Lapford (St. Thomas à Becket)

LAPFORD (St. Thomas à Becket), a parish, in the union of Crediton, hundred of North Tawton, South Molton and N. divisions of Devon, 5¼ miles (S. E.) from Chulmleigh; containing 706 inhabitants. The parish comprises 3580 acres, of which 438 are common or waste. Serges were manufactured to a considerable extent; but about the year 1820, the factory was taken down. Bury-Barton House, now a farmbuilding, was a splendid mansion; there are still some remains of the chapel. A fair is held on the Monday after the festival of St. Thomas à Becket. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £15. 1. 10½.; patron, W. Tanner, Esq. The church is a very ancient structure, with a richly-carved oak screen. Here is a place of worship for dissenters.