White's History, Gazetteer and Directory
of the County of Devon, 1878

ATHERINGTON is a pleasant village and parish on an eminence, 7 miles S.S.E. from Barnstaple, 8 miles W. by S. of South Molton, and E.N.E. of Torrington. Its parish is in Barnstaple union, archdeaconry, rural deanery, and county court district, Braunton petty sessional division, Northern division of the county, and North Tawton hundred. It had 578 inhabitants (285 males, 293 females) in 1871, living in 110 houses, on 3326 acres of land, and includes the hamlets of Langridge and Eastacombe. The Rev. A. C. Bassett is lord of the manor of Umberleigh, which extends over this and High Bickington parish, and had an ancient chantry chapel, which was pulled down in 1800. Buriate is an estate belonging to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; and Wootton belongs to the representatives of the Melhuish family. The manor of Umberleigh was formerly held by the Beaumouts, whose heiress (Jane Beaumont) carried it in marriage to Sir John Bassett, ancestor of the present owner. Risdon says that Athelstane had a palace at Umberleigh, and that he founded a church at Atherington, which he endowed with two hides of land. The CHURCH (St. Mary), a fine old structure, consisting of nave, chancel, north aisle, and tower containing seven very good bells, was improved in 1876 by lamps being added, and the church re-decorated at the cost of £50. Many of the seats in the nave have handsome carved ends. On the south side of the chancel are two windows tilled with stained glass—one in memory of members of the rector's family, and the other of Amy Chichester, who died in 1863; and two others on the north side are also enriched with stained glass. On a tombstone in the chancel are brasses in memory of Sir John Basset (who lived in the reign of Henry VII.) and his two wives and twelve children; in this part of the church are also two recumbent effigies (male and female). There is a very fine oak screen which was brought from Umberleigh chapel. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £20 2s. 1d., has a manor attached, and is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. James Arthur, B.A., who has 205a. 3r. 21p. of glebe and a good residence, erected in 1837, at the cost of £1000. The tithes are commuted at £416 a year. In the village is a small chapel belonging to the BAPTISTS. The CHURCH SCHOOL, erected in 1864, to hold 60 children, at a cost of £300, is attended by 30 pupils ; a house for the teacher was built in 1870 at an outlay of £150. The British School, in connection with the BAPTIST CHAPEL, is attended by about 60 children. The poor have £2 10s. yearly as the interest of Lady Chichester's charity.

POST OFFICE at Mr. Thomas Loosemore's. Letters are despatched at 3.45 p.m., via Barnstaple, which is the nearest Money Order Office.

Andrew John, farmer, Umberleigh Barton
Arthur George, farmer, Eastacombe
Arthur Rev James, B.A. rector, The Rectory
Bedford Richard, farmer, Wootton
Beer John, bootmaker
Beer John, carpenter
Beer William, carpenter
Bowden Wm. fruit dealer. Chantry
Brown Mr Edwd. Umberleigh House
Brown Mrs Jane, shopkeeper
Brownscombc John, vict.. Carpenters' Inn, and assistant overseer
Burgess Wm. vict.. Rising Sun, and farmer. Umberleigh
Champion Walter, faimer, Little Wore
Clarke William, blacksmith
Delbridge John, farmer, Buriate
Delbridge Wm. farmer, Fishley Rock
Down John, farmer, Little hall
Down John, farmer, Overwore
Down Thomas, farmer, Langridge
Down William, farmer, Bartridge
Downing Richd. Baptist schoolmaster
Guard Hy. corn milier, Umberleigh
Goss Philip, farmer, Higher house
Harris John, farmer, Bremridge
Jones Richd. farmer, Little Knowles
Juslin William, farmer, Langridge
Lake William, bootmaker and shopkeeper, Langridge ford
Lemon Mr John, Rose cottage
Lemon William, farmer, Wixland
Loosemore Thomas, blacksmith and postmaster
Mayne Frederick, bootmaker
Reed William, farmer
Russell Mr Robert, Eastacombe
Scoyne John Milton, victualler, White Hart, and bootmaker
Slee Richard, bootmaker
Smyth John, Church schoolmaster
Tucker Mrs Grace. frmr. Gt. Knowle
Warren Thomas, farmer
Webber Joseph, carpenter
White Samuel, farmer. Langridge
Whitehead Rev Geo., B.A., curate
Wonnacott William, shopkeeper

CARRIER - Budd, to Barnstaple, Friday

Home