TORRINGTON (GREAT), a market-town and parish,
having separate jurisdiction,
though locally in the hundred
of Fremington, county
of DEVON, 34 miles (N. W.)
from Exeter, and 198 (W.
by S.) from London, containing
2538 inhabitants.
The name of this place, in
old records, is written Chepmg-
Toriton, the Saxon prefix
demonstrating its antiquity
as a market-town. At a very early period, Torrington
conferred the title of baron on its possessors,
who had the power of life and death over their dependents;
in 1340, Richard de Merton erected a castle
here, the chapel of which existed till the latter part
of the eighteenth century. In 1484, Bishop Courtenay
was tried at the sessions, on a charge of treason against
Richard III.; and, in 1590, the county sessions having
been held here, in consequence of the appearance of
the plague at Exeter, that fatal malady was extended
to this town. During the civil commotions in the
reign of Charles I., the parliamentary forces supplied
from Barnstaple, Bideford, and other places, were put
to flight here, in 1643, by Col. Digby. Here also, about
three years afterwards, the royalists were defeated by
Fairfax in a severe contest, and, after the victory, a
thanksgiving sermon was preached in the market-place
by Hugh Peters, whose eloquence was considered to
have been very effective in promoting the parliamentary
interests. The general's intention of prolonging his
stay, however, was frustrated by a most appalling
event, the explosion of eighty barrels of gunpowder
in the church, during its occupation by two hundred
prisoners, all of whom, with the soldiers on guard,
perished, and the edifice itself was destroyed. The
situation of the town is singularly bold and picturesque;
it occupies the summit and declivities of a
lofty cliff, facing the south, and washed at its base by
the river Torridge, over which is a bridge, connecting
this parish with that of Little Torrington; the banks of
the river are enriched with fine landscape scenery, and
in its course above the town, the stream winds beneath
some of the richest hanging woods in the kingdom. The
bowling-green, which occupies the highest portion of
the cliff, is the site of the ancient castle, and commands
a prospect extremely beautiful. The town consists of a
market-place, surrounded by good houses, and two long
streets, variously disposed on the ridge and declivity,
with gardens descending towards the river. The inhabitants
have a right of pasturage on an extensive and
rich common. The woollen trade, formerly considerable,
is now confined to the manufacture of a few serges,
blankets, and some coarse cloth:. the principal articles
of trade are kid, chamois, beaver, and other gloves, of
which great quantities are sent to London. Here are
two tanyards, and on the river is a large corn-mill.
Lime, coal, and timber are supplied by a canal extending
hence to the sea docks near Bideford, and
running nearly parallel with the river, which there
becomes navigable for sloops: about two miles northwest
from the town the canal crosses the river, by
means of a noble aqueduct, and nearer the sea lock it
is interrupted by an inclined plane. The aqueduct,
of which the first stone was laid August llth, 1824,
and the canal, were undertaken at the sole expense of
Lord Rolle, through his own lands, which is said to
have exceeded £40,000. Some veins of lead-ore are
found in the neighbourhood. The market is held on
Saturday; on the third Saturday in March is a very
large cattle market, and a smaller one in November:
fairs are on May 4th, July 5th, and October 10th.
The charter of incorporation,
granted by Mary,
was confirmed in the 15th
of James I.: the municipal
body consists of a mayor,
recorder, seven aldermen,
and sixteen burgesses, with
a town clerk, and two serjeants
at mace; the mayor
is nominated in August, and
sworn in in October, and,
with his immediate prede-
cessor, who is termed a justice,
exercises magisterial authority. The corporation,
hold quarter sessions, and a court of record every three
weeks  the county magistrates meet weekly on Saturday.
The town hall is a neat modem edifice of brick and
stone, with an arched basement: there is a small
prison. This town sent members to parliament in
the reign of Edward III., but the inhabitants were
relieved from the exercise of the franchise, on petition,
in that of Henry VI. The living is a vicarage, with the
impropriation of Stow St. Giles annexed, in the archdeaconry
of Bafnstaple, and diocese of Exeter, rated
in the king's books at £20, endowed with £600
private benefaction, and £900 parliamentary grant,
and in the patronage of the Dean and Canons of Christ
Church, Oxford. The church, which is dedicated to
St. Michael, is an ancient structure, rebuilt about five
years' after its destruction by gunpowder, in 1645: it
has a north transept, and on the south side is a low
tower.' There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents,
and Wesleyan Methodists. In addition
to the grammar school, the Blue school, in Wellstreet,
was established in 1709, by Denys Rolle, Esq.,
who gave a messuage and lands, with the sum of
£200, for the gratuitous education of forty boys: the
annual income is £63. 10.: twenty-two boys are educated
and clothed, and two apprenticed annually,
with a premium of £1 each. A National school, in
New-street, is supported by voluntary contributions.
Ah almshouse for eight poor persons was founded
and endowed, in 1604, by John Huddle; there is
also an unendowed almshouse. On the restoration of
Charles II., General Monk was made Earl of Torring7
ton. The town at present confers the title of viscount
on the family of Byng.