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Harberton 1866

Transcribed from - Kelly's Directory of Devonshire 1866
by Val Henderson (former OPC)

HARBERTON is a parish, in the southern division of the county, the hundred of Coleridge, union, county court district, rural deanery and archdeaconry of Totnes, and the diocese of Exeter; the village is situated in a pleasent vally, about 2 1/2 miles south-south-west from Totnes. The church of St. Andrew is a fine specimen of the Decorated style, and has a lofty embattled tower containing a peel of 6 beautiful bells: the stone pulpit is octagonal, richly carved, and has statues of the Apostles on its sides; the screen is in the same rich style of carving; the font is Anglo-Norman, and in the chancel are three richly canopied stalls, and a fine altar-screen. The reguster dates from 1640. The living is a vicarage, annuel value £500, with residence, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, and held by the Rev. Robert Bartholomew, B.A., of Exeter College, Oxford.The Thithes were commuted in 1847, the vicarial for £535, and the rectorial for £400 per annum; the latter belong to the patrons, but are leased to W.H. Helyar, Esq. There is a national school. The parish lands, &c., which have been vested in trust from an early period, comprise eleven houses and cottages with gardens, &c., and 18 acres of land, called Cockwells, and let for about £48 per annum, subject to fines on the renewal of the leases. The clear rent and tithes are applied in aid of the church rates, except what is necessary for repairing Harberton schoolhouse. A blacksmith's shop, house, orchard, and garden, let for £6, were left for the benefit of the poor by William Huxham, about 1630. Here is an almshouse of ten small rooms for as many poor people, built, pursuant to the will of Henry Wyse, about 1680. In this parish is a remarkable rock of trapstone, so hard as to resist the mason's chisel. The soil is generally light and fertile. The manor was anciently held by the Valletorts; but was dismembered many years since, and now belongs to many freeholders. The population in 1861 was 1,221. The parish comprises 5,755 acres of land, including six hamlets, viz.- HARBERTONFORD, BELSFORD, LUSCOMBE, EAST LEIGH, WEST LEIGH, and ENGLEBOURNE.

Harbertonford is a hamlet. The district church of St. Peter was erected in 1859. The living is a perpetual curacy, annual value £170, with house, in the gift of the vicar, and held by the Rev. Alexander Popham Luscombe, B.A., of St John's College, Cambridge; the vicar pays £80 part of this stipend. Here is a National school, erected in 1849, in the Tudor style. On the banks of the small river Harbourn is an old woollen factory, now partly occupied as a corn-mill; and in the same valley is the large edge tool manufactory of Messrs. Knapman and Son, called Hill Mills.

POST OFFICE - Richard Andrews, receiver. Letters arrive from Totnes, which is the nearest money order office, at 5.30 a.m. ; dispatched at 7 p.m.

INSURANCE AGENT. - Liverpool & London & Globe, P. Symons, jun. Harbertonford

National School, James England Lake, master, Mrs. Lake, mistress

POST OFFICE, Harbertonford. - Philip Bulley, receiver. Letters arrive from Totnes at 5.30 a.m.; & dispatched at 7.20 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Totnes.

National School, Harbertonford, Thomas Nicholls, master; Mrs. Ann Nicholls, mistress