Callington (formerly Killington), a small market-town and a parish in Cornwall. The town stands on a gentle acclivity, near the river Lynner, 8 miles from Tavistock station on the G.W.R. and L. & S.W.R., and 11 S of Launceston. It consists chiefly of one broad street, irregularly built, and is a seat of petty sessions. There are two banks, a hotel, a Freemasons' hall, assembly rooms, and a literary institution. The church was built on the site of a previous one in 1460, is Perpendicular English, was restored in 1859, and enlarged in 1882. It contains a very curious old Norman font, and an elaborate monument to Lord Willoughby de Broke. A fine gabled sculptured cross is in the churchyard. There are Wesleyan, Free Methodist, and Bible Christian chapels. Many of the inhabitants are miners. A weekly market is held on Wednesday. A large cattle market is held on the-first Wednesday in every month. The town was made a borough in the time of Elizabeth, and sent two members to Parliament, till disfranchised in 1832. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office. Acreage of the civil parish, 2531; population, 1888; of the ecclesiastical, 2416. The manor belonged to successively the Champernounes, the Ferrers, the Dennises, the Brokes, and others. It now belongs to Lady Compton. Kit Hill, about 2 miles N of the town, consists of granite, is 1067 feet high, and commands an extensive view. Stream tin and copper ore are worked. The town is the terminus of the East Cornwall Mineral railway. The living is a rectory, annexed to the rectory of Southill, in the diocese of Truro ; net value, £453 with residence.
