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Dittisham

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"DITTISHAM, a pleasant scattered village, on the western bank of the estuary of the Dart, 3 miles N. N. W. of Dartmouth, has in its parish 917 inhabitants, and 3089 acres of land, rising boldly from the valley, and including Capton hamlet. Sir H.P. Seale is lord of the manor of Bosom Zeal; but that of Dittisham Wales belongs to the rectory. H. Studdy, W. Roope, G. Holdsworth, and P. Soper, Esqrs., and several smaller owners, have estates here, mostly freehold. Dittisham manor is dismembered, and was held by Baldwin de Bionüs, under the Bishop of Exeter, at Domesday Survey. The Church (St. George,) is an ancient structure, in the early perpendicular style, with a tower and six bells. It has recently been renovated, and new mullions, &c., inserted. The east window, and those in the north aisle have been enriched with stained glass. The pulpit is of stone, finely carved, gilt, and coloured; and the ancient screen, hagioscope, sedilia, &c., remain. The church was consecrated in 1333, and its restoration has been accomplished by the present rector, with the assistance of several liberal gifts. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £34. 15s., and in 1831 at £540, is in the patronage of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, and incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. Lord H.F.C. Kerr, M.A., who has a handsome residence, and 87A. 2R. 29P. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in1841, for £475 per annum. There are still some remains of a chapel in the manor house of Bosom Zeal. The Independents have a chapel in the parish. The National School was erected in 1843, in the Tudor style and is supported chiefly by the rector. . . ." [From White's Devonshire Directory (1850)]

A parish in Coleridge Hundred, the Archdeaconry of Totnes and the Diocese of Exeter, 5½ miles N.W. of Dartmouth, that had 816 inhabitants in 1831. Regarded as part of the South Hams area.

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Census

Transcript of the 1841 Census, from the Parishes of the South Hams website.

Name index to the 1871 census, from the Parishes of the South Hams website.

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Church History

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

Price, A.J. A Short History of St. George's Church and the Village of Dittisham, (1965). [SoG Library: DE tracts box]

Watkin, Hugh R. Memorial Brass Formerly in Dittisham Church. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries, vol. 11, (1920-21), pp. 214-218. [Index]

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Church Records

Parish Registers going back to 1650 are held in the Devon Record Office.

Transcripts of the Parish Registers going back to 1651, and of the Bishops' Transcripts going back to 1603, are held in a special collection in the Westcountry Studies Library.

The Devon FHS publishes indexes covering (as of June 2004): Marriages 1754-1837, Burials 1813-1837 - for details see their Devon Parish List.

Surname Index to Dittisham Marriages 1603-1850, provided by The Dartmouth Archives.

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

  • Congregational Chapel: Registers for 1838-1923 (CM), 1844-1923 (B) at DRO
  • Wesleyan Chapel, Capton: Registers for c1811-37 - see Brixham Circuit, Kingsbridge (PRO RG 4/842, 1088)

Entered into the IGI (as of Jan 1993): Parish Church Christenings 1603-1837, Marriages 1603, 1614-1641, 1654-1837.

The Deanery of Totnes: An index of baptisms, marriages and burials . . . with photographs of the churches and extracts from White's Devonshire Directory 1850, CD-ROM, Exeter, Devon FHS (2009). [Ashprington: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Blackawton: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Buckfastleigh: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Cornworthy: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1840), Dartington: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Dartmouth St. Clement: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Dartmouth St. Petrox: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Dartmouth St. Saviour: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Dean Prior: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1755-1837), Bur (1790-1837), Diptford: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Dittisham: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Halwell: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1755-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Harberton: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Holne: Bapt (1813-1842), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Rattery: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1800-1837), South Brent: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Stoke Fleming: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Totnes: Bapt (1813-1842), Mar (1754-1837), Bur: (1813-1837)]

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Description & Travel

Dittisham website (archived copy) - extensive general and historical information.

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

Bowen, David. A Devonshire village - Dittisham. Devon Life vol. 5 no. 42, (1969) pp.38-40; ill.

Smith, Vian C. Dittisham pocket souvenir. [Dittisham?]: [The Author?] (1949) 16p: ill. [Westcountry Studies Library - pB/DIT/1949/SMI]

You can see pictures of Dittisham which are provided by:

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Directories

Transcription of the entry in White's Devonshire Directory (1850) by Terry Partridge.

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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History

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Maps

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

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SX861550 (Lat/Lon: 50.383827, -3.603429), Dittisham which are provided by:

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Probate Records