FARRINGDON, a parish in the eastern division
of the hundred of BUDLEIGH, county of DEVON, 4
miles (N.E.) from Topsham, containing, with a portion
of the tything of Clist-Sackville, 379 inhabitants. The
living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of
Exeter, rated in the king's books at £8. 8. !., and in
the patronage of the Bishop of Exeter. John Weare, in
1691, bequeathed £3 a year for teaching four children,
and to purchase books. In pursuance of the
will of Walter Wotton, in 1708, a house was conveyed
to trustees for the purpose of a school, with an endowment
of £56: the house was burnt down many years
since, but the inhabitants erected another, with apartments
for the master, and a room for vestry meetings. At
Bishop's Clist was formerly a chapel, endowed for two
chaplains by Bishop Bronscombe, to which was annexed
an hospital for twelve blind or infirm clergymen. Clist
house was garrisoned by Fairfax, during the civil war
in 1645.