MODBURY, a market-town and parish m the
hundred of ERMINGTON, county of DEVON, 35 miles
(S. W. by S.) from Exeter, and 208 (W. S. W.) iroin
London, containing 2194 inhabitants. This place, callea
in Latin records " Motberia," was in the possession or
Wado at the time of the Confessor; it subsequently
became the property of the Valletorts, Okestons, and
Champernownes. In 1334, Richard Champernowne
obtained permission to fortify his manorial residence
at Modbury. During the contest between Charles and
the parliament, this fortress was taken by the garrison
at Plymouth; and, in February 1643, Sir N. Stanning,
when intrenched here with two thousand soldiers, was
defeated by the Devpnshire clubmen. The town is
situated at the junction of the roads leading to Plymouth,
Kingsbridge, and Dartmouth, and occupies
the bottom and declivities of a valley: it consists of
four streets, which meet at right angles, the point of
junction being in the lowest part of the town; the inhabitants
are supplied with water from two conduits, which
are connected by pipes with a neighbouring spring.
A new line of turnpike-road is in progress, from Dartmouth,
Kingsbridge, and Salcombe, through this town
to Plymouth: the new London mail road from Plymouth
to Exeter passes about a mile from Modbury.
The manufacture of woollen goods, which was formerly
considerable, has decayed; there is still some weaving
of long ells for the East India Company, also a tolerable
trade in corn and malt. A creek, navigable for barges,
extends from the eestuary of the river Erme, which
bounds this parish on the west, to within two miles of
the town, and thus facilitates the importation of coal, and
the export of the produce of the soil. The principal
general market is on Thursday, and there is another
on Saturday for butchers' meat; also a great cattle
market on the second Tuesday in every month, to
which the navy contractors and others resort. Of the
two fairs once held on St. George's and St. James' days,
only the former is retained; it takes place on the 4th
of May, unless that day fall later in the week than
Thursday, in which case the fair is postponed till the following
Tuesday. The town is governed by a portreeve
(usually styled mayor), constables, and other subordinate
officers, who are annually appointed at one of
the courts leet, which are held at Michaelmas and Ladyday,
the mayor being returned by a jury of twelve
householders. This borough sent two members to parliament
in the 34th of Edward I., but was afterwards
relieved from making returns, on the plea of poverty.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of
Totness, and diocese of Exeter, rated in the king's
books at £19. 11. o£., and in the patronage of the
Provost and Fellows of Eton College. The church,
which is dedicated to St. George, and stands upon an
eminence south-westward of the town, is an ancient
embattled structure, with modern additions; the tower,
which was rebuilt in 1622, is surmounted by a spire:
the interior is very neat and spacious, and contains
some mutilated monuments of the Champernowne
family. There are places of worship for Baptists, the
Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists.
A free school was established, in 1730, by subscription:
the permanent income is £12 per annum,
and twelve poor boys are instructed in reading, writing,
and arithmetic. Sunday and infant schools are supported
by voluntary contributions. There are some
remains of a Benedictine priory, founded here hi the
reign of Stephen, and dedicated to St. Gregory, as a cell
to the abbey of St. Peter sur Dive, in Normandy: its
possessions, valued at £70 per annum, were given by
Henry VI. to Eton College, afterwards bestowed by
Edward IY. upon the abbey of Tavistock, but eventually
restored to Eton, to which foundation it still belongs.
Sir John Fortescue, a celebrated lawyer, Lord Chief
Justice in the reign of Henry VL, was a native of this
place; and Sir George Baker, M.D., President of the
Royal College o.f Physicians, and author of some
valuable medical works, was born here in 1722.