Crediton, Devon

Description
Crediton, a town, a parish, and a hundred in Devonshire. The town stands between two hills, with a station on the L. & S.W.R., 179 miles from London, and 8 NW of Exeter. It was anciently called Credianton, and is now sometimes called Kerton or Kirton. It dates from very early times, but was greatly devastated in 1743 and 1769 by fire, and presents now a modern appearance. It was for many years the seat of a diocese, transfered in 1049 to Exeter, was seized and somewhat fortified by the rebels in 1549, and, was occasionally occupied by the contending forces in the wars of Charles I. It is divided into two parts, east and west, and consists of a main street about a mile long, and a few minor ones. The old market-house was destroyed. in the fire of 1769, and the present one was erected in 1837. The public rooms in ornamental architecture, with public reading-room and other apartments on the ground floor, and a fine large assembly-room above, were erected in 1852. The temperance hall was erected in 1889. The parish church was originally founded in 905, is now chiefly Perpendicular English of the 15th century, with recent enlargement and repair, has a central tower, the lower part of which is Late Norman, contains an Early English piscina, and an, altar-tomb of the 14th century, and before the Reformation was collegiate, the first in rank among the collegiate churches of the diocese. There are Congregational, Wesleyan, and Plymouth Brethren chapels in High Street, Baptist in Union Terrace, and Unitarian in Park Street. The free grammar-school was founded by Edward VI., additionally endowed by Elizabeth, and has several exhibitions. Dun's and Thomas' endowed school was established in 1749. The total of endowed charities, which include almshouses, is about £13,000. The workhouse stands about half a mile from the town, and is a fine building, surrounded by a garden. The town has a head post office, a hotel and several inns, ranks as an ancient borough, but without either municipal or parliamentary privileges, and is a fieat of petty sessions. Weekly markets are held on Saturdays, great markets monthly, and on the Saturday before the last Wednesday in April the great market is held, which is the largest fair for cattle in the West of England. A large woollen trade was formerly carried on, but has disappeared, and the chief trades now are shoemaking, tanning, and malting. Winifred or St Boniface, Archbishop of Mentz, was a native. The manor belonged once to the Bishops of Exeter, who made it one of their favourite residences, and belongs now to General Sir Redvers Bailer, who resides at Downes. Creedy Park is the seat of the Fergason-Davie family. The parish exhibits fine scenery, and is in a high state of cultivation. Acreage, 12,472; population of the civil parish, 5821; of the ecclesiastical, 5813. There are beautiful views from Down Head and Posbury Hill. Traces of ancient fortifications are on Posbury Hill and Blackadown. There are two beneficed clergy attached to the church, the vicar and chaplain, each provided with house and grounds; value of vicarage, £500, and chaplaincy, £300. Patrons, the twelve governors. The perpetual curacy of Posbury is a separate benefice.