*TIVERTON, (Devon) 15 mm. N. of Exeter, 136 cm. 165 mm. from London, was formerly called Twyford's-T. from 2 fords then
over the Ex and Leman, where are now stone bridges. It is an ancient T. noted for the greatest woollen mf. in the Co. next
to Exeter; and, excepting that city, is the richest, if not the most populous, of all the inland Ts. in the Co. It is
governed by a mayor, 12 principal burgesses, 12 inferior burgesses or assistants, a recorder, and a clerk of the peace.
The mayor, by Ja. I's. charter, is gaol-keeper, and the delivery thereof is to be holden before him and the recorder. A
great ornament and advantage to this T. is a noble large fr. sc. founded by Mr. Peter Blondel, a clothier and a native,
who gave 2000 l. for purchasing lands to maintain 6 scholars at Oxford and Cambridge, to be elected from this sc. They are
now 8, and placed at Baliol-Coll. Oxford and Sidney in Cambridge. And he left an allowance for a yearly feast here on St.
Peter's-day, in his remembrance. This T. has suffered very much by fires, viz. April 3, 1598, it being the Mt.-day, a fire
broke out and spread with such fury, that several of the inh. were burnt in the streets and shops, together with 600
houses; so that only the Ch. and 2 almshs. escaped. On the 5th of Aug. 1612, another fire happened, as destructive, and
the loss was computed at 35,000 l. And on the 5th of June, 1731, there was another fire here, which destroyed 200 of the
best houses, and most of the mfs. to the loss in the whole of 150,000 l. but it has been since elegantly rebuilt; and the
Ch. not being large enough, a chapel has been erected by the subscription of the inh. which by Pt. is made a perpetual
curacy. In the Ch. was a chapel, built by the Es. of Devon (who were the Lds. of the manor, and had 2 parks here) for
their burials, but now demolished, wherein was a tomb for Edw. Courtney, E. of Devon, and his countess, with this
inscription, " Ho, ho, who lies here ? " 'Tis I the good E. of Devonshire, " With Kate, my wife, to me full dear; " We
liv'd together 55 year. " That we spent, we had; " That we left, we lost; " That we gave, we have. The Mfs. here are Tu.
and S. the Fairs Tu. fortnight after Whitsuntide, and ditto after Michaelmas. Here is also a Mt. on M. for kerseys. The
Es. of Devon had a castle here, which with the manor came by marriage to the Trelawneys; but the latter has been since
passed into so many shares, that it is almost impossible to give an account of them. A quarter of the manor of the Bor.
was purchased by the father of the late Peter West. It is to be noted, that the Es. of Devon, of the Redvers family, were
Lds. of the manor before the Courtneys; and that the dowager of Baldwin, the last of the Redvers family, in the R. of Edw.
I. certified her claim to a Mt. here on M. and to Fairs July 7, Sept. 1, and Nov. 30. This T. never sent members to Pt.
till the 18th of Ja. I. The late Sir Richard Vivian, Bt. had some right in this Bor.