Collumpton, Devon

Description
Collumpton or Cullompton, a town and a parish in Devonshire. The town stands on the river Culme, with a station on the G.W.R., 177 miles from London, in a fine valley amid charming scenery, 12 1/2 miles NE of Exeter, consists chiefly of two main streets, is a seat of petty sessions, and has a head post office, two banks, three chief inns, a town-hall, a parish church, four dissenting chapels, and large charities. The town-hall was erected in 1853. It is now known as the " Jubilee Room," and includes a reading-room and a lecture-room. The church is a noble pile, partly of the 15th century, consists of aisled nave and chancel, and a side chapel, with imposing lofty western tower, and contains a gorgeous screen and rood-loft, with elaborate carvings; it was restored in 1849. A weekly market is held on Saturday, and fairs on the first Wednesday of May and Nov. Woollen manufacture was formerly extensive but has declined, and industry is now carried on in tan-yards, paper-mills, and flour-mills. The parish comprises 8175 acres; population, 3179. The manor was bequeathed by King Alfred to his son Ethelward, and passed in 1278 to Buckland Abbey. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Exeter; gross value, £374 with residence.