Teignmouth

TEIGNMOUTH, a sea-port and market-town, comprising two parishes, called East and West, in the union of Newton-Abbott, hundred of Exminster, Teignbridge and S. divisions of Devon, 15 miles (S. by E.) from Exeter, and 187¾ (W. S. W.) from London; containing 4459 inhabitants, of whom 2883 are in West Teignmouth. This is stated to have been the first landing-place of the Danes, who, having slain the governor, were encouraged by this omen of success to pursue their warlike purposes throughout the island. The town has been twice destroyed by fire, first by a French pirate, in 1340, and subsequently, on July 26th, 1690, when the French, having effected a landing, proceeded to ransack the churches, and burnt 116 houses, with a number of ships and small craft lying in the harbour. In commemoration of this calamitous event, one of the streets still retains the appellation of French-street; and the original brief granted for the relief of the sufferers is now in the possession of the Jordan family. Alarmed at the threat of a similar attack, in 1744, the inhabitants obtained permission to erect a small fort on the beach of East Teignmouth, and petitioned the admiralty for the requisite supply of ordnance. In Camden's time the eastern town was called Teignmouth-Regis, and the other Teignmouth-Episcopi, the manor of the latter having belonged to the see of Exeter until alienated by Bishop Vesey.

The town is situated, as its name implies, on the navigable river Teign at its influx into the sea, and occupies a gentle declivity at the foot of a chain of hills, by which it is sheltered on the north and west. The two parts are separated by a small rivulet called the Tame. East Teignmouth, which is the more modern, is almost entirely appropriated as a watering-place, in which respect it is considered equal, if not superior, in fashionable repute to any on the Devonshire coast. Its situation is beautiful, and in the vicinity are prospects, particularly from Little Haldon, of great and deserved celebrity; the cliffs are of a reddish colour, and of considerable height, and at the southern side of the river's mouth is a singular elevation called the Ness. On the strand fronting the sea are carriage-drives, promenades, and an extensive lawn. The public rooms, built by subscription, form the centre of a crescent, and comprise spacious assembly-rooms, with apartments for refreshments cards, and billiards; the façade of the building is decorated with an Ionic portico over a Doric colonnade. There are also a public library, and some bathing establishments. A regatta takes place about the month of August.

West Teignmouth is the port and principal seat of business. It had risen to some importance at an early period, having sent members to a great council in the reign of Edward I., and contributed seven ships, with 120 men, towards the expedition against Calais, in 1347. The town, with its quay and dockyard, situated on the curve formed by the sudden expansion of the river, is irregularly built; the principal streets are neatly paved, and lighted with gas. A post-road through it from Exeter to Torquay is continued by a modern bridge over the Teign, said to be the longest in England, and which is constructed of wood and iron, with a drawbridge at one end for the passage of vessels. A quay was formed in 1820, by G. Templer, Esq.; and in a small dockyard here, sloops of war and vessels of upwards of 200 tons' burthen have been built. The harbour is safe and commodious, though somewhat difficult to enter, on account of a moveable bar or sand bank, which shifts with the wind. In the middle of the last century, a large number of vessels, of from 50 to 200 tons' burthen each, were employed in the trade with Newfoundland, and some business of this description is still carried on; coal and culm are imported in large quantities, and the home fishery at present occupies a considerable number of the inhabitants. By means of a tramroad and a canal, which latter joins the Teign at Newton-Abbott, and is navigable thence to the sea at Teignmouth, a communication has been effected with the granite-quarries at Haytor and the clay-pits of Bovey, which greatly facilitates the export of granite and pipe and potters' clay. The Teignmouth and Exeter portion of the South Devon railway was opened in May 1846.

A grant of a market and a fair was obtained in the reign of Henry III., by the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, for East Teignmouth, where is a commodious markethouse, which belongs to the Earl of Devon, lord of the manor. The market is on Saturday, principally for provisions; and fairs are held on the third Tuesday in January, the last Tuesday in February, and the last Tuesday in September. The government of West Teignmouth is vested in a portreeve, who is annually elected by a jury of twelve, at a court leet and baron held by Lord Clifford, lord of the manor; at which court also a townclerk, four constables, two bailiffs, and other officers are appointed. In East Teignmouth, a reeve and two constables are elected by the court there, and two constables by the parish. East Teignmouth comprises 530a. 3r. 1p.: the living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £127; patron, the Vicar of Dawlish; appropriators, the Dean and Chapter of Exeter: the great tithes have been commuted for £50, and those of the perpetual curate for £90. The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, was almost rebuilt in 1821. The living of West Teignmouth is a vicarage, in the gift of the Incumbent of Bishop's-Teignton: the impropriate tithes have been commuted for £13, and the vicarial for £157. The church, which is dedicated to St. James, is a spacious modern octagonal structure, with a tower at the west side, and surmounted in the centre by a lantern. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic Methodists. Teignmouth confers the title of Baron on the family of Shore.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.