Bampton, a small town and a parish in Devonshire. The town stands in a vale, on the rivulet Batheme, about a mile above its influx to the Exe, on the G.W.R., 179 miles from London, and 7 N of Tiverton. It was anciently called Bahantune, Baunton, Bathampton, and Bathrumpton, and it disputes with Bampton in Oxfordshire as being the Beam-dune of the Saxon chroniclers, where, in 614, the Britons were defeated with great slaughter by Cynegilsus, king of the West Saxons. It is supposed by some to occupy the site of a Roman station, and it had a castle, erected in 1336 by a member of the Cogan family, on a knoll at the east end of Castle Street, now called the Mount, and crowned with firs. The town consists of stone houses, irregularly scattered over a space of about 1/2 a mile, and has picturesque environs. It was formerly a borough, and sent two members to Parliament, and was governed by a portreeve and other officers. A weekly market is held on Saturday; fairs on Whit-Tuesday and the last Thursday in Oct.; and great markets for cattle, sheep, and Exmoor ponies on the last Wednesday in Nov. and the Wednesday before Lady Day. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office. John de Bampton, a Carmelite friar, who first read lectures on " Aristotle" at Cambridge, and died in 1391, was a native. There is a reading room and library, and public rooms for entertainments. Combe Head and Wonham House are residences in the neighbourhood.
The parish includes also the hamlets of Petton and Shillingford. Acreage, 7799 ; population, 1672. Limestone is worked. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Exeter; net value, £176 with residence. The church is Decorated and Perpendicular English; consists of nave, aisle, and chancel, with western tower; and contains a fine carved oak screen, and monuments of the Bourchiers. A chapel of ease is at Petton, and a Baptist chapel in the town.
