South Brent, Somerset

Description
Brent, South, a village and a parish in Devonshire. The village stands on the river Avon, 7 miles W of Totnes, and has a station of the name of Brent on the G.W.R., 225 miles from London. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Ivybridge. It was formerly a market-town, and it still has large fairs on the last Tuesday of April and September, and cattle markets on the last Tuesday of February, August, and November. The parish comprises 9422 acres; population, 1580. The manor once belonged to the Abbot of Buckfastleigh, but has been dismembered. The surface is diversified, and includes the striking eminence of South Brent-Tor. Micaceous iron-ore, used for the sanding of manuscript, is found. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Exeter ; tithe commuted at £965 with residence. The church is old and large, consists of nave, chancel, and aisles, and has a Norman tower. It was restored in 1871. There are Congregational and Baptist chapels, parish lands yielding £152 a year, and other charities, and a literary institute.