ELWORTHY
The parish of Elworthy lies on the eastern slopes
of the Brendon Hills 7 km. north of Wiveliscombe,
much of it within Exmoor National Park, (fn. 1) and the
whole was probably once part of the minster estate
of Stogumber. (fn. 2) With the addition of a small area of
Stogumber in 1886 the present civil parish contains
716 ha. (1,768 a.). (fn. 3) The parish measures c. 5.5 km.
from east to west, and lies in two irregular but compact parts joined by a narrow strip of land, the two
parts perhaps representing the two Domesday estates
of Elworthy and Willett. The western part stretches
in a band about 1 km. wide from the plateau of the
Brendons at 391 m. eastwards down the steep
Elworthy combe to Elworthy village and the beginnings of the slope beyond, then south-east along the
valley side to the tongue of Stogumber which almost
divides the parish. The eastern part of the parish runs
north-east from Willett Hill (274 m.), and then
south-east across the gentler slopes of Tolland
Down, including the village of Willett on the falling
ground, and Willett House, Plash Farm, and Coleford
Farm on the tributaries of the Doniford stream. The
only natural boundary follows a stream south-west
of Willett Hill, but the Brendon ridgeway marks part
of the boundary in the west and some other boundaries are marked by minor roads. (fn. 4)
Brendon slate is the principal geological formation
in the parish, with some small areas of sandstone
south-east of Elworthy village and west of Willett
and valley gravels in the east near Willett House. (fn. 5)
There were small scattered quarries in the 19th
century, and a limekiln north of Coleford Farm. (fn. 6)
On Elworthy common, 1.5 km. south-west of
Elworthy village, is a round cairn, probably the one
opened in 1833, and a Bronze Age barrow was opened
in Sparborough field at Willett in 1834. (fn. 7) Fields
named Catborough and Great Burrow at Willett and
Maunsberry, north-east of Elworthy village, (fn. 8) suggest
further prehistoric sites.
There is only slight evidence, from the 16th century, (fn. 9) of open-field arable farming, and after 1831,
when Elworthy common and Willett Hill were inclosed, there was no common pasture in the parish. (fn. 10)
There were 90 a. of wood in 1086. (fn. 11) By 1840 there
were 115 a. including plantations at Tilsey Farm
above Elworthy combe, and on Willett Hill. (fn. 12) The
tower on Willett Hill was built by 1782 (fn. 13) 'at the
expense of the neighbouring gentry' in the form of
a ruined church, perhaps to serve as a 'steeple' for
riders. (fn. 14) The parkland around Willett House had
been created by 1840. (fn. 15) By 1905 the area of woodland
had increased to 137 a. (fn. 16)
The former Willett farmhouse (replaced by Willett
Farm, built in 1874) dates from the 15th century and
was altered in the 1640s. (fn. 17) Plash Farm is of the 17th
century or earlier, with 19th-century farm buildings.
Elworthy Farm is of the 17th or early 18th century
and also has a group of 19th-century buildings.
Elworthy village lies 500 m. north-west of the
crossing of the Bampton-Hartrow road and the
Wiveliscombe-Watchet road, both turnpiked in
1806. (fn. 18) Elworthy Cross House was a tollhouse belonging to the Wiveliscombe trust, with gates on each
road except that leading to the village. (fn. 19) Save Penny
Lane was the name given to a route between Brompton Ralph and Stogumber which skirted east of
Elworthy village and avoided the tollhouse. It was
stopped in 1827. (fn. 20) The old road from Plash to Willett
was closed in 1820, probably because it crossed the
new park of Willett House. (fn. 21)
There were at least 62 adult males in the parish in
1641 and 244 people were listed for the 1667 subsidy. (fn. 22) By the 19th century the population had fallen
considerably although there was a rise from 150 in
1801 to 216 in 1851. Between 1891 and 1901 the
population fell sharply from 162 to 110 and between
1961 and 1971 it shrank still further from 82 to 62. (fn. 23)
MANORS.
In 1086 William de Mohun held Elworthy except for 1 virgate which was retained by the
king, (fn. 24) and the estate owed a rent to Dunster, the
caput of William's honor, in 1777. (fn. 25)
Dunne possessed Elworthy T.R.E. and Dodeman
in 1086. (fn. 26) During the 12th century it was held by the
Elworthy family. In 1166 William of Elworthy held
4 fees of Dunster, two of which were probably
Elworthy and Willett, (fn. 27) and Simon of Elworthy held
a fee of Dunster in 1201 and 1202. (fn. 28) Philip of Elworthy was lord of the manor of ELWORTHY early
in Henry III's reign, (fn. 29) and conveyed the estate with
the service of one knight from Plash and Willett to
William Malet of Bedgrave, in Weston Turville
(Bucks.). (fn. 30) William's daughter Lucy married first
Simon of Merriott of Hestercombe (d. after 1276),
and secondly Thomas of Timworth. (fn. 31) Lucy had died
by 1316 and the manor descended to her son Walter
of Merriott, clerk (d. 1345). (fn. 32) Walter's heir was his
nephew Simon of Merriott, who died before 1372. (fn. 33)
The manor then passed to Margery (d. 1390), Simon's
widow, and then to John, nephew of her second
husband Thomas Willington. John, a lunatic, died in
1396, leaving as his heirs his two sisters, Margaret,
wife of Sir John Wroth, and Isabel, wife of William
Beaumont. Margaret received Elworthy. (fn. 34) Her son
John died under age and his widow Joyce surrendered
her dower. (fn. 35) The manor passed to John's sister Elizabeth (d. 1440), wife of Sir William Palton. (fn. 36) On Sir
William's death in 1450 without issue Elizabeth's
cousin, Thomas Beaumont, inherited Elworthy. (fn. 37)
William de Mohun also held Willett in 1086.
T.R.E. and in 1086 it was held with Elworthy. (fn. 38) The
manor of WILLETT continued to descend with
Elworthy, except for a period during the 13th century
when it was leased to the de la Plesse family, (fn. 39) until
1396 when it passed to William and Isabel Beaumont. (fn. 40) William was succeeded by his son Thomas
who in 1450, the year before his death, inherited the
manor of Elworthy. (fn. 41)
The manor of PLASH was mentioned in 1238
when it was held by Hugh de la Plesse. (fn. 42) Hugh was
dead by 1248 and was possibly succeeded by Richard
de la Plesse, who held a fee in Willett in the 1280s. (fn. 43)
In 1303 Plash was held by Lucy of Merriott. (fn. 44) In
1396 the manor was in the king's hands on the death
of John Willington and by 1424 it had been leased by
Isabel Beaumont to William Squire. (fn. 45) From 1396 or
earlier Plash was held with Willett, and the names
were sometimes used interchangeably. (fn. 46)
On his death in 1451 Thomas Beaumont held all
three manors and they descended in the Beaumont
family until the end of the 16th century. Thomas's
son William Beaumont (d. 1453) was succeeded by
his brother Philip (d. 1473) after William's supposed
son John had been declared a bastard in 1466, as the
illegitimate son of William's wife Joan Courtenay and
Sir Henry Bodrugan whom she later married. Philip
allowed Joan and Sir Henry the use of the estates
during her lifetime (fn. 47) and devised them to his halfbrother Thomas Beaumont. In 1477, however,
Thomas released the property to John Bodrugan or
Beaumont who, with his reputed father, was attainted
for involvement in Simnel's rebellion in 1496. The
attainder was reversed after it was discovered that
John had died before the rebellion. The manors of
Elworthy, Plash, and Willett passed to John's son
Henry (d. 1548) who called himself Beaumont, (fn. 48) to
Henry's son Humphrey (d. 1572), (fn. 49) and to Humphrey's son Henry. The last Henry died without
surviving issue in 1591 and the estates passed through
his sister Elizabeth, wife of Robert Muttlebury, to
her son Thomas. (fn. 50) In 1608 the property was forfeited
temporarily because of Thomas Muttlebury's
recusancy, (fn. 51) but he was lord of the manor of ELWORTHY or ELWORTHY AND WILLETT in
1634. (fn. 52) William Lacey (d. 1641) of Hartrow, in
Stogumber, bought the estate c. 1635 and was succeeded by his grandson William Lacey (d. 1690), (fn. 53)
by that William's son William (d. 1695), (fn. 54) and then
by the latter's daughter Sarah, wife of Thomas
Rich. (fn. 55) Sarah's son Thomas died in 1727 before his
intended marriage to Margaret Hay, to whom he left
his estate. On Margaret's death in 1753 the estate
passed to her sister Mary (d. 1771) and then to the
Revd. Bickham Escott, son of their sister Sarah. A
fourth sister Isabel had inherited land in Elworthy
which had belonged to the Dodington family in the
17th century and on her death in 1772 her heirs were
Bickham Escott and John Francis of Combe Florey. (fn. 56)
Bickham Escott died in 1801 without male heirs and
in 1811 a considerable estate, including Elworthy
manor, was settled on his daughter Elizabeth who
married Lt. Col. (later Gen.) Daniel Francis Blommart of Halse. (fn. 57) John Blommart (d. 1890) followed
his father as lord of the manor and was succeeded by
his sister Mary (d. 1910). (fn. 58) The estate was then or
soon after divided, and no later claim to the lordship
has been found. In 1979 the manor house belonged
to Mr. E. W. Towler.
Willett House, built in or after 1816 by Richard
Carver for Daniel Blommart, (fn. 59) is a square structure
with a main south front of five bays and two storeys
behind which there is in succession a lower service
wing, a courtyard, stable, and coachhouse. A number
of closes were destroyed to make a park of 40 a. (fn. 60)
Later in the 19th century it was extended and in 1979
was mostly pasture with many specimen trees and
an area of formal gardens south-east of the house. A
capital messuage called Elworthy belonged in the
late 16th century to the Muttlebury family, (fn. 61) and
may be the precursor of the present Elworthy Farm.
A small estate at Coleford was held by Dodeman
of William de Mohun in 1086 and had been held
T.R.E. by Brictuin. (fn. 62) It was probably absorbed by
Plash or Willett manor and is represented by the
present Coleford farm.
ECONOMIC HISTORY.
The Domesday estates
together totalled 2 hides, of which 3 virgates were in
demesne, but there were 170 a. of pasture, 90 a. of
woodland, and, among the stock, 172 sheep. A
recorded population of 20 villeins, 14 bordars, and
3 serfs, seems remarkably high. (fn. 63) Thereafter there is
an almost total lack of evidence of economic activity
until the 17th century.
Stock raising, principally of sheep, is recorded in
17th-century inventories. In 1640 a yeoman left sheep
and lambs, a bull, cows and calves, horses, pigs, two
cheese presses, and corn and malt. (fn. 64) In 1642 another
yeoman had sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, and corn, and
an inventory of 1648 shows a similar pattern with
sheep, cattle, pigs, and corn. (fn. 65) A smallholder who
died in 1646 kept bees, a cow, and two pigs, (fn. 66) in
contrast with the wealthy yeoman Henry Sweeting,
who in 1676 had many sheep, cattle, a horse, and
various crops. (fn. 67) A farmer's livestock tended to be
worth twice as much as his crops.
There is little evidence of clothmaking compared
with the parishes to the north but Rack close lay
south of Willett Hill (fn. 68) and the parish supported a
large population in the 17th century. (fn. 69) One poor
weaver left looms worth only 10s., (fn. 70) and other inventories contain only small amounts of wool and cloth. (fn. 71)
In 1831 out of 36 families 30 were engaged in agriculture and only 4 in handicrafts. (fn. 72)
In 1840 the farms were few and large, in contrast
to the many small holdings found in neighbouring
parishes. The largest farm, Plash and Willett, measured 307 a., Elworthy farm had 202 a., and Higher
Willett, Lower Willett, and Coleford farms were
each over 100 a. Of the six other farms none was
under 35 a. and four were over 60 a. Out of a total
of 1,635 a., 1,215 a. were owned by the lord of the
manor, Daniel Blommart. (fn. 73) The soil was said to
produce average crops of wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, and turnips, (fn. 74) and in 1905 there were still 608 a.
of arable land and 586 a. of grass. (fn. 75) By 1976 there
were at least 700 a. of grass supporting 846 sheep and
510 cattle. Of the holdings returned, one was over
500 a., two were over 120 a., one over 75 a., and the
rest between 5 a. and 50 a. (fn. 76)
There were two mills in 1086, one at Elworthy and
one at Willett. The latter paid no rent but the mill
at Elworthy was worth 4s. (fn. 77) One mill survived until
1630 or later (fn. 78) but by 1840 both mills had gone. (fn. 79)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The only known record of a manor court is a presentment to the court
baron of Elworthy and Willett of 1682. (fn. 80) In 1556 the
watch at Elworthy was concerned with firing beacons
and other precautions against invasion. (fn. 81) There were
two churchwardens and two sidesmen by 1613, (fn. 82)
and there is a reference to a meeting of the vestry in
1738, (fn. 83) but no records of parish officers survive earlier
than the 19th century. The vestry then nominated to
the offices of overseer and surveyor, by 1836 there
were two highway surveyors, and in 1858 four waywardens. Road repairs were a major concern of the
vestry in the 19th century, and in 1836 there was a
scheme for payment to parishioners prepared to
assist with the work. In 1832 a special meeting of the
vestry was held to decide on precautions to be taken
against a possible outbreak of cholera. A room in
Tilsey Farm was to be equipped as a hospital, a nurse
was appointed, and a board of health set up. (fn. 84)
There was a poorhouse in Cott Lane, in Elworthy
combe, west of the village, by 1829. (fn. 85) In 1858, when
it comprised four cottages, it was ordered to be sold,
and it may have been demolished c. 1859. (fn. 86) The
parish was part of the Williton poor-law union from
1836 and of the Williton rural district from 1894.
Since 1974 it has formed part of West Somerset
district. (fn. 87)
CHURCH.
A church was mentioned in 1233. (fn. 88) The
living was a rectory until 1969 when it became a
chapelry within the parish of Monksilver, as part of
the united benefice of Monksilver with Brompton
Ralph, Nettlecombe, and, from 1977, Stogumber. In
1979 the church was declared redundant and vested
in the Redundant Churches Fund. (fn. 89)
The advowson was quitclaimed in 1233 by William
Malet to the Knights Hospitaller. (fn. 90) The prior presented to the benefice in 1509, (fn. 91) and presumably
until the order was dissolved in 1540. In 1563 the
advowson was granted by the Crown to Thomas
Reve, William Revet, and William Hechins, (fn. 92) and by
1579 it was in the hands of William Lacey of Hartrow,
thence descending with the manor to Margaret Hay.
In 1727 she leased the advowson to David Yea and
John Morley with the proviso that Morley's son
Alexander, then rector, should be succeeded by one
of his own sons. (fn. 93) Alexander died in 1731 when his
sons were under age, and Yea presented a successor,
but John Morley, one of the sons, was in 1746 presented by David Yea. In 1804 Sarah Escott, greatniece of Margaret Hay, sold the advowson to William
Lock, who conveyed it to the Revd. Thomas Roe in
1820. (fn. 94) In 1835 the advowson was sold to Mrs. Clarkson, probably the mother of Christopher Clarkson,
rector and patron from 1835 to 1844. In 1844 the
advowson was conveyed in trust for John Eddy,
rector and patron 1845–68. (fn. 95) In 1891 it was sold by
trustees to Mrs. Simms, who transferred it to the
rector, James Sanger, in 1897. (fn. 96) In 1919 the patronage was transferred as a free gift by Mrs. Somerset
Gardner McTaggart, probably mother of the incoming rector of Monksilver with Elworthy, to the dean
and canons of Windsor, patrons of Monksilver,
pending the union of the two parishes. (fn. 97) The dean
and canons became joint patrons of the united
benefice. (fn. 98)
In 1291 the church was valued at £4 6s. 8d., (fn. 99) in
1535 at £6 18s., (fn. 100) and c. 1668 at c. £20. (fn. 101) In 1831 the
average net income of the benefice was £244, (fn. 102) and
in 1840 the tithes were commuted for a rent charge of
£230 12s. (fn. 103)
In 1613 there were 69 a. of glebe both in the parish
and in Stogumber, (fn. 104) and nearly 63 a. remained in
1840, (fn. 105) a small portion having been exchanged in
1831 during inclosure of the commons. (fn. 106) The glebe
remained intact until 1910 but had been disposed of
by 1931. (fn. 107)
There was a rectory house with garden, barn, and
orchard in 1606, (fn. 108) and in 1698 it had 14 windows. (fn. 109)
In 1827 the rector was said to be non-resident because
the house was 'not in a fit state' although the curate
lived in it (fn. 110) and it was declared fit in 1831. (fn. 111) A new
house, in landscaped grounds, probably built c. 1838,
was originally small and symmetrically planned with
a south-west front of three bays. It was later extended,
and has been a private house since c. 1919.
The first known rector, John de Massingham,
instituted in 1310, was licensed to be absent for study
from 1311 to 1313 and in 1314 to serve the prior of
St. John of Jerusalem for a year. (fn. 112) John de Sutton,
instituted in 1346, was licensed to follow the king's
service for a year, but Walter de Chadelshounte,
presented in 1349, was warned by the bishop in 1351
to take up residence. (fn. 113) William Dickes, rector 1589–
1635, was accused in 1603 of setting up too many
seats in the chancel. (fn. 114) John Selleck, rector 1643–5 and
again from the 1660s until 1690, was ejected for
loyalty to the king and was later involved in helping
Charles II to escape. After the Restoration he became
a canon of Wells and rector of Clifton Campville
(Staffs.) and was responsible for ransoming English
subjects held at Algiers in 1662. (fn. 115) Both Alexander
Morley, 1712–31, and his son John, 1746–86, lived
in the parish, (fn. 116) and Samuel Willis, 1786–1818, was
also resident, but by 1815 took only weekday services
because of 'infirmities of age'. Services on Sundays,
Good Friday, and Christmas Day were taken by the
rector of Sampford Brett. (fn. 117) Thomas Roe, rector
1818–35, was also rector of Brendon and was assisted
in the parish by curates (fn. 118) including William Chilcott
who also served as curate at Monksilver where he was
later rector. In 1827 the curate lived in the rectory
house and took services on Sundays. (fn. 119) Roe's successor
from 1835 was resident and held two services with
sermons and administered communion four times a
year. (fn. 120) In 1851 30 people usually attended morning
service and 60 the afternoon service. The 15 Sundayschool children attended both services. (fn. 121) Under
Matthew Pierpoint, rector 1868–90, celebrations of
communion were increased to once a month. (fn. 122) In
1951 monthly services were held at Willett. (fn. 123)
A church house was mentioned in 1636 (fn. 124) but by
1727 it appears to have been used as a dwelling. (fn. 125)
A fraternity of St. Martin was mentioned in 1531
and 1536, and there were lights of St. Martin, St.
Mary, St. Anthony, and All Souls. (fn. 126) A tenement,
garden, and 1 a. of arable were given for a light in the
church. (fn. 127)
The church of ST. MARTIN was so dedicated by
1531. (fn. 128) It stands on a steeply sloping site overlooking
the village and has a chancel, nave with south organ
chamber and vestry, and north porch, and battlemented west tower with external stair to the ringing
chamber. The nave, which retains a lancet at the west
end of the north wall, and the tower date from the
13th century, and the porch and the nave roof from
the late 15th century. The chancel was rebuilt in
1695, and again in 1846, when the nave was also
restored and reseated. (fn. 129) The organ chamber probably dates from 1846. The alabaster font is of the mid
17th century, evidently from Watchet. The altar rail
and table are late 17th-century and there is some
glass from the same period in the north-west window.
The screen is a 19th-century creation incorporating
a frieze dated 1632 and some 17th-century tracery
with the arms and crest of the Lacey family.
There is a cup of 1573 by 'I.P.' (fn. 130) Among the four
bells one is medieval, from the Exeter foundry, and
another is by Roger Semson of Ash Priors (1530–70). (fn. 131)
The registers date from 1685 and are complete. (fn. 132)
NONCONFORMITY.
The lord of the manor (fn. 133) and
members of the Green family were presented for
recusancy at various times between 1613 and 1665. (fn. 134)
The Greens had estates in the parish until 1717 or
later. (fn. 135) In 1776 there was said to be one papist. (fn. 136)
EDUCATION.
There was no school in 1818 (fn. 137) but
20 children were attending school daily in 1826, and
in 1831 a free Sunday school was started with the
same number of children. (fn. 138) In 1839 a school was built
in Elworthy village in union with the National
Society and supported by voluntary subscription. (fn. 139)
In 1847 16 boys and 14 girls attended the day school,
and 20 boys and 16 girls the Sunday school, which
was also supported by school pence. (fn. 140) In 1870 and
1872 the vestry decided to raise a voluntary school
rate and repair the school. (fn. 141) The school appears to
have closed between 1875 and 1883 and another was
opened in a cottage at Willett for 40 children. (fn. 142) In
1892 a National school opened in the old school house
in Elworthy village for 30 children; 42 children were
enrolled. Numbers fell sharply during the next three
decades and by 1933 there were only 12 children
attending the school. In 1937 it was closed and the
children went to Monksilver and Williton. (fn. 143) Until
1951 the building was used for church purposes, and
later the site was conveyed for a village hall. The hall
closed c. 1965, (fn. 144) and in 1979 it was a private house.
CHARITIES FOR THE POOR.
An estate at
Willett consisting of a messuage, garden plot, and 1 a.
of land, perhaps the endowment of a pre-Reformation
light in the church, was held by trustees in 1676. The
issues were payable to the churchwardens for the
church, the poor, or other charitable purpose. (fn. 145) The
property was exchanged for land in Elworthy village
in 1831 (fn. 146) but there is no further record of the charity.