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Chudleigh

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"CHUDLEIGH is a small market town pleasantly situated on the eastern side of the vale of the river Teign 9 miles S. by W. of Exeter, and 6 miles N. of Newton Abbot. Its parish rises in bold hills and limestone rocks on the east, and contains 6037A. 1R. 34P. of land, including the hamlets of Waddon and Harcombe, and several handsome houses. It increased its population from 1383 souls in 1801, to 2415 in 1841. The town was nearly all destroyed by a terrible fire which broke out on May 22nd, 1807, and destroyed 166 houses. . . . The town now has a modern neat appearance, the sites of the old thatched dwellings being occupied by slated and substantial dwellings. . . . It formerly had a share of the woollen manufacture, and it now has four corn mills and a large tannery. . . . Hugh Lord Clifford purchased the manor in 1695, and it now belongs, with a great part of the soil, to the present Lord Clifford of UGBROOK PARK, a delightful seat in the fertile valley about a mile south of the town. . . . Chudleigh Church (St. Martin,) is a large and handsome structure which was renovated and beautified in 1848-9, at the cost of about £2000. It has a tower containing six bells, a clock, and chimes. . . ." [From White's Devonshire Directory (1850)]

A parish in Exminster Hundred, under the Peculiar jurisdiction of the Bishop of Exeter.

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Biography

A., J.S. Thomas, first Lord Clifford of Chudleigh. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries Vol 1, Part 3, (1900) pp.81-82, plates: port. [Artist, Sir Peter Lely.] [Thomas Clifford, 1630-1673] [Index]

Adams, Maxwell (Ed.) The Rt. Hon. Lord Clifford. [Obituary]. Trans. Devon Assoc., vol.  48, (1916), pp. 43-45. [Transcript]

Davey, Nick. Captain Robert F. Scott RN - Chudleigh, Devon Family Historian, vol. 143, (2012) pp.15-17. [Robert Scott, b. Chudleigh, 1783]

Garrick, Roger. A Surprise Discovery, Devon Family Historian, vol. 165, (2018) pp.10-11. [Death of Eileen Causley in 1891.]

Harpley, Rev. W. Charles Hugh Clifford [Obituary]. Trans. Devon Assoc., 1881, Vol XIII, pp. 63-64. [Transcript]

Harpley, Rev. W. William Bower Scott [Obituary]. Trans. Devon Assoc., 1884, Vol XVI, p. 67. [Transcript]

Harpley, Rev. W. William Brodrick, B.A. [Obituary]. Trans. Devon Assoc., 1889, Vol XXI, p.657. [Transcript]

Markham, Clements R. Major James Rennell and the Rise of Modern English Geography. Cassell & Co., London (1895) 232 pp. [Full text]

Ravenhill, William. The honourable Edward Clifford: a Devon map collector and military cartographer. Trans. Devon. Assoc. 125, (1993) pp.113-125: ill, map, port. [1767-1817]

Williams, John. William Henry Doke 1859-1883, Devon Family Historian, vol. 168, (2016) pp.16-17.

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Cemeteries

Garrick, Roger. Brookfield Baptist Chapel, Chudleigh - Burial Ground, Devon Family Historian, vol. 158, (2016) p.43. [Includes list of 58 surnames]

Jones, Mary. The history of Chudleigh, Devon: with a description of the surrounding scenery, seats, families, etc. (2nd ed.). Exeter: S. Drayton (1875) vi, 182 pp. ill.

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Church History

Chudleigh Parish Church website provides an illustrated account of the history of the church.

Chudleigh - from J. Stabb. Some Old Devon Churches (London: 1908-16).

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Church Records

Parish Registers going back to 1558 are held in the Devon Record Office.

Transcripts of the Parish Registers going back to 1558 are held in a special collection in the Westcountry Studies Library - for details see Parish Registers in the Devon & Cornwall Record Society's Collection (archived copy).

Transcript of the Chudleigh Baptisms/Births (1558-1724) (1 Mbyte), Baptisms/Births (1725-1858) (1.1 Mbytes), Burials (1558-1704) (476 Kbytes), Burials (1705-1840) (540 Kbytes), Banns (1754-1820) by Carol Gertner and Gary Liddell.

The Devon FHS publishes indexes covering (as of June 2004): Marriages 1754-1837, Burials 1813-1837, together with Burials 1834-1836 for the Chudleigh United Reform Church - for details see their Devon Parish List.

Other churches and chapels (with pre-1840 records):

  • Presbyterian/Independent/Congregational Chapel, Woodway Street: Registers for 1711-1837 (ZC) in PRO RG 4/518, 3560; 1711-1896, 1942-85 (C), 1945-79 (M), 1834-1881, 1945-91 (B) at DRO
  • Wesleyan Chapel: Registers for c1801-36 - see Ashburton Circuit (PRO RG 4/840, 1763)

Entered into the IGI (as of Jan 1993): Chudleigh Independent Chapel Christenings 1711-1837.

Ellis, R.M. (transcr.) Chudleigh parish records, Chudleigh overseers' accounts, Chudleigh churchwardens' accounts. [Chudleigh]: S Dev Weekly Expr (1938) 96p. [Westcountry Studies Library - xB/CHU/0001/CHU]

Catholic Registers of Rev. James Dominic Darbyshire, O.P., at Standish and Borwick Hall, Warton, Lancashire, 1728, Gifford Hall, Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, 1728, and Ugbrooke Park, Chudleigh, Devon, 1736-1755. In Miscellanea, xiii. Catholic Record Society Publications, 26. The Society (1926).

A List of the Congregation attached to the Chapel Ugbrook, Chudleigh, Devon, December 6th 1830 Microform, Canberra National Library of Australia [19--] [National Library of Australia: NLA MS 1097/30]

An index of baptisms, marriages and burials in the parishes of Alphington, Ashcombe, Bishopsteignton, Chudleigh, Combeinteignhead, Dawlish, Dunchideock, East Ogwell, East Teignmouth, Exminster, Haccombe, Ide, Kenn, Kenton, Mamhead, Powderham, Shaldon, Shillingford St. George, Starcross, Stokeinteignhead, St. Thomas the Apostle (by Exeter), Trusham, West Ogwell and West Teignmouth. Includes Chudleigh United Reformed Church and East Teignmouth Zion Independent Chapel Burials. With photographs of the churches and extracts from White's Directory (1850) and Kelly's Directory of Devonshire (1902), CD-ROM, Exeter, Devon FHS (2015). [Alphington Bapt: 1813-1840 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1812-1837; Ashcombe Bapt: 1813-1841 Mar: 1754-1836 Bur: 1783-1837; Bishopsteignton Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; Chudleigh Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; Chudleigh United Reformed Chapel Bur: 1834-1836; Combeinteignhead Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1800-1837; Dawlish Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; Dunchideock Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1756-1836 Bur: 1813-1851; East Ogwell Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1755-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; East Teignmouth Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1755-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; East Teignmouth Zion Independent Chapel Bur: 1809-1836; Exminster Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1836 Bur: 1813-1837; Haccombe Bapt: 1821-1842 Mar: 1773-1801 Bur: 1829-1839; Ide Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; Kenn Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1836 Bur: 1813-1837; Kenton Bapt: 1813-1844 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; Mamhead Bapt: 1813-1840 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; Powderham Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1835 Bur: 1785-1837; Shaldon Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; Shillingford St. George Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1765-1837 Bur: 1680-1842; Starcross Bapt: 1815-1840 Mar: 1828-1837 Bur: 1828-1837; Stokeinteignhead Bapt: 1813-1840 Mar: 1754-1836 Bur: 1800-1837; St.Thomas the Apostle (by Exeter) Bapt: 1813-1840 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837; Trusham Bapt: 1813-1840 Mar: 1743-1837 Bur: 1750-1837; West Ogwell Bapt: 1813-1839 Mar: 1755-1843 Bur: 1813-1839; West Teignmouth Bapt: 1813-1840 Mar: 1754-1837 Bur: 1813-1837.]

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Description & Travel

Section on Chudleigh from Samuel Lewis: A Topographical Dictionary of England (1831), provided by Mel Lockie.

Conservation Area Appraisal for Chudleigh - an interesting account of the area, with numerous photographs and maps

Chudleigh Town Council website.

You can see pictures of Chudleigh which are provided by:

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Directories

Transcription provided by Val Henderson of the entry (description and names) in Pigot and Co's Directory of Devonshire 1830-31.

Copy provided by Val Henderson of the entry (description and names) in Morris and Co's Commercial Directory and Gazetteer of Devonshire 1870.

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Gazetteers

The transcription of the section for this parish from the National Gazetteer (1868), provided by Colin Hinson.

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Genealogy

The Online Parish Clerk scheme's representative for this parish is Judith Reed, who invites queries and lookup requests. (Willing to provide look-ups from Record Office.) (Temporarily unavailable.)

This parish is one of the growing number of places for which the Devon Heritage website provides census or parish register transcriptions, articles, and/or illustrations, etc.

Chanter, J.F. Wychelhalse of Chudleigh. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 13:3, (1924) pp.111. [Refers to vol.13, p.55. [See also vol.13, p.208. Note on arms.]

Clifford, Arthur. Collectanae Cliffordiana: in 3 parts, containing: 1. Anecdotes of illustrious personages, 2. Historical... Skipton-in-Craven:Skipton Cast (1980 - reprint of 1917 ed.) 377p [Clifford Family]

Knight, Keith (ed.) The Chudleigh Grapevine. [The Chudleigh family of Chudleigh, and of Liskeard, Cornwall] Derek Kelly, Sydney (c1996) 650p. [Keith Knight & Associates, 49 Kriewaldt Circuit, CCT Higgins, ACT 2615, Australia] [ISBN 0 646 18925 5]

Oliver, George. Cliffords of Devonshire [1857] 1 vol. [Cuttings from Trewman's Exeter Flying Post] [Westcountry Studies Library - s929.2/CLI]

Parr, John Frank. Parr family of Chudleigh and Exminster, Western Antiquary 3, 1884, pp. 19-20.

Parr, John Frank. Parr family of Chudleigh, Alphington, Powderham, Shillingford and Exeter, Western Antiquary 3, 1884, pp. 47-48.

Prideaux, F.B. Chudleigh and Chedderleigh, Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 14, 1926-7, pp. 218-9. See also pp. 267. [Raymond: Surnames derived from place-names; medieval. ]

[A Member of the Chudleigh Family]. Chudleigh Memorials. Devonshire. pp. 23. Privately printed, [1916.] 23p. 8o. [BL 9904.ccc.22.] [The Devon FHS Library has a photocopy, with added details about the Rees family.]

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Heraldry

The Three Lions Town Crest - a nice well-illustrated article on Chudleigh's two town crests, provided by the Chudleigh history Group.

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History

Barber, Chips. A Chudleigh Collection. Pinhoe, Exeter: Obelisk Publications. [ISBN 0946651892].

Cresswell, B.F. Dawlish, and the estuary of the Exe; ... with notes on Chudleigh. (1902) [Westcountry Studies Library, Devon & Exeter Inst., Plymouth Central Library, Torquay Central Library]

Cresswell, B.F. Newton Abbot (Devon) and its Neighbouring Villages, including Chudleigh. (1908) [Westcountry Studies Library, Plymouth Central Library, Torquay Central Library]

Crockett, Anthony. Fire: An Account of the Great Fire of Chudleigh, Devon, 22 May 1807. Chudleigh: The Author (1983) 36p: map [ISBN 095087650X]

Crockett, Anthony. Chudleigh: a chronicle. Exeter: Devon (1985) [BL: YC.1988.a.9744]

Crockett, Anthony. The great fire of Chudleigh, 22nd May 1807 (2nd ed). Newton Abbot: Orchard Publications (1994) , 42 pp. 1 map. [BL: YK.1996.a.14829]

Garrick, Roger. Girls Friendly Society, Devon Family Historian, vol. 144, (2012) pp.11-12.

Gentry, F.D. Take Care of your Fire and Candle [11 fires in Devon towns]. Devon Books (1985) 138p. [ISBN 0861147596] [Devon FHS Library 929.35]

Halle, Dr. Fraser. Letters Historical and Botanical: Relating chiefly to places in the Vale of the Teign. London: Houlston and Stoneman (1851). [Covers Chudleigh, Lustleigh, Canonteign and Bovey Tracey]

Hollis, G. Six Views of Chudleigh, Devonshire, engraved from drawings by Henry W. Cost, made previously to the fire of 1807. (1818) [Westcountry Studies Library]

Jones, Mary. The history of Chudleigh in the County of Devon, and the surrounding Scenery, seats.... etc., Grattan, Kirkman & Thackray, London, A. Holden, Exeter; R. Lidstone, Plymouth & Devonport; J. E. Searle, Chudleigh (1852) 210 pp. [Index]

Jones, Mary. The history of Chudleigh, Devon: with a description of the surrounding scenery, seats, families, etc.2nd ed.(Archived copy). Exeter: S. Drayton (1875) vi, 182 pp. ill.

Sellman, R.R. A 1690 pharmacopeia. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 35:09, (1986) pp.335-337. [Book of remedies compiled by Lady Ann Clifford.]

Stirling, D. M. A History of Newton-Abbot and Newton-Bushel, and also illustrations ... of the neighbourhood, including Teignmouth, Torquay and Chudleigh. pp. xi. 179. W. Forord: Newton-Abbot (1830). 8o. BL 10352.a.37.

Sturdy, R.K., et al. Town Mills Chudleigh: The Story of the Mill and the Town, Torquay, Bendles (1979) 31 pp.

Taylor, Alan. Chudleigh: A Guide and History of the Town (1985) [DFHS Library p942.35/CHU]

Windeatt, Edward. Stooke of Waddon and Clifford of Chudleigh. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 9:2, (1916) pp. 58-60 [Index]

A Chudleigh collection. Exeter: Obelisk (1994) 48 pp.: chiefly ill ; 15 x 21 cm. ISBN: 0946651892 (pbk).

Town Mills, Chudleigh: The Story of the Mill and the Town (c.1975). [Devon FHS Library p942.35/CHU]

Chudleigh, Devon: A guide & history of the town, (n.d.). [SoG Library: DE tracts box]

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Land & Property

Elliot, John. Homes and gardens. Devon Life vol. 9 no. 73 (1972) pp.14-16; ill. [Hams Barton]

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Manors

Sellman, R.R. (transcr.) More notes and transcripts from the Ugbrooke records. Typescript (1981) 165p. [Westcountry Studies Library - x929.2/CLI]

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Maps

View a map of the boundaries of this town/parish.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SX866794 (Lat/Lon: 50.603267, -3.603812), Chudleigh which are provided by:

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Military History

Perkins, Roger. The War Dead of Chudleigh. [SoG Library: DE/L 187]

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Names, Personal

Names from an 1822-23 edition of Pigot's Directory.

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Probate Records

Transcript of the will of Lois Kingdon (1823), provided by Edward Hore.

Transcript of the summary of the will of Thomas Burrington (1551), provided by John Moore.

Abstracts of the Inquisition Post Mortems of Nicholas Wichehalse (1553) and John Wichehalse (1556), provided by John Moore.

Transcript of the will of Richard Bryant (1752), provided by Ros Dunning.

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Societies

Chudleigh History Group website - contains full details of the Society's publications.