose
a roughly square court on the north side of the hall
range. Further work was carried out, probably by
Sir Francis Dodington in the 1630s or 1640s, by
which time there were large stair turrets in the
southern angles of the court. The south front contained a ground-floor hall and principal chambers,
with perhaps a gallery at attic level, while other
principal rooms were on the first floor of the west
front. By the early 19th century the north and most
of the east range of the court had been demolished. (fn. )
The west range was then partly refitted, a new staircase being put into the base of the western tower,
and the roofs and most of the windows renewed.
New stables and coach house were built north-east
of the house.
By the early 16th century there was a walled yard
a short distance south from the house; it had an
embattled gateway on the east side and a gatehouse
range with central gateway surmounted by a tower
on the north. The south side of the gatehouse tower
was reconstructed during the 20th century and much
of the yard boundary wall was removed.
HARTROW was held in 1066 by Ulwold and in
1086 by Roger de Lisieux of William de Mohun, in
whose honor of Dunster it remained until 1627 or
later. (fn. 161) In 1194 Richard de Lisieux's heir was under
age, (fn. 162) and in 1198 Alexander de Lisieux, (fn. 163) who was
alive in 1202, (fn. 164) paid relief on his father's land. By
1243 Richard Vynar owned the estate, (fn. 165) and he or a
namesake, in occupation in 1280, was apparently
dead by 1284. (fn. 166) Richard de Windsor claimed to hold
a fee at Hartrow in 1285. (fn. 167) William Hartrow was
holding the fee by 1330, and in 1395 Robert, son of
Walter Hartrow (fl. 1346–66). (fn. 168) Robert died in 1402
and in 1406 the fee was held by Joan Hartrow, probably Robert's second wife or daughter. (fn. 169) In 1422
William Crocker and his wife Joan, possibly the
Joan of 1406, conveyed the estate to Richard Hartrow
who was active locally in 1462. (fn. 170) In 1475 John
Sydenham of Orchard held the fee at Hartrow and
by 1499 his son John was in possession. (fn. 171) The
younger John died in 1521 and the manor passed to
his grandson, also John Sydenham. (fn. 172)
John Sydenham died in 1526 and in the following
year an estate known as Hartrow and Doniford
manor was divided between his two sisters and their
husbands, John (later Sir John) Wyndham and
Thomas Bridges. Almost immediately Wyndham
and Sir John Sydenham of Combe jointly bought
Bridges's share. (fn. 173) Sydenham died in 1557 leaving
his quarter share to his son, also John. (fn. 174) Wyndham
sold his three quarters in 1559 to Joan Sweeting,
widow, who shortly afterwards married William
Lacey. (fn. 175) Lacey bought the remaining share from
John Sydenham in 1563. (fn. 176)
William Lacey was succeeded in 1607 by his son,
also William. (fn. 177) William the younger died in 1641
when his heir was his grandson, William Lacey. (fn. 178)
William died in 1690 and Hartrow passed with
Elworthy manor to his eldest son, also William
Lacey. (fn. 179) It descended with Elworthy until 1799
when Bickham Escott left it to his three daughters.
They shared as tenants in common until 1811 when
Mary, wife of Thomas Sweet Escott, took Hartrow. (fn. 180)
After a family dispute in 1854 Mary leased the estate
to her granddaughter, Anna Sweet Escott. Anna
succeeded on her grandmother's death two years
later, (fn. 181) and died in 1872, when her heir was her
cousin, the Revd. William Sweet Escott (d. 1913).
William's son, the Revd. W. S. Sweet Escott, sold
the property in 1914 to his cousin, the Revd. E. H.
Sweet Escott, (fn. 182) who left the house c. 1936; the land
was later bought by Mr. C. Thomas and farmed from
Higher Vexford. (fn. 183)
A house at Hartrow was said to have been built c.
1580 by William Lacey, and fragments may be incorporated in a late 18th-century wing on the northwestern side of the present house. (fn. 184) South of the
wing is a hall, said to have been built in 1817. About
1830 the main part of the house was replaced by a
building with symmetrical elevations on the south
and east and an open court to the north. Gothick
additions were made in the 19th century, when fittings
and decorations in medieval styles were introduced
into the great hall, then converted for use as a chapel.
Two estates at Vexford were held in 1066 by
Domne and Brismar and in 1086 by Alric and Roger
as part of the fee of Roger de Courcelles. (fn. 185) The overlordship has not been traced later, except that in
1493 Over Vexford was said to be held of the heir of
Geoffrey Luttrell of Irnham (Lincs.). (fn. 186) In the late
12th century an estate at Vexford was given by
Henry Lovesgift to the Hospitallers of Buckland in
Durston, (fn. 187) no further trace of whose ownership has
been discovered. William Franklin of Over Vexford,
recorded in 1242–3, (fn. 188) was followed by one of the
same name, mentioned as of Vexford in 1279. (fn. 189) The
latter conveyed to Richard de la Roche in 1309 land
which passed in 1318 to Richard's son Simon as the
manor of OVER VEXFORD. Simon was still alive
in 1320. (fn. 190) John Roche held Vexford in 1381, (fn. 191) and
he or a namesake in 1392 conveyed to John Luttrell
(d. 1403) in trust lands there and elsewhere in the
parish. (fn. 192) John (later Sir John) Luttrell (d. 1430) had
an interest in land at Over Vexford by 1418, (fn. 193) and he
conveyed the reversion of the manor after his own
death to Thomas and Joan Trow. Thomas and Joan
granted the manor in 1431 to Richard Luttrell, and
on Richard's death trustees settled it in 1453 on
James (later Sir James) Luttrell. (fn. 194)
Sir James Luttrell's estates, confiscated in 1462,
were granted in the following year to Sir William
Herbert, and were retained by him until his death
in 1469. (fn. 195) During that period claims to ownership
were made by John Roche, illegitimate son of John
Roche (fl. 1392). (fn. 196) Sir James Luttrell's widow Elizabeth, later wife of Humphrey Audley, regained her
first husband's estates in 1475 (fn. 197) and died in 1493. (fn. 198)
She was succeeded by her son Hugh Luttrell (d.
1521), and the manor then descended like Kilton
manor until 1709, when Alexander Luttrell sold
Over Vexford to Sir William Wyndham. (fn. 199) It thereafter descended like Orchard Wyndham until 1864,
when it was bought by Anna Sweet Escott and added
to the Hartrow estates. (fn. 200)
Luke Lovesgift occupied land at Vexford in the
late 12th century. (fn. 201) A man of the same name held
land at Lower Vexford in 1242–3. (fn. 202) Either may have
been the Luke of Vexford who previously held land
which by 1291 was owned by Barlinch Priory. (fn. 203) The
estate passed to the Crown at the dissolution of the
priory in 1536 (fn. 204) and as the manor of VEXFORD it
was sold to Sir William Stourton in 1544. (fn. 205) In the
same year Stourton sold it to John Sweeting (d.
1550) and his son John. (fn. 206) John the younger died in
1556 leaving a son, also John, a minor. (fn. 207) In 1623
John Sweeting settled his estate on his son John, a
London clothmaker, who died in the same year leaving his kinsman John Vellacot as his heir. (fn. 208)
Ownership has not been traced thereafter until
1784 when the holding was divided: by 1791 part
was held by the Revd. Simon Richards, part by
Thomas Slocombe of Tirhill in Bishop's Lydeard. (fn. 209)
Richards's son, the Revd. Simon Slocombe
Richards, appears to have held the whole estate by
1840. (fn. 210) He died in 1853 and was succeeded by his
grandson John Simon Richards; in 1859 John sold
the estate to Langley St. Albyn. In 1871 St. Albyn
gave it to his grandson Birt St. Albyn Jenner and it
was sold with Stogumber manor. (fn. 211)
In 1086 Roger de Courcelles held HALSWAY
with Alric, the owner in 1066, as his undertenant. (fn. 212)
Like Kilve manor the estate was held of the barony
of Compton Dundon, having passed through the
Malet, Avenel, and Beauchamp families. The overlordship was last recorded in 1535. (fn. 213) Thomas of
Halsway held a fee in 1166. (fn. 214) Matthew de Furneaux
and Nicholas Avenel were in dispute over Halsway
wood in 1243, when the latter denied selling it to
Thomas of Halsway. (fn. 215) Thomas's son, Thomas, certainly occupied Halsway c. 1275, and in 1284–5 the
vill was held by John of Halsway, the younger
Thomas's son. John died before 1295, (fn. 216) and in 1303
John of Penbrigg was returned as a holder of ½ fee
in Halsway and Coleford. (fn. 217) John's eventual heir was
Joan, daughter of Thomas Halsway (fl. 1297), possibly John's brother. She married Peter Stradling
(d. before 1314), of Berne (later Switzerland), and
their son Sir Edward (fn. 218) did homage for Halsway
manor, a 'great' knight's fee, in 1337. (fn. 219) The manor
descended from Sir Edward (d. c. 1363) in the direct
male line to Sir Edward (d. 1394), Sir William (d. c.
1407), Sir Edward (d. 1453) who married Joan,
daughter of Henry Beaufort, later bishop of Winchester and cardinal, Henry (d. 1476), Thomas (d.
1480), Edward (d. 1535), (fn. 220) Thomas (d. 1571), and
Edward (d. 1602). Sir John Stradling (d. 1637), kinsman of the last, was the next owner, but his widow
Elizabeth, her son Edward, and Edward's wife Mary
sold the manor and other lands to James Cade of
Wilton, Taunton, in 1637. (fn. 221)
James Cade (d. 1640) was followed by his son
James (d. 1655). (fn. 222) The latter's son, also James (d.
1702), was followed by his son, another James Cade
(d. c. 1741). In 1733 Cade sold part of the estate to
Richard Hembrow of Bicknoller, and by the time of
his death most of his property was either sold or
heavily mortaged. (fn. 223) He was succeeded by his fifth
son Charles (d. 1775) and then by another son,
Nathaniel, a Bristol joiner. In 1787 Nathaniel sold
the manor to William Snow of Porlock, one of the
main creditors. (fn. 224) Snow held it until 1806 or later (fn. 225)
but by 1817 it was owned by Mary Stoate of Porlock.
In 1829 she left Halsway in trust for James Crang,
lessee since 1817. (fn. 226) Crang (d. 1846) was succeeded
by his son James (d. 1847), and the younger James
by his son, also James Crang. (fn. 227) In 1875 the estate
was bought from Crang by Charles Rowcliffe (d.
1877), of Cagley Court, in Sampford Brett. Rowcliffe was succeeded by his brother William, and
William in 1900 by his son, also William. (fn. 228) William
Rowcliffe sold the estate in 1914; the house passed
through several hands until 1965 when it was bought
by the English Folk Dance and Song Society. In
1979 it was used by the Society as a residential study
centre. (fn. 229)
A medieval house, which included a chapel by
1415, (fn. 230) survived into the 19th century, and parts may
remain in the much altered fabric. The house in the
early 19th century had battlemented porches, probably of the 16th century, at both ends of the principal
south-west front in addition to a similar porch close
to the centre and a large lateral chimney stack in the
hall. (fn. 231) Charles Rowcliffe after 1875 demolished and
rebuilt at least some of the original work, and enlarged the house to the north and north-east in a
16th-century style. The interior was extensively
altered between 1924 and 1938 by the then owner
W. N. Mitchell and woodwork was introduced from
elsewhere: the hall panelling and other features from
Cock's House, Quay Side, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
the hall mantelpiece from the Albright-Hussey
family of Shropshire, and the dining-room panelling
from Standish Hall (Lancs.). (fn. 232) A stone gateway,
since demolished, bearing crests with griffin supports was the subject of a painting by Frederick
Walker. (fn. 233)
COLEFORD was held by Alric in 1066 and he
continued to hold it, like Halsway, under Roger de
Courcelles in 1086. (fn. 234) It formed part of the Halsway
fee until 1428, (fn. 235) but has not been traced thereafter.
EMBELLE was held in 1066 by Ulgar and under
Roger de Courcelles by Alric in 1086. (fn. 236) By 1424 it
formed part of Thorncombe manor in Bicknoller,
and so remained probably until the 17th century. (fn. 237)
It thereafter descended as a freehold estate called
Embelle farm. (fn. 238)
By 1280 a holding at REXTON was regarded as
three separate freeholds of Woodadvent manor in
Nettlecombe. (fn. 239) It was still so held in 1619. (fn. 240) Each
part descended separately, one from James Luttrell
in 1453 becoming part of Over Vexford, (fn. 241) one from
the Gilbert family of Woolavington in the 15th century and Erasmus Pym in 1556 to the Laceys of
Hartrow by 1619, (fn. 242) and one from the Sydenhams to
the Wyndhams by 1556. (fn. 243) By 1841 the second and
third parts were owned by Daniel Blommart of
Willet in Elworthy. (fn. 244)
Three houses survive at Rexton, the most
southerly, known as Rexton Farm Cottage, dating
from the 16th century. A hall and slightly later
kitchen survive. In 1980 the house was under extensive restoration and a screen south of the hall and
remains of crucks had been removed. (fn. 245)
In 1294–5 an estate at Boarpath was granted by
Robert of Tetton to Simon of Crowcombe. (fn. 246) It
descended like Crowcombe Biccombe manor, (fn. 247) and
in 1615, when it included New Marsh and common
on Heathfield, it was described as the manor of
BOARPATH. (fn. 248) It continued to be held with Crowcombe into the 20th century. (fn. 249)
In 1460 an estate at CHEDDERMARSH was
settled on John and Joan Sydenham by William
Gore. (fn. 250) After Joan's death in 1498 it passed to her
son John Sydenham (d. 1521). (fn. 251) John's son John
died a minor in 1526 leaving two sisters one of whom
married John (later Sir John) Wyndham. Wyndham
purchased the other sister's share in 1529, and the
holding descended like Orchard Wyndham. (fn. 252) By
1610 Sir John's grandson, Sir John Wyndham, had
added to this estate lands at Escott, Cottiford, and
Combe Cross, formerly all in Thorncombe manor,
Bicknoller, (fn. 253) creating an estate sometimes known as
Stogumber manor. (fn. 254) In 1804 Cheddermarsh and
Escott were given to Sir John Trevelyan as part of
an exchange, but Combe Cross was retained to form
part of the Wyndhams' estate of Stogumber and
Over Vexford in 1851. (fn. 255)
ECONOMIC HISTORY.
Nine estates in Stogumber were mentioned in 1086, their recorded size suggesting that at least a third of the later parish was not
under cultivation. Capton was the largest estate,
with land for 5 ploughs, followed by Hartrow and
the church estate with 4 ploughlands each, and
Halsway and Combe with 3 each; the remaining
estates were smaller. Halsway had 400 a. of pasture,
presumably on the Quantocks, and Hartrow 100 a.,
but Combe, with the Brendons rising behind it, was
credited with only 50 a. The two holdings at Vexford
had 51 a. of woodland between them, and Combe
had wood measuring 4 furlongs by 2 furlongs.
Capton, Coleford, Combe, Halsway, Hartrow, and
Vexford supported sheep. (fn. 256)
By the end of the 13th century more intensive
exploitation of the land had produced several small
freeholds and led to the extension of the Domesday
estate at Capton. Holdings at Boarpath and Yeaw,
probably carved from the less fertile land in the
south-east, were mentioned in 1269, (fn. 257) and the
former was held with Crowcombe Biccombe manor
from 1294–5. (fn. 258) Carslake, perhaps once part of
neighbouring Over Vexford, belonged to the Bolevill
family by 1274. (fn. 259) Goodley, on the Brendon slopes
above Combe and a property of the Templars before
their suppression in 1312, was evidently another
settlement on less productive land, but it still survived as a hamlet in 1597. (fn. 260)
The extension of Capton manor in the north was
the work of the Ralegh family of Nettlecombe. By
the 1280s the farm centre had moved south from
Capton to Rowdon. (fn. 261) Ancient woodland south-east
of Capton was cleared around Vellow before 1307, (fn. 262)
and new acquisitions were made by the Raleghs at
Maderknoll and Curdon, between Vellow and the
Doniford stream, in 1293 and at Cottiford, a little
further north, in 1316. (fn. 263)
By 1307 Rowdon manor was being improved by
regular marling, and customary services included
not only making hay and the harvest in the fields but
carting duties from the Brendons when corn was
sown there, and maintenance of earth banks, taking
grain to 'Baghtrip' (?Bawdrip), Watchet, and
Dunster, and bringing herring and salt from Lyme
(Dors.) and Exeter. (fn. 264)
By the end of the 14th century Rowdon and
Nettlecombe were administered as a single farm.
The granary at Rowdon, stocked with barley, oats,
rye, wheat, and malt, indicated where most of the
arable of the manor of Nettlecombe and Rowdon
lay, but there were cowhouses and a slaughterhouse
suggesting both dairying and stock raising. (fn. 265) Tenants
at Curdon supplied both plough shares and shoes for
ploughteams until the early 15th century. (fn. 266) Higher
Vexford Farm and Yeaw Farm, both built as farmhouses by the 16th century, indicate continued
economic activity on both prime and marginal land.
By the 16th century the Trevelyan estate covered
as much as a third of the parish, and included further
land at Vellow acquired in 1520. (fn. 267) More was to be
added at Togford, formerly part of Stogumber
manor, in the early 18th century. (fn. 268) Separate farms
at Rowdon and Vellow Wood had emerged by the
16th century and the former was let in 1598 to
Robert Dashwood, a member of a family which
engrossed holdings on the estate. (fn. 269) The Dashwoods
lived at Vellow Wood, which they held by 1612, for
c. 150 years. (fn. 270) Elsewhere on the estate after 1659
Charlwood common, shared between the tenants of
Rowdon and Cheddermarsh, was no longer broken
for tillage for three years in every ten. (fn. 271) By 1724 only
rights for Cheddermarsh tenants survived on the
30-a. common, and it was said to be insufficient for
stocking with sheep seven in every ten years. Sir
John Trevelyan then hoped to buy out the rights and
let the whole for a substantial rack rent. (fn. 272) The common, however, survived until after 1796. (fn. 273) The
Trevelyans also established water meadows at
Curdon in the 17th century and at Togford in the
18th. (fn. 274)
In 1641, of the 29 taxpayers in Halsway tithing
only 12 paid tax of 5s. or less but in Stogumber tithing 34 out of 44 taxpayers paid 5s. or less, suggesting
a large number of small holdings in the centre of the
parish. (fn. 275) Elsewhere in the parish several small freehold farms can be traced. The two 19th-century
farms at Lower Weacombe probably originated in
the 16th-century holdings of the Dodington and
Saffin families. (fn. 276) The Slocombes held an estate at
Carslake from 1551 (fn. 277) until 1679 when they sold it to
John Carew of Crowcombe. (fn. 278) Before 1619 the
Slocombes had added c. 50 a. at Houndwell to their
estate. (fn. 279) Northam comprised a capital messuage and
140 a. in 1662; by 1782 the holding had been enlarged to include land in Kingswood, Houndhill, and
Carslake. (fn. 280) The break-up of the Halsway estate in
the 18th century led to the creation of freehold farms
including Cusdon's, held by the Hembrow family in
the 18th and 19th centuries, Paradise, and Little
Halsway. (fn. 281)
Several 17th-century farmers had goods worth
over £100. One woman left oxen worth £30, cattle
and pigs, 64 cheeses, and 4 gallons of butter.
Another woman, whose inventory totalled over £350,
kept cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and poultry in addition to growing corn. A wealthy yeoman in 1640 had
a library full of books, a small armoury, and corn
worth £30. (fn. 282) In 1731 one farmer's goods were worth
c. £750 and included a cased clock and virginals. (fn. 283)
Wheat and barley seem to have been the principal
crops; flax was grown on a small scale from 1665, (fn. 284)
and hops and apples were produced at Vellow. (fn. 285)
During the 19th century there was a move to
larger farms and several pairs of farms were formed,
such as Hartrow and Higher Vexford, Embelle and
Whitemoor, and Wood and Lower Preston. (fn. 286) Some
farmhouses were improved in the 17th and 18th
centuries. Yeaw Farm was enlarged in the 17th and
the early 19th century and Higher Vexford Farm
received a substantial addition in the 18th century
including a new staircase and principal rooms.
In 1828 three men, including the lessor's son
James Notley, became partners in farming Combe
Sydenham farm on a 7-year lease from George
Notley. James was to invest half the capital needed
to stock the 700-a. farm for which the rent was £525
a year. (fn. 287) Arable land in the north of the parish was
said to be worth 36s. an acre in 1835 but Sir John
Trevelyan let it to his cottagers for 18s. an acre. He
was said to be a fair landlord who let his cottages
with large gardens at reasonable rents, and there
were a number of allotments on the Trevelyan
estates. (fn. 288) In 1840 there were 6 holdings of over
200 a.: Vellow Wood, Capton, Escott, and Wood
with Lower Preston had between 200 a. and 300 a.,
the Hartrow and Higher Vexford farm was 358 a.,
and Combe Sydenham farm was 638 a. There were
12 farms of between 100 a. and 200 a., 12 between
50 a. and 100 a., and 22 between 10 a. and 50 a. (fn. 289) In
1851 the Combe Sydenham farm employed 30
labourers. A total of 92 men worked on 7 farms of
over 150 a. and a further 45 on 10 farms with between 50 and 150 a. (fn. 290) After the addition of Over
Vexford with a 100 a. during the 1860s the Hartrow
estate produced average rents, after deductions, of
over £1,000 a year. (fn. 291) As a result of amalgamation and
increased prosperity, many farmhouses, including
Rowdon and Embelle, were rebuilt during the 19th
century while others, like Boarpath, on merged holdings were abandoned.
In 1840 there were 3,727 a. of arable and 1,506 a.
of pasture, (fn. 292) and in 1861 the parish produced crops
of wheat, barley, beans, mangolds, potatoes, and
turnips. (fn. 293) In 1905 arable accounted for 2,570 a.,
grass 2,247 a., and woodland 265 a. (fn. 294) In 1976 at least
2,085 a. were under grass, 1,626 a. were arable, and
80 a. were under fruit and horticultural crops. (fn. 295) In
the west the rough hill pasture on the Combe
Sydenham estate was planted with trees in the late
1970s, and the estate was run as commercial woodland. There was also a trout farm on the estate in
1980.
Cloth making was concentrated largely in the
hamlets along the Doniford stream and its tributaries
where fulling mills were recorded from the 15th
century. (fn. 296) There was a fuller at Vexford in 1243. (fn. 297)
Weavers, fullers, dyers, and clothiers were prominent
in the parish in the 16th and 17th centuries, including members of the Sweeting and Dashwood families. (fn. 298) Individual craftsmen were clearly prosperous.
A weaver died in 1636 leaving looms, two reeling
machines, cloth, yarn, flock, and wool worth £22. (fn. 299)
Another seems to have finished his own cloth, for he
owned not only weaving equipment but also two
racks, shears, a brass furnace, and a supply of wool
and cloth. (fn. 300) There were five fulling mills in the parish
between the 15th and 18th centuries, and field names
indicate racks at Capton, Stogumber village, Downside, Over Vexford, Lower Vexford, and Northam. (fn. 301)
Dyeing was carried out in the 16th century at
Vellow and Boarpath, (fn. 302) and later at Carslake. (fn. 303) Three
combers in the parish were supplied by a serge
weaver from Lydeard St. Lawrence in 1696 with
wool already dyed. (fn. 304)
Henry Sweeting (d. 1685) had a shop selling a
wide variety of imported cloth and haberdashery as
well as tobacco, paper, sugar, canary seed, currants,
soap, and glasses. (fn. 305) Other 17th-century and later
occupations included tanning at Vellow, (fn. 306) gloving, (fn. 307)
hat making, (fn. 308) and malting. (fn. 309) In 1821 out of 243
families 158 were engaged in trade and manufacture. (fn. 310) In 1851 there were a draper and a fellmonger
in the parish as well as a milliner, dressmakers, shoemakers, building workers, several retailers, and professional men. Other trades included those of a
carrier and a veterinary surgeon. (fn. 311) There was a
smithy at Curdon by 1370 (fn. 312) and others at Carslake
and Capton in the late 18th and the 19th century. (fn. 313)
A blacksmith's shop at Vellow, worked by five smiths
in 1851, was converted to a pottery c. 1961. (fn. 314)
A brewery was established south of Stogumber
village early in the 19th century using the reputedly
medicinal water from a spring called Harry Hill's
well. Its product was sold throughout the country. (fn. 315)
In 1851 the brewery employed labourers, coopers, a
clerk, a manager, and at least one travelling salesman. (fn. 316) Brewing probably ceased c. 1910 but malting
continued until 1923 or later. (fn. 317) Most of the buildings were demolished in 1973 but the small mineral
water plant was still standing in 1975. (fn. 318)
Market and Fairs.
In 1613 a road from Ashbeer
to Stogumber was known as Market Way and in the
village there was a shambles from which Sir John
Sydenham received 70s. rent in 1614. (fn. 319) Sir John was
said to have bought a Saturday market from the
Crown in 1615, possibly because an earlier market
had lapsed. (fn. 320) There was a clerk of the market in the
1630s and in 1637 the rent was £13. (fn. 321) In the late 17th
century the market attracted produce from as far as
Kilve and Kilton. (fn. 322) The market was still held in 1861
but was discontinued shortly afterwards. (fn. 323)
The market hall was built north of the church c.
1800 and comprised an arched area below and an
assembly room over. (fn. 324) After 1840, (fn. 325) and probably in
the 1860s when the market was abandoned, the
building was incorporated into the White Horse inn.
From 1615 Sir John Sydenham held two fairs in
the village, on the feasts of St. Peter ad Vincula
(1 August) and St. Mark (25 April). (fn. 326) Until 1695 the
fairs were said to be held from the Crown on a lease
for lives (fn. 327) but were later held with Stogumber
manor. (fn. 328) The spring fair for cattle continued until
after 1861. (fn. 329) Bullocks and sheep were sold at the
summer fair, which probably ceased soon after the
mid 18th century. (fn. 330)
Mills.
There were two corn mills in 1086, one at
Combe, the other at Hartrow. (fn. 331) The Combe mill
was probably working in 1367 (fn. 332) and certainly in
1613. (fn. 333) A new overshot mill was built c. 1794.
Grinding had ceased by the 1880s, (fn. 334) but the building remained in 1979. Hartrow mill was not mentioned after 1086 but the name Mill meadow and a
pond retained for ornamental purposes in the 19th
century suggest the site of a later mill on the
estate. (fn. 335)
There were two corn mills at Curdon: (fn. 336) one,
mentioned in 1325, served the tenants at Capton,
Escott, and Curdon. (fn. 337) Both mills appear to have
been in use in 1392 and 1416. (fn. 338) One, held of Rowdon
manor and called Curdon mills, was worked until
1840 or later. (fn. 339) It stood on a branch of the Doniford
stream and in 1979 was a private house. The other
mill was held of Stogumber manor. (fn. 340) That mill still
existed in 1796, when it was worked by the Curdon
miller, but it had gone out of use as a corn mill by
1840. (fn. 341) A fulling mill was attached to it between
1660 and c. 1778 and it was used as a sawmill in
1872. (fn. 342) Manor mill in Stogumber village, possibly in
use by 1389, (fn. 343) was worked until 1889 or later but
had probably ceased when the manor estates were
sold in 1896. (fn. 344) The building, immediately northwest of the village, was in ruins in 1979, but it
appears to have had an overshot wheel. The mill
pond could be traced in neighbouring gardens.
Kingswood mill was mentioned in 1613. (fn. 345) It went
out of use between 1910 and 1914 (fn. 346) and in 1979 was
a private house. A corn mill at Northam by 1652 (fn. 347)
was still in use in 1848, (fn. 348) but it had ceased milling
by 1866. (fn. 349) It stood on the Doniford stream and in
1979 was a private house. There may have been a
mill at Escott before 1840. (fn. 350)
There was a fulling mill at Lower Vexford by
1537. (fn. 351) It stood north of the hamlet and was probably driven by the stream running from Willett. (fn. 352) It
may have been the fulling mill rated between 1770
and 1806. (fn. 353) There was another in Over Vexford
manor in the 16th century, possibly at Northam
where a fulling mill was recorded in 1568. (fn. 354) A fulling
mill was attached to the Stogumber manor mill at
Curdon between 1660 and c. 1778. (fn. 355) The Cockesmill
recorded in a Stogumber manor survey of 1613 may
be the fulling mill recorded in 1636. (fn. 356) It was in use
in 1695 (fn. 357) and may have been the mill near Downside
rated in 1770 and 1806, (fn. 358) which had gone by 1840. (fn. 359)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Stogumber (sometimes
Preston and Stogumber) and Halsway tithings lay
wholly within the parish. (fn. 360) The Trevelyan estates in
the north formed part of Nettlecombe tithing, Combe
Sydenham and Escott were considered part of
Bicknoller tithing, Hartrow and Vexford part of
Elworthy tithing, Ashbeer, Boarpath, Carslake, and
Yeaw part of Williton tithing, and Rexton part of
Woodadvent tithing, which had been absorbed into
Nettlecombe tithing by the 19th century. (fn. 361) Kilve
and Dunwear tithings were said to include parts of
the parish in 1670. (fn. 362)
No court rolls have been found for Stogumber
manor but courts were still held in the 17th century. (fn. 363) Court rolls for the rectory manor survive for
most of the years between 1469 and 1640 and between 1660 and 1668, and courts normally met twice
a year. (fn. 364) In 1681 they were held in the almshouses
but during the 19th century they met at Wells solely
for the admission of tenants. (fn. 365) No court rolls have
been found for Halsway but courts were held by the
14th and until the late 17th century (fn. 366) probably
ceasing in the early 18th century. (fn. 367) Courts were held
twice a year for Hartrow manor in the 16th century
and were still being held in 1759, (fn. 368) but court rolls
have been discovered only for the years 1562–3 and
1668. (fn. 369) The courts for Over Vexford manor met
twice a year in the 15th century and chose a steward
and reeve. (fn. 370) Records survive intermittently from the
14th to the 17th centuries. (fn. 371) The Wyndham estates
in Stogumber were administered by a court sitting
at Escott, but only one roll for 1636 has been discovered. (fn. 372) Rowdon manor was administered with
Nettlecombe manor, (fn. 373) Boarpath with Crowcombe
Biccombe, (fn. 374) and Combe Sydenham with Bicknoller
manor. (fn. 375)
By the early 17th century two churchwardens and
four overseers (fn. 376) were chosen by means of a property
rota, half the officers coming from the west side of
the parish and half from the east. By 1671 the retiring churchwardens were regularly elected waywardens for the coming year. (fn. 377) A salaried assistant
overseer was appointed in 1827, and in 1839 there
was a paid highway surveyor. (fn. 378)
A vestry of 13 people met during the late 18th century and supervised the election of parish officers. (fn. 379)
A select vestry of 20 people, meeting fortnightly by
1834, had perhaps ceased to meet by 1836 and was
ordered to be restored. (fn. 380) The vestry met between
1852 and 1880 at the White Horse but the Easter
vestry was held in the church. (fn. 381)
Poor relief in the 17th century included payment
for funerals, removals, house rent, nursing,
apprenticeships, clothing, shoes, and items of food. (fn. 382)
The overseers had contracts with a surgeon (1741)
and a carpenter (1749), the latter to make coffins. In
1752 they paid for a wooden leg. (fn. 383)
In 1752 the overseers agreed to pay the product of
five poor rates each year to establish and maintain a
workhouse. The house opened with 8 people, some
of whom were paid for spinning. (fn. 384) In 1769 there
were 25 residents including children who were
taught at parish expense. (fn. 385) In 1834 the workhouse
held 25 people, and a further 3 families lived in other
houses owned by the parish. Outdoor relief was paid
for the fourth and every subsequent child. During
the year 481 people received relief, most of whom
were infirm, disabled, or children under 9 years. (fn. 386)
The parish became part of the Williton poor-law
union in 1836 (fn. 387) and the workhouse had been given
up by 1840. (fn. 388) The cottages were retained until
1865. (fn. 389)
Stogumber formed part of Williton rural district
from 1894 and in 1974 became part of the West
Somerset district. (fn. 390)
CHURCH.
The church of Stogumber, known in
1086 as the church of St. Mary of Warverdinestoch,
had been supported by a large estate, suggesting that
it had been a minster. (fn. 391) The possible extent of the
area served by the church may be indicated by
renders of grain due to the rectory in the 13th century from Monksilver (fn. 392) and Syndercombe in Clatworthy, the second referred to as churchscot, (fn. 393) and
by the payment of tithe to the rectory in 1841 from
Willett in Elworthy; (fn. 394) Bicknoller, moreover, remained a chapelry of Stogumber in the early 19th
century. (fn. 395) The church and its estate were held by an
individual owner in 1066 and by one of the king's
clerks, Richer de Andelys, in 1086. Part of that estate
formed the later rectory; (fn. 396) a rector was recorded in
1249 (fn. 397) and there was presumably a rectory by 1214
when Walter de Andelys had the advowson. (fn. 398)
Another Walter de Andelys gave the advowson in
1259 to William of Bitton, bishop of Bath and Wells
(d. 1264), who gave it to the dean and chapter of
Wells. Under a licence of 1271 the chapter appropriated the church (fn. 399) between 1274 and 1291, and a
vicarage had been ordained by 1291. (fn. 400) The living
remained a vicarage in the patronage of the chapter,
occasional presentations being made by individual
members who farmed the rectory, (fn. 401) until 1977, when
it became a curacy-in-charge held with the united
benefice of Monksilver with Brompton Ralph and
Nettlecombe. (fn. 402)
The vicarage was assessed at £11 13s. 4d. in 1291,
more than any other in the area. (fn. 403) It was valued at
£18 2s. in 1535, (fn. 404) £80 in c. 1668, (fn. 405) and £239 net by
1831. (fn. 406) The value of the living was augmented to
£300 in 1882. (fn. 407) In 1535 tithes of wool and lambs
were valued at £9 2s. and personal tithes and casualties were worth £7 13s. 4d. (fn. 408) In 1840 the vicarial
tithes were commuted for a tithe rent charge of
£325 5s. (fn. 409) The vicarial glebe was valued at £1 6s. 8d.
in 1535. (fn. 410) In 1571 the glebe comprised 5 gardens,
2 orchards, and the herbage of the churchyard, and
in 1626 and 1840 there were 2 houses, including the
vicarage house. (fn. 411)
The former vicarage house, north-west of the
church, has a medieval east-west range of three
rooms, including a three-bayed former open hall
with partially surviving arch-braced roof. In 1736
there were a pantry, parlour, and study with four
chambers above. (fn. 412) By that time the hall was ceiled
and the fireplace added. A range was built on the
west side of the house in the early 19th century.
Hugh Roper, instituted in 1476, was apparently
still resident vicar in 1534. (fn. 413) Edward Lokton, vicar
from 1536, was deprived in 1554 and replaced by
James Bonde, S.T.P., a canon of Wells and later
archdeacon of Bath. (fn. 414) Lokton was restored under
Elizabeth but he does not seem to have been resident. (fn. 415) Richard Phelps was vicar for 40 years from
1581. Shortly after John Baynham began his 58-year
incumbency in 1631 (fn. 416) the puritan Anthony Scrope
preached at Stogumber in 1633. (fn. 417) The parish registers include many of Baynham's comments and also
entries omitted during the period of civil registration. (fn. 418) A successor commented on his wealth. (fn. 419)
Richard Lux, resident vicar 1722–36, had plate and
other valuables worth over £20, but his few books
were worth less than £2. (fn. 420) John Turner, vicar 1761–
1817 and archdeacon of Taunton 1780–1817, was
non-resident because he was principal surrogate to
the bishop's court at Wells. His resident curate held
two services each Sunday. (fn. 421) The next vicar, James
Talman, was resident chaplain at Bromley College
(Kent), and his successor, George Trevelyan (vicar
1820–71), was absent because of mental illness. (fn. 422)
Trevelyan's brother Edward Otto Trevelyan was
resident curate until 1869. (fn. 423)
There were 432 communicants and 15 monthly
and festal celebrations in 1842, and 75 people were
confirmed in 1844. (fn. 424) In 1851 about 150 people
attended morning service and 300 came in the afternoon. In addition the 60 Sunday-school children
attended both services. (fn. 425) By 1868 the number of
communicants had dropped to 115 but the number
of celebrations had risen to 25, and two years later
they were held weekly. In 1870 there were two
sermons on Sundays. (fn. 426) E. A. Couch, vicar 1908–44,
wrote a parish magazine, including notes on parish
history, between 1910 and 1940. He set up a branch
of the Temperance Movement and Band of Hope,
kept a parish library, and held cottage services at
Higher Vexford, Lower Vexford, Capton, Rexton,
and Halsway. (fn. 427)
A church house was leased to the churchwardens
from the rectory manor by the early 14th century. (fn. 428)
It was said to have been burned c. 1616, (fn. 429) but it
almost certainly survives as the two-storeyed building
south of the former vicarage house. It has a jointed
cruck roof and contains a large kitchen fireplace with
evidence of later brewing activities. The building
seems to have been incorporated into the glebe after
the fire and to have become a kitchen and stable for
the vicarage by 1626. (fn. 430)
In 1505 a stone image of the Holy Trinity was
given to the church. (fn. 431) In the 1530s there were lights
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Anthony, St.
George, St. Christopher, a 'dead' light, (fn. 432) and a light
or statue of St. Michael, (fn. 433) some of which may later
have been endowed. (fn. 434) By 1547 there was a rood
light (fn. 435) and a fraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
formerly known as the brotherhood of the church. (fn. 436)
The church of ST. MARY, in a prominent position in the centre of the village, is built of sandstone
with limestone dressings. It comprises chancel with
north and south aisles, aisled nave with porches to
north and south, and a south-west tower. The lower
stages of the tower and the western bay of the south
nave aisle are of the late 13th or early 14th century
and, with the possible exception of the east end of
the chancel, are all that survived extensive rebuilding and enlargement in the 15th century. The
elaborate south chancel aisle, then owned by the
Sydenham family, may have been the first addition,
followed by the rebuilding of two bays of the south
aisle of the nave, the construction of the north
nave aisle, the north porch, the rood stair, the
Halsway aisle north of the chancel, and the top
stage and turret stair of the tower.
The stone pulpit and font are contemporary with
the rebuilding and extension, but the bench ends
probably belong to the 16th century. Monuments in
the church include the elaborate tomb of Sir George
Sydenham (d. 1597) and memorials to successive
owners of the Combe Sydenham, Halsway, and
Hartrow estates. A west gallery was erected in 1726
because of the 'multitude of persons' attending the
church. (fn. 437) During the 19th century the fabric of the
church was neglected, (fn. 438) and the lessees of the rectory
spent less than £1 a year on repairs in 1849, out of
their total tithe receipts of over £740. (fn. 439) The Halsway
aisle was also neglected by the owners and was said
to have been ruinous in 1873. (fn. 440) The church was
restored between 1873 and 1875 by J. D. Sedding.
The chancel walls and roof were painted in the style
of William Morris by Edward Jones, vicar 1871–
1907. (fn. 441)
There are six bells including one by Thomas
Pennington of Exeter dated 1624 and another by
Thomas Purdue dated 1687. (fn. 442) The plate includes a
chalice of 1615 (fn. 443) and a paten and flagon of 1733. (fn. 444)
The registers date from 1559 with gaps 1646–53 and
1712–17. (fn. 445)
There was a chapel at Hartrow, described in the
early 18th century as a chapel of ease long since
demolished. (fn. 446) It evidently stood on Hartrow Hill,
and had been converted to a cottage by 1562. (fn. 447) The
chapel was endowed with every third crop from land
in Elworthy including Coleford farm, an endowment
still paid to the rectory estate in 1801. (fn. 448) Tithes due
to the rectory from fields at Willett in Elworthy in
1841 (fn. 449) may represent the same payment.
The chapel of Our Lady Sweetwell at Vellow was
licensed for mass and other services in 1542. It
adjoined the house of John Hawkins (fn. 450) and was probably served by Hawkin's son John. In his will of
1547 Hawkins the elder provided that if mass was no
longer said in the chapel then the furnishings should
be bestowed for the good of his soul and the bells
should be given to the parish church. (fn. 451) The chapel
became part of the adjoining house, but was still
known as the chapel of Sweetwell or Vellow as late
as the 18th century. (fn. 452) Traces of the chapel remain in
Sweetwell Cottage.
NONCONFORMITY.
Two people were presented
for recusancy in 1636. (fn. 453) By 1669 there were two
groups of nonconformists. (fn. 454) A Presbyterian meeting
house was licensed in 1672 and licences for unspecified congregations were issued in 1704 and
1713. By 1718 there were 170 Presbyterian members,
but soon afterwards they seem to have transferred
their allegiance to the Baptists. (fn. 455) Baptist preachers
and teachers at Stogumber and Dunster had been
supported from 1690 by an endowment given by
Jane Prowse of Croydon in Old Cleeve. (fn. 456) A congregation was established by 1718. (fn. 457) A chapel was
built c. 1726. (fn. 458) There was a resident minister c.
1799. (fn. 459) The chapel seated 200 and attendance on
Census Sunday 1851 was 79 in the morning, 74 in
the afternoon, and 90 in the evening. (fn. 460) The chapel
was rebuilt in 1869 (fn. 461) and was in use in 1979. There
is a register of births for the period 1810–36. (fn. 462) The
congregation used hymn tunes by Joel Thorne of
Stogumber published in Pentecostal Hymns (1906). (fn. 463)
In 1792 a room at Carslake was licensed, probably
for use by Baptists. (fn. 464)
Houses used by Methodists were licensed in 1753
and 1754. (fn. 465) In 1840 a building in the grounds of
Capton House was converted for use as a chapel (fn. 466)
and in 1843 Kingswood was taken into the Williton
Wesleyan circuit for services on alternate Sundays. (fn. 467)
A house was licensed there in 1844, (fn. 468) and a small
chapel was built in 1848 but in 1855 it was abandoned. (fn. 469) Methodist services were revived in the
1860s, (fn. 470) possibly at Capton, where services in private
houses were held regularly from 1868 until 1916. (fn. 471)
Services were held at Vellow in 1886–7. (fn. 472)
A Congregationalist village evangelist held occasional meetings at Rexton and Coleford Water in the
late 19th century. (fn. 473)
EDUCATION.
There was an unlicensed schoolmaster in 1629. (fn. 474) Pauper children were being taught
at parish expense in 1769, possibly in the workhouse. (fn. 475) The Baptist minister is said to have
established a school in the late 18th century, and it
certainly existed in 1803, occupying a building
attached to the chapel. (fn. 476) By 1818 it taught 30 boys
from the poorer classes. It was supported by voluntary contributions and was said to be 'well watched
over'. (fn. 477) In 1840 it was taking both day and boarding
pupils, but seems to have closed shortly afterwards. (fn. 478)
A church school was founded c. 1802 and by 1812
had 70 children. (fn. 479) It was said to be badly superintended in 1818, (fn. 480) and in 1825 had 58 children on
weekdays and Sundays. (fn. 481) It was succeeded by a
National school, founded in 1833, which by 1840
occupied a site near Zinch, and in 1846 had 103
children. (fn. 482) The buildings were enlarged in 1871 and
by 1902 there were 5 teachers and 118 children on
the books. (fn. 483) Numbers fluctuated over the following
decades as neighbouring village schools closed. From
1971 the school became a First School for children
in the 5–9 age range, older children travelling to
Williton. (fn. 484)
A private boarding and day school was kept between 1840 and 1852, (fn. 485) and a school for girls
between 1859 and 1872. (fn. 486)
CHARITIES FOR THE POOR.
Sir George
Sydenham (d. 1597) gave six cottages for as many
poor widows, supported by an annual rent charge of
£15 on the Combe Sydenham estate. (fn. 487) In 1910 the
owner of the estate was required to nominate the
occupants and to pay 1s. a week to each. (fn. 488) In 1939
the houses were sold and interest on the proceeds
given to two or three aged widows. (fn. 489) In 1979 the one
recipient of the charity was a former employee of the
Combe Sydenham estate. (fn. 490) The early 17th-century
building, converted to a single dwelling after 1939,
stands south-west of the church in the village street.
Cash bequests to the poor of Stogumber, notably
by Lady Sydenham (d.?1654), William Lacey (d.
1607), George Trevelyan (d. 1653), John Sweeting
(d.?1646), and George Huish, totalling £210, were
used in 1658 to buy a rent charge of £10. (fn. 491) John
Blake of Lower Weacombe, by will dated 1716, left
£100 to provide clothing for the poor. In 1722 the
money, together with nearly £200 from other charitable bequests, was used to buy land at Bishop's
Lydeard, the income to be used to provide clothing
and blankets for the respectable poor who attempted
to live independently of the parish. (fn. 492) Both charities,
with the addition of a gift of £90 by Mrs. Ann Ling,
by will proved 1890, provided for the distribution of
£40 a year in clothing and blankets until 1939 or
later. (fn. 493) More recent distributions have been made in
cash and vouchers. The rent charge bought in 1658
was redeemed in 1975 for £80. (fn. 494)