Fremington, Devon

Description
Fremington, a village and a parish in Devonshire. The village stands on the estuary of the Taw, 3 miles W of Barnstaple, and has a station on the L. & S.W.R. 214 miles from London. It was known in the time of the Saxons as Freemanton, was a borough in the time of Edward III., sending members to parliament. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Barnstaple. A small creek called Fremington Pill is an anchoring-place of vessels trading with Barnstaple, and a discharging place of coal vessels. The parish contains also the village of Bickington, and is in the rural deanery of Barnstaple. Acreage, 6135; population, 1195. The manor belonged anciently to the Traceys, barons of Barnstaple. Fremington House is a handsome mansion amid extensive grounds, with a fine collection of exotics. Bickington Lodge, Ellerslie, and Brynsworthy also are principal residences. Building stone and potters' clay occur, and a salmon fishery is carried on. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Exeter; value, £400 with residence. The church is ancient, has a square turreted tower with six bells, and is in good order. There are Congregational and Wesleyan chapels at Bickington and Fremnyte.