NORTHOVER
The ancient parish of Northover was 438 a. in
extent in 1838. (fn. 1) Part of Somerton mead was transferred to Kingsdon in 1885 and a small detached
part of Somerton to Northover. (fn. 2) The civil and
ecclesiastical parishes were coterminous in 1901 and
measured 440 a. (fn. 3) The civil parish was united with
Ilchester in 1933. (fn. 4)
The parish lies on the north bank of the Yeo
or Ivel, and may have formed the northern half of
a bridgehead settlement, Ilchester forming the
southern half. The settlement apparently remained a
single unit until Domesday and the northern section
seems to have comprised the estate and probably
the site of St. Andrew's church. (fn. 5) Like Ilchester
it was connected with the Saxon royal estate of
Somerton, and survived as 'North Tone' in a
perambulation of Somerton warren in Edward I's
reign. (fn. 6) Subsequently Northover became divided
from Ilchester, and the Yeo formed the boundary
between them until the county gaol was established
within the parish in the late 16th century. Ilchester
parish was then slightly extended to embrace the
gaol buildings. (fn. 7) The eastern boundary of Northover,
following the Foss Way and then curving northwards to the Cary, was probably also the eastern
boundary of Somerton warren. The irregularity of
the western boundary resulted from the inclosure
of Somerton mead.
The parish lies on the alluvium of the Yeo flood
plain. The ground rises gently to the north to
just over 80 ft., where clay loam predominates. (fn. 8) The
triangle between the Somerton road, the Foss Way,
and the northern boundary of the parish comprised
the largest tract of land. Originally the whole area
was probably one field in open cultivation, but by
the beginning of the 17th century inclosures had
been made in the north. (fn. 9) Most of the remainder
was formally inclosed in 1839, though consolidation
of holdings had long since obliterated most of the
strips. (fn. 10) By 1838 the 'open' area was divided between
North field and Worth field. The latter was known
in the early 17th century as Woorth furlong, (fn. 11) an
indication that originally both belonged to the same
large field. In the same way Northover field and
Witch furlong, (fn. 12) in the other arable area of the parish
to the south-west of the Somerton road, were parts
of a second open arable field, the southern parts
of which were inclosed for pasture from the 17th
century onwards. (fn. 13) Further south, between Conygar
Lane and the river, lay the common pasture lands of
the parish. Common rights were still enjoyed there in
the early 17th century, but had been extinguished
before 1838. (fn. 14)
Northover shared with Ilchester a significant
position as an important crossing-place of the Yeo,
where several ancient roads, two of them Roman,
converged. The Foss Way, from Bath, and a road
from the Bristol Channel joined a route from the
east just north of the village. (fn. 15) This 'thoroughfare
and travelling highway' was, by 1630, repairable by
the parish. (fn. 16) All three roads were turnpiked in
1753 by the Ilchester Trust, and a toll-house was
built at the first junction to the north of the
village. (fn. 17) Besides these three roads a drove leading
westwards, north of the church and the former
manor-house, originally served Northover field and
Somerton mead. Its early stretches were called
Conygar Lane in the 19th century; further west it is
known as South Mead drove. (fn. 18) There is much
evidence of Roman occupation in the parish including
many burials to the west of the village. (fn. 19)
As a suburb largely dependent on the prosperity
of Ilchester the parish was probably most populous
in the 13th century. By the end of the 14th century
it was certainly larger than its declining neighbour,
having a taxable population of 64, compared with
Ilchester's 50 in 1377. (fn. 20) In 1801 there were 56
inhabitants; within twenty years this figure had
doubled to 121 and reached 138 in 1831. The number then fluctuated between 90 and c. 120 until
1891 when only 79 were recorded. Ten years later
this had fallen to 46. There followed a gradual
recovery, the number reaching 67 by 1931. (fn. 21)
Thenceforward no separate figures are available,
though it is clear that the population has increased
rapidly since 1949 with the erection first of the
Admiralty houses and flats and then with Local
Authority dwellings in Taranto Hill, Great Orchard,
and Troubridge Park.
Apart from the manor-house and the 'Old
Vicarage', described elsewhere, (fn. 22) the so-called
'Northover Manor', Darlington House, and Northover House are the only structures of any age in the
village. The first is a late-18th-century house of
stone, of two storeys and six bays. The groundfloor windows have wood casements with 'Gothick'
glazing. Darlington House, nearer Ilchester, on the
other side of the street, is a two-storey building
of rubble, with brick window-surrounds, probably
of the 18th century. It has a five-window front,
dominated by a Roman Doric porch, and deep
eaves. Northover House adjoining is somewhat
larger; its seven bay ashlar front, with angle pilasters
and porch, probably dates from the early 19th
century, though the south wall contains a mullioned
window somewhat earlier in date. The house was
certainly standing in 1802 when George Tuson,
solicitor, moved there, though its proximity to the
gaol was thought by his clerk to render it 'not in
a very desirable situation'. (fn. 23)
Manor.
The manor of NORTHOVER is not
mentioned eo nomine in the Domesday survey, but
seems to have been the estate of the church of St.
Andrew held by Brictric of Glastonbury abbey
T.R.E., and by Maurice, bishop of London, of the
Crown in 1086. (fn. 24) By the beginning of the 13th century
the manor evidently formed part of the barony of
Great Torrington (Devon): William de Torrington
held it in 1221 and was succeeded on his death in
1224 by his uncle, Matthew. (fn. 25) On Matthew's death
in 1227 the barony was divided between his five
sisters, Sibyl, wife of Richard de Umfraville, having,
inter alia, a ½ fee in Northover. (fn. 26) By 1242–3 this
holding was described as part of the honor of
Gloucester; (fn. 27) it was held of the Clares until the
partition of their estates in 1314, and then passed
to the Despensers through Eleanor, youngest
daughter of Gilbert de Clare. (fn. 28) Hugh le Despenser
was overlord at his death in 1349, but by 1361 it
was among the fees of Henry, late duke of Lancaster. (fn. 29) By 1375 it had reverted to the Despensers,
and was confiscated by attainder in 1400. (fn. 30) It was
parcel of the duchy of Lancaster in 1401–2, but
Isabel, wife of Richard Beauchamp, earl of Warwick, the Despenser heir, died as overlord in 1439. (fn. 31)
The overlordship probably lapsed on the death of
her grand-daughter, Anne, in 1449. (fn. 32)
In 1219 or earlier William de Torrington granted
part of his holding, including the church, to William
Brewer (I). This gift was confirmed in 1221. (fn. 33)
Brewer had, by 1219, given the property, later
described as ½ fee, to his newly-founded hospital
of St. John the Baptist at Bridgwater. (fn. 34) Though later
described as half the manor, it was usually assessed
at ¼ fee. (fn. 35) It seems likely that the hospital acquired
parts of the other holdings in the parish by the Dissolution, (fn. 36) and from 1539 the hospital's successors
were regarded as lords.
William de Torrington's heirs retained the other
portion of his estate: Sibyl de Umfraville was the
recorded holder in 1234, though she may already
have been succeeded by her son Gilbert (I). (fn. 37)
In 1295 the estate was said to be held of Gilbert's
heirs. (fn. 38) A return, perhaps of 1330, gives the tenant
as Henry de Umfraville, who was said to hold of a
mesne tenant, Patrick de Chaworth. (fn. 39) Gilbert (II)
de Umfraville (d. 1349) was tenant in 1349, holding
directly of Hugh le Despenser. (fn. 40) Patrick de Chaworth was again mentioned in 1361, but by that
year the Umfravilles had been succeeded by Roger
Cammell. (fn. 41) Richard Brice of Ilchester (fn. 42) held the
estate by 1376. (fn. 43) William Story was returned as
tenant in 1401–2, though he apparently disclaimed
the tenancy. (fn. 44) No further evidence of this estate has
been found.
The holding of the dissolved hospital of St. John,
Bridgwater, was granted by the Crown in fee to
John Leygh in 1544. (fn. 45) In the same year Leygh
alienated both manor and advowson to John Soper
of Speckington. (fn. 46) Soper sold both of them in 1546
to William Lyte (d. 1558) of Lillesdon in North
Curry. Lyte's eldest son John in turn sold them to
Thomas Raymond of Chard in 1566. (fn. 47) Another
Thomas Raymond, his grandson or nephew, (fn. 48) died
in 1605 leaving Northover to his eldest son John. (fn. 49)
By 1620 John had been succeeded by Thomas
Raymond (d. 1650), probably his brother. (fn. 50) Thomas's
daughter Mary, who succeeded to her father's
sequestrated estates, (fn. 51) probably married Col. John
Hody (d. 1702). (fn. 52) John Hody, the colonel's son,
succeeded but on his death in 1729, two years
after his own son, the manor passed to his son-inlaw, the Revd. Edward Chichester, who had married
his daughter Elizabeth. (fn. 53) Chichester, who was both
lord of the manor and incumbent, died in 1730,
leaving as his heir his infant son Henry. (fn. 54) Henry
Chichester was lord of the manor and the dominant
figure in parish administration until his death in
1799. (fn. 55) He was succeeded by his son John Hody
Chichester (d. 1834), and by his grandson J. H. W.
Chichester (d. 1846), who left Northover to live at
Stoke St. Michael. (fn. 56) The heir in 1846 was Charlotte,
daughter of Chichester's sister Caroline, and wife
of J. L. Burnard of Bath (d. 1873). (fn. 57) Mrs. Burnard
retained the property at least until 1895, (fn. 58) but her
son the Revd. A. C. Burnard, was described as lord
of the manor in 1897. (fn. 59) The Chichester family, in
the person of F. E. Chichester, retained the title at
least until 1910. (fn. 60)
The former manor-house stood to the northwest of the church. It appears to have been an
irregular building of stone, with a stone tiled roof
topped by a kind of cupola. (fn. 61) During the early 19th
century it was let to successive vicars of the parish;
it was subsequently pulled down and replaced by
the present house, which from 1871 was the official
residence of the incumbent. (fn. 62) A medieval barn of
ten bays stood to the south of the manor-house;
it was burnt down in 1876. (fn. 63)
Economic History.
The estate of St.
Andrew's church, Ilchester, identifiable as the later
parish of Northover, included 3 hides of arable and
30 a. of meadow in 1086. The demesne estate comprised a hide and 3 virgates, worked with 2 ploughs
by 2 serfs; one villein and 6 bordars with a plough
cultivated the remainder of the arable. Stock included 2 pack-horses, 9 'beasts', and 50 sheep. The
whole estate, including a mill worth 20s., was
valued at 100s. (fn. 64)
There is virtually no direct evidence for the
agrarian history of the parish from the 11th to the
16th centuries, though an indirect suggestion, in
1347, that a two-field system of cultivation was
being practised, (fn. 65) is confirmed by the open-field
system which survived into the 19th century. (fn. 66)
Surviving property transactions usually involved
houses rather than land, and indicate Northover's
status as a suburb of Ilchester. People resident in
the parish, such as Thurstan the goldsmith and
William the smith in the 13th century, almost
certainly had their business premises in the town
and lived in the quieter suburb. (fn. 67) Northover's decline,
however, did not immediately follow that of Ilchester: the manor was assessed at 20s. 2d. in
1327, compared with 24s. 3d. for Ilchester; by
1377 the town's taxable population was smaller
than that of Northover. (fn. 68)
At the Dissolution the rectorial estate held by
St. John's hospital was clearly the largest holding
in the parish. The demesne farm and the tithes were
leased to members of the Golde family for £5 6s. 8d.;
the rest of the estate brought in rents of £6 15s. 10½d. (fn. 69)
The demesne farm, known as Upper farm, comprised in 1601 several closes of pasture and large
tracts of arable, described as a virgate and 89 a. (fn. 70)
By c. 1600 the field boundaries had reached a
stage from which they had changed little by the mid
19th century. There were inclosed pasture grounds
in the north of the parish at Saundhyll (later Swanhills) and Oxenlease, and also nearer to the village
at Boughthayes (later Batthays) and Bonny's or
Bonne's (later Bum's) Close. Madlands was in
1605 still common pasture, and Somerton mead
was apparently divided for grazing into acre and
half-acre strips. The rest of the parish was still in
open-field cultivation. (fn. 71) Inclosure of the southwestern portion of the ancient parish, the former
Somerton mead, was made in 1806 under an Act
of 1797. This involved nearly 75 a. of meadow and
pasture lying between South Mead drove and the
river. (fn. 72) Inclosure of the remaining open fields was
made in 1839, and involved about 170 a. Most of
this property was in the hands of two landowners,
and the Act only gave legality to an arrangement of
property which had prevailed for at least a year
before the award was made. (fn. 73) In terms of land use
the parish was equally divided between arable and
pasture in 1834 but by 1905 only a quarter of the
parish was arable. (fn. 74)
The largest holding in the parish, Northover
farm, ceased to be the 'home farm' of the manor
about 1805, and was let as a unit, with a farmhouse, from that time. The house, now a restaurant
and known as Northover Manor Hotel, was before
that time a private residence, and by 1861 had
again ceased to be connected with Northover farm. (fn. 75)
The farm itself was let to Messrs. Phelps and Ireland from 1805; by 1811 J. H. Crocker was tenant.
James Crocker succeeded George Drew about 1821,
and his family farmed the property until 1876. The
farm was then just over 312 a., nearly three-quarters
of the parish. At the end of J. B. Crocker's tenancy,
in 1876, it was said to be 'well known to be one of
the finest farms in the county'. (fn. 76) The holding was
continued for some years, but had been divided by
1912. (fn. 77)
The only other substantial property in the parish
was that built up by George Tuson, solicitor, in
the early 19th century. In 1838 Frances Bailey
Tuson and the Revd. William Wilkins Gale held an
estate of just over 67 a.; by the following year
Henry Tuson and Gale shared the property. (fn. 78) This
was the nucleus of Southmead farm, the house and
buildings of which were erected about 1842. (fn. 79) It
remained in the Tuson family until after 1897. (fn. 80)
Agriculture was always the most prominent occupation in the parish. Twelve families out of 21, for
example, were so employed in 1821. (fn. 81) In more
recent times the presence of a main road through
the parish, once considered a financial burden, (fn. 82)
has been recognized as a source of income. Public
houses, such as the Dolphin in the period 1716–23,
or the Darlington Arms, now Darlington House,
built in 1835, had comparatively short periods of
existence, owing probably to the competition from
Ilchester. (fn. 83) The popularity of the motor car, however, and greater space for expansion than Ilchester
possessed, allowed Northover to take the lead in
establishing garages and restaurants. The first
garage was opened by 1931, and within the next
four years two refreshment rooms, a trading company, and an antique dealer were in business. Four
years later, by 1939, a café and a boarding house
provided further accommodation for travellers; (fn. 84)
more facilities, including a restaurant and two
garages, have been added since the Second World
War. About a quarter of the parish was under
arable in 1971, the remainder used for grazing.
Parish expenditure on poor relief can be studied
in detail from the beginning of the 18th century
until 1836. (fn. 85) Out-relief was normally given: between 1740 and 1750, for example, the parish
spent on average just over £17 a year. One year,
1747, was abnormally high, many children suffering
from sickness, but the number of adults relieved
varied between three and four. Towards the end of
the 18th century, the average expenditure rose,
not because of an increased number of paupers on
regular relief, but as a result of a growing number
of extraordinary payments for clothing, house
rent, and administration. Expenditure in 1776, for
example, was nearly £33; in 1797–8 only three
paupers were relieved, for the sum of 18 guineas,
but total expenditure was almost twice that sum.
The highest payments were made in the periods
1803–6 and 1830–1. (fn. 86) In 1834 there were 14
labourers in the parish, all employed. Piece-work
was general and the average wage was £20 a year.
Women and children were employed either in a
factory at Ilchester, or in gloving at home. (fn. 87)
There was a mill in Northover in 1086, valued
at 20s. (fn. 88) A miller occurs in the 13th century, (fn. 89)
but there is no further trace of a mill until 1538–9,
when it was let by the lords of the manor. (fn. 90) In 1561
it was conveyed by Thomas Phelips to Thomas
Gould, and seems to have remained with the Goulds
until 1694, when Bernard Gould made it over to
Katherine Webb, widow. (fn. 91) Its ownership has not
been traced in the 18th century, though John
Skreen occurs as miller in 1756–8. (fn. 92) Mrs. Alice
Stuckey owned the mill by 1805 and retained it
until 1809. She was followed in quick succession
by Miss Underwood in 1810 and Thomas Lockyer
in 1811. George Tuson bought it in 1812; he sold
it about 1826 to the earl of Darlington, and he in
turn, about 1834, to James Peddle Bond. Mrs.
Chard bought the property in 1846. (fn. 93) A succession
of millers can be traced from 1816 until the early
20th century, some of whom were owners as well
as occupiers. Probably the last to work the mill was
Herbert Parker: he was in occupation throughout
the First World War, but between 1919 and 1923
the mill became a private house. (fn. 94)
The mill, known as Northover Flour Mill in
1838, (fn. 95) was fed by a race, constructed behind the
gardens of the houses flanking the east side of the
main street. The mill-house and some of its buildings still stand, though the race has been almost
completely filled in.
Local Government.
By 1273–4 Gilbert de
Clare, earl of Gloucester, had a view of frankpledge
on his 'free manor' of Northover, enjoyed the
assize of bread and ale, and claimed the return of
writs and right of tumbrel. (fn. 96) St. John's hospital,
Bridgwater, appropriators of the benefice, held some
kind of court until 1539. (fn. 97) There is no evidence that
this court continued when the property came into
lay hands.
From the 18th century and probably earlier the
vestry was exercising wide powers. The appointment of the tithingman, an office reluctantly undertaken by the inhabitants in rotation in the 17th
century, (fn. 98) had by 1733 become the responsibility of
the overseers, who at least until 1749 paid a man £1
a year to hold the office, and provided him with
clothing. (fn. 99) Until the 1730s normal parish affairs were
conducted by two men, appointed annually as
churchwardens and overseers, (fn. 100) though on occasion
one accounted only for the church, the other only
for the poor. From 1735 until 1750, however, the
lord of the manor, Henry Chichester, was the sole
churchwarden and overseer. In 1748–9 he combined
these offices with that of waywarden, and for that
year received £2 to cover expenses for the three
offices. From 1753 until the end of the century the
churchwardenship was held by one man only. Henry
Chichester, who held it jointly, 1750–3, was sole
warden from 1760 until 1774, and was followed by
three members of the Culliford family. From 1787
onwards two overseers were appointed annually, one
of whom was usually the churchwarden. Since 1804
two churchwardens have normally been appointed;
the incumbent's custom of choosing one dates from
1827. (fn. 101)
Until the division of accounts after 1753 the
same rate supported both the church and the poor,
though separate accounts of expenditure were usually
kept. The rate also supported the general expenditure on roads and gates in the common meadow
lands, paid by the overseers. There is, however,
evidence of a surveyor of highways by 1719. In
1743 the churchwardens made a payment to waywardens covering the period from 1735, and in
1744 there was clearly a separate account kept by
the waywardens. During the period 1749–52 the
offices of waywarden, churchwarden, and overseer
were exercised by one man, and an account for the
repair of roads has survived for 1751–2. (fn. 102)
Apart from direct payments to the poor (fn. 103) the
overseers made occasional contributions for clothing,
and more regularly paid rents for paupers. In
1739 they bought beef and beans because of the
hard winter; for several years from 1808 they supported a parish mole-catcher; and in 1803–4 paid
for drilling the Ilchester Volunteers. (fn. 104) Between
1801 and 1804 they rented several houses for the
use of the poor, and in 1810–11 rented a poorhouse. (fn. 105)
No other trace of such a house has been found, and
there was certainly none in 1834. (fn. 106) The parish was
incorporated in the Yeovil poor-law union in 1836. (fn. 107)
The vestry appointed a parish constable in 1842–5. (fn. 108)
Church.
The church at Northover, judging by
the size of its estate probably in origin a Saxon
minster, occurs in the Confessor's time. It was then
held by Brictric of Glastonbury abbey, but by
1086 was held by Maurice, bishop of London,
of the Crown. (fn. 109) The benefice was appropriated by
St. John's hospital, Bridgwater, in 1219, (fn. 110) and a
vicarage was subsequently ordained at an unknown
date. The income of the vicarage was augmented in
1337, possibly by a pension of £2 from the appropriators. (fn. 111) The rectorial tithes were added to the
benefice probably early in the 18th century, (fn. 112) and
the living was therefore occasionally described as
a rectory, or as a rectory and vicarage. (fn. 113) Approval
was given in 1656 to unite the parish with Ilchester
and part of Sock Dennis, (fn. 114) but it retained its independent status until 1936, when the living was
annexed to Ilchester rectory and the two parishes
were united. (fn. 115)
The advowson lay with the appropriators until
1539. It then descended with the manor, though
John Iverey in 1569, Giles Hodges in 1579, and
Humphrey Drake, a relative of the patron, in 1627,
each presented by grant of the lord of the manor. (fn. 116)
George Hilborne and James Sampson, who presented in 1731, did so as trustees for the infant
Henry Chichester. (fn. 117) Col. F. E. Chichester, the
last to be described as lord of the manor, retained
the patronage until his death; his executors and
later his widow then held it. In 1961–2 the patron
was Miss V. M. Newington 'by representation of
Col. F. E. Chichester, deceased', in 1969 E.
Chichester Everitt, and in 1971 Everitt's executors. (fn. 118)
The patron of Northover presents to the united
benefice one turn in three. (fn. 119)
It is not possible to separate the former rectorial
estate from the rest of the holding of St. John's
hospital, though the complete holding was said to
be worth £20 in 1426, (fn. 120) and the rectory, including
tithes, was let in 1515 for £5 6s. 8d. (fn. 121) Both before
and after augmentation the income of the vicarage
was small; the benefice was not normally taxed and
was known for its poverty. (fn. 122) It was assessed at
20s. in 1426 (fn. 123) and £3 6s. 8d. in 1445, but by 1535
it was worth £8 12s. 11d. (fn. 124) By the mid 17th century
its value was £40, in 1786 £43, and in 1835 £106. (fn. 125)
The benefice was augmented in 1859. (fn. 126)
The rector had predial tithes in the parish worth
£3 in 1535. (fn. 127) By 1606 these were computed as the
tithe corn of the 'Upper farm'; the occupier of the
farm was regarded as the rector and had to maintain
the chancel. (fn. 128) Probably when this farm and the
benefice were in the hands of Edward Chichester
in 1729–30, the rectorial tithes were merged with the
vicarial. (fn. 129)
Under the augmentation of 1337 the vicar was
given the tithe of hay, lambs, and ale in the whole
parish, together with oblations. (fn. 130) These tithes and
oblations were worth £5 6s. 4d. in 1535. (fn. 131) By 1606
the vicar received tithe of hay, except from 18 a. of
'Upper farm', tithe peas and onions throughout
the parish, and tithe corn from all but 'Upper farm'.
The occupier of the farm could compound for all
other tithes; the rest were paid in kind except 'kyne
white', a payment of 3d. for each milking cow,
offerings, and 'garden pence'. (fn. 132) The consolidation
of the tithes of rectory and vicarage simplified these
arrangements. By 1838, in lieu of a modus of 2d.
an acre on lands in Somerton mead, just over 33½ a.
were awarded to the vicar. By that time tithes
from gardens were no longer payable but the gross
rent-charge which replaced all tithes was still worth
£123. (fn. 133)
The size of the rectorial glebe is not known, and
there is no separate valuation in 1535. From 1337
the vicarage was endowed with 9½ a. of arable
and an area of meadow, 2 a. in one year and 1¾ a.
in the next. This exchange of meadow was said
to be by ancient custom. (fn. 134) The glebe was worth
£1 14s. in 1535; (fn. 135) it was described in 1606 as a
close, part arable and part pasture, 3 a. in the
arable fields, and just under 2 a. of meadow, the
meadow in lieu of the tithe hay of the 18 a. of
'Upper farm'. This meadow was in Somerton
mead, and was cut for the vicar by the occupier
of the farm. (fn. 136) By 1838 the glebe measured just over
10 a. (fn. 137) A strip in North field was exchanged in
1870 for the lower part of the grounds of the manorhouse and a withy bed, presumably in connexion
with the rebuilding of the house as a vicarage
house. (fn. 138) By 1897 the glebe had increased to 14 a.;
the sale of the vicarage house and grounds has reduced the acreage to just over 8½ a. (fn. 139)
A house and yard were assigned to the vicar, presumably soon after the rectory was appropriated. (fn. 140)
By 1606 the vicar had a house, backside, and garden,
which probably occupied the site of the present
'Old Vicarage', south-east of the church, between
the road and the river. (fn. 141) The present house was
built probably in the late 18th century; it is of two
storeys, of rubble, with a thatched roof. Its wooden
casements have 'Gothick' glazing, and there is a
central rustic porch. The house was said to be in
good repair in 1815, but twenty years later was
considered by the then incumbent to be 'unfit'. (fn. 142)
In fact, the vicars rarely lived in the house; from
1805 at least until 1838 it was let, and incumbents
or their curates lived at the 'Old Mansion' as the
manor-house was called. (fn. 143) William Harbin (vicar
1857–64) was living in Church Street, Ilchester, in
1859; and his successor, Sydney East, also lived
in the town until he purchased from his father-inlaw, J. L. Burnard, either the 'old mansion' itself
or its site. There, about 1871, he built a new vicarage
house; this remained the incumbent's home until
the parish was united with Ilchester in 1936. (fn. 144)
At least two of the vicars of Northover in the
late 15th century, Thomas Spencer (1497–8) and
Robert Walsh (1506–9), were brethren of St. John's
hospital, Bridgwater. (fn. 145) Thomas Master (vicar 1509–
56) apparently survived the changes of the period
unscathed; (fn. 146) in old age he evidently appointed a
succession of curates, one of whom was reported in
1554 as 'not sufficient to have the cure'. (fn. 147) Master
himself was accused in the same year of allowing
the churchyard to decay and of failing to keep
hospitality in his house. (fn. 148) From about 1575 the
vicars were non-resident for at least five years. (fn. 149)
George Drake, appointed vicar in 1627, was the
son of Richard Drake of Donyatt, and a relative
of the patron. (fn. 150) He held the benefice at least until
1650. (fn. 151) A Public Register was appointed in the
parish in 1654. (fn. 152)
Between 1672 and 1713 three vicars in succession
were also rectors of Ilchester. The second, Richard
Hody (1686–90), was a relative of the patron of
Northover. (fn. 153) Edward Chichester combined Northover with the living of Berrynarbor (Devon) from
1714 until 1730, and married the heir of the lord
of the manor. (fn. 154) Nathaniel Bartlett the younger
(vicar 1785–1828) was in 1815 rector of Closworth
with Bubdown and lived at Closworth. (fn. 155) Northover
was then served by Thomas Ebrey, rector of Ilchester. (fn. 156) In 1827 Bartlett's curate also served
Limington. (fn. 157) Bartlett's successor was John Maber
Munden, the patron's son-in-law, who combined
the living with that of Corscombe (Dors.). (fn. 158) Sydney
East (vicar 1851–7, 1865–72) was also son-in-law of
the patron. (fn. 159)
By 1815 one service was held each Sunday; some
years later it was the practice to hold them alternately morning and afternoon. (fn. 160) This remained the
pattern at least until 1870. (fn. 161) On Census Sunday 1851
the congregation in the afternoon was 129; the
average attendance was about 70 at a morning
service and 120 in the afternoon. (fn. 162) Holy Communion was celebrated four times a year by 1843 and
six times by 1870. (fn. 163)
By 1548 half an acre of meadow was held by the
churchwardens for the maintenance of a light. (fn. 164) This
was still in their hands in 1554, although the light
was not maintained. (fn. 165)
The church of ST. ANDREW, on high ground at
the northern end of the village where the Shepton
Mallet and London roads join, consists of a chancel
and nave, with two shallow transepts and a western
tower which serves as the entrance porch. The tower
is plain, with diagonal buttresses at the foot and
a plain parapet. The nave and chancel were completely rebuilt in 1821, when a porch was apparently
demolished. (fn. 166) The south transept was added as an
organ chamber upon restoration in 1878. (fn. 167) A gallery
was erected in 1758, but was presumably dismantled
in 1821. (fn. 168)
The marriage registers begin in 1531, baptisms in
1534, and burials in 1543 but the series is incomplete. (fn. 169) The plate includes a cup and salver presented to Ilchester church, and given to Northover
in 1849, and a silver salver of 1722. (fn. 170) There are
four bells: (i) 1636, by Roger Purdue of Bristol,
cracked and lying on the tower floor; (ii) 1765, by
Thomas Bayley of Bridgwater, (iii) 1751, by Thomas
Elery of Closworth; (iv) 1450–80, Bristol. (fn. 171)
Nonconformity.
The house of Jasper Butt
or Batt, a leading Quaker, was licensed as a meetinghouse in 1689. This may have been for a group which
had abandoned meetings in Ilchester. (fn. 172) The houses
of John Sugg and John Miller were apparently used
for religious meetings in 1815 and 1820 respectively.
Their denominational connexions are unknown. (fn. 173)
Education.
A number of private schools were
conducted in the parish during the 19th century,
though none was attached to the church. (fn. 174) A boy's
boarding-school was held in Northover House in
1822–3. (fn. 175) By 1859 there was a girls' school which
took boarders; and in 1870 a Miss Simpson conducted a day-school. By 1897 at least until 1910
a girls' preparatory school was held, at first in the
Manor and later elsewhere. (fn. 176)
Northover was made contributory to the Ilchester School Board formed in 1875, and the
children attended the Board School. (fn. 177) Infants also
attended the National School in Ilchester. Both
schools were closed in 1962 and were replaced by
Ilchester County Primary School, situated in
Northover parish. (fn. 178) In 1969 Ilchester County Junior
School, also in Northover, was opened, taking
pupils from the former Primary School and from
Yeovilton and Limington. Infants from these two
villages joined with the infants in the former Primary
School, which was renamed Ilchester County
Infants School. In 1971 there were 123 children in
the infants' school and 168 in the junior school. (fn. 179)
Charities for the Poor.
Robert Browne
(d. 1610) gave £8 to be used as a stock for the poor
'at the discretion of the chief of the parish'. (fn. 180)
There is no further evidence of the payment or
investment of this money.