BARNESTAPLE, (Devon) on the r. Taw, 30 m. N. of Exeter, 184 cm. and 194 mm. from London. The name is compounded of Bar,
which, in the British language, is the mouth of a r. and Staple, which, in the Saxon, is a mart of trade. It had walls
formerly, with a castle, the liberties of a city, and a haven, which became at last so shallow, though at spring tides the
neighbouring fields are overflowed, that most of the trade removed to Biddiford; yet it has still some merchants, and a
good trade to America and to Ireland, from whence it is an established port for landing wool; and it imports more wine,
and other merchandize, than Biddiford, and is every whit as considerable; for though its rival cures more fish, it does
not drive so great a trade with the serge-makers of Tiverton and Exeter, who come up hither to buy shadfish, wool, yarn,
&c. This T. is pleasantly situated among hills, in the form of a semi-circle, to which the r. is a diameter, and has a
fair stonebridge over it of 16 arches, with a paper-mill. The streets are clean, and well paved, and the houses of stone.
'Tis a mayor-T. (by charter of Q. Mary) with 24 C.C. of whom 2 are ald. besides a high-steward, a recorder, his deputy,
&c. It gives title to one of the four archdeaconries of the diocese of Exeter, and is noted for good ale. Here are 2 ch.
s. and it had formerly several popish chantries, and other religious houses. Q. Mary gave the manor of this T. to Thomas
Marrow of Warwickshire, whose son sold it to the Chichesters, the present owners of it. It has sent burgesses to Pt. ever
since the 23d of Edw. I. Its Fair begins Sept. 8, and lasts 4 days, toll free. Mt. on W. and F.