Bere Ferrers, Devon
Historical Description
Bere Ferrers (Beerferris), a parish in Devonshire, between the rivers Tamar and Tavy upwards from their confluence, 7 miles N by W of Plymouth, and 8 from Tavistock, It has a station on the L. & S.W.R., and contains the town of Beer-Alston, formerly a parliamentary borough returning two members, and the village of Beer-Town. It has a post office under Beer-Alston (R.S.O.), and a telegraph station. The area is 6176 acres of land, and 935 of foreshore and water; population, 1911. The greater part belongs to the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe; the manor of Ley, now belonging to Sir F. Drake, was long held by a family of its own name, one of whom was created Earl of Marlborough. Much of the surface is picturesque, and many spots command fine prospects. Very large quantities of fruit are produced here, especially black cherries and strawberries. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Exeter; net value, £500 with residence. Patron, the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe. The church is Decorated and Perpendicular English, and very picturesque; consists of nave, aisle, chancel, and transepts, and contains Crusader monuments of Ferrers and Champernoun, and one to Major Bayley, who fell at the storming of Sebastopol. There is a chapel of ease at Beer-Alston, and there are Congregational, Wesleyan, United Free Methodist, and Bible Christian chapels. Stothart, the artist and antiquary, was killed at Bere-Ferrers church while sketching the E window.
Administration
The following is a list of the administrative units in which this place was either wholly or partly included.
Ancient County | Devon | |
Ecclesiastical parish | Beer-Ferris St. Andrew | |
Hundred | Roborough | |
Poor Law union | Tavistock |
Any dates in this table should be used as a guide only.
Church Records
Findmypast, in association with the South West Heritage Trust, Parochial Church Council, and Devon Family History Society have the Baptisms, Banns, Marriages, and Burials online for Bere Ferrers
Civil Registration
For general information about Civil Registration (births, marriages and deaths) see the Civil Registration page.
Directories & Gazetteers
We have transcribed the entry for Bere Ferrers from the following:
- Samuel Lewis' A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858. (Beer-Ferris (St. Andrew))
- History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devon, by William White, 2nd edition, 1878-9
Maps
Online maps of Bere Ferrers are available from a number of sites:
- Bing (Current Ordnance Survey maps).
- Google Streetview.
- National Library of Scotland. (Old maps)
- OpenStreetMap.
- old-maps.co.uk (Old Ordnance Survey maps to buy).
- Streetmap.co.uk (Current Ordnance Survey maps).
- A Vision of Britain through Time. (Old maps)
Newspapers and Periodicals
The British Newspaper Archive have fully searchable digitised copies of the following newspapers covering Devon online:
Visitations Heraldic
The Visitation of the County of Devon in the year 1564, with additions from the earlier visitation of 1531, is online.
The Visitations of the County of Devon, comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564, & 1620, with additions by Lieutant-Colonel J.L. Vivian, published for the author by Henry S. Eland, Exeter 1895 is online.