CHULMLEIGH, a market-town and parish in the
hundred of WITHERIDGE, county of DEVON, 21 miles
(N. w.) from Exeter, and 194 (W.byS.) from London, containing
1506 inhabitants. This place, anciently called
Chimleighe, is not connected with many events of historical
importance: in the reign of Henry III., 'John
de Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, obtained for it the
grant of a weekly market. During the parliamentary
war, a skirmish took place here between the royalists and
the parliamentarians, in 1645. The town, a considerable
portion of which was destroyed by fire in 1803, is situated
on an eminence rising gently from the eastern bank
of the river Taw: the houses, with the exception of a
few which are modern and well built, are low and
covered with thatch; but there is an ample supply of
water. Though formerly a place of considerable trade
for wool-combing, it does not now possess any particular
branch of manufacture. The market is on Friday:
fairs are held on the third Friday in March, the
Wednesday in Easter week, and the last Wednesday in
July. A portreeve, whose office is merely nominal, and
other officers, are appointed annually at the court leet
and baron of the lord of the manor. The living is a
rectory, in the archdeaconry of Barnstable, and diocese
of Exeter, rated in the king's books at £20. 18. 1.,
and in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. George
Hole: in the church are five prebends, endowed with
glebe and a portion of the tithes of the parish, viz.,
Brooldand, rated at £4. 8. 4.; Denes, at £4. 6. 8,;
Higher Heyne, at £5.13. 4.; Lower Heyne, at £5; and
Penels, at £ 5; they are distinct from the rectory, but
are now held with it, the advowson both to the rectory
and the prebends having been in the family of the present
rector since 1773, when they were purchased from
the Duke of Beaufort, then lord of the manor. The
church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, was damaged
by lightning in 1797; it is an ancient and spacious
structure in the decorated style of English architecture,
with a square embattled tower; the interior is fine, and
contains an ancient screen of oak richly carved.' There
are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan
Methodists.  A small charity school 'was endowed by
Mrs. Pyncombe with £10 per annum, for the instruction
of twelve boys and twelve girls.