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The name origin is an Old English Tun village, homestead on the River Torridge (ultimately from Welsh terig rough; or the-land-of-the king.) TORINTONE: Before 1066 it paid tax for 2 hides, less 1 virgate of land. Land for 31 ploughs. In lordship 6 ploughs; 15 slaves; [½ hide Exon]. 20 villagers and 22 smallholders with 25 ploughs [and 1 hide and 1 virgate.Exon] 10 pigmen. Meadow, 20 acres; pasture 1 league long and 1 league wide; woodland, 1 league long and ½ league wide. [80 cattle, less 2; 30 pigs; 200 sheep; 50 goats. Exon]. It pays £18 by weight; [when B(aldwin) the Sheriff acquired it, it paid as much. Exon] Putford pays 30d to this manor. [Putford was a manor belonging to Ralph of Pomeroy, although there is no refernce to a customary due there. According to the Exon Terræ Occupatæ: "Putford paid 30d, but since he acquired the land Ralph has withheld the due."]
BLACK TORRINGTON is six miles from HATHERLEIGH. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Totness, and diocese of Exeter, rated in the king's books at £22. 8. 9., and in the patronage of Sir George Bampfylde, Bart. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. There is a place of worship for Baptists. The river Torridge runs through the parish. The manor was given with Kings Nympton to Joel de Meduana by Henry I, to Geoffrey de Luscy by King John, then by Henry III to Roger La Zouche "who holds Blaketorrintun". The inhabitants of Black Torrington hundred might have been more inclined to look southwards towards their market town of Holsworthy for their marriage partners since non residents were more likely to marry into Hartland families than of Black Torrington. Residents of Dynham Manor in 1566 were 130 of a 140.
In 981 A.D. the manor of Haegthorn Leah was given to the newly established Tavistock Abbey by Ordulph, the Earl of Devon, and this endowment was confirmed by a charter issued by King Æthelred and witnessed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. In the Domesday Book the town was known as Hadreleia and mention is made of various farmsteads, a mill and a church. A saxon church was built of which nothing now remains. Historically it formed part of Black Torrington Hundred within within the ecclesiastical Okehampton Deanery.
Ashbury is a parish of Hatherleigh, in Okehampton union, Totnes archdeaconry, Black Torrington hundred. Henry Woollcombe, Archdeacon of Barnstaple, who lives at Ashbury House, where his family has been seated since 1685. St. Johns Church- The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, has a fine well-proportioned tower, embattled with pinnacles erected about the yeare 1500 like the one in Portstewart and the O'Hatherans. Extensively damaged by a fire in 1395, the re-built church was re-dedicated in 1400. In the churchyard is a small headstone in memory of John Cann, who according to the inscription went through all the Peninsular War and was at Waterloo. He died in the village at the age of 101. There was no resident lord of the manor until what remained of it was purchased by the Ashton family early in the 19th century.
MERTON, a parish in the hundred of SHEBBEAR, county of DEVON, 5¾ miles (N. by W.) from Hatherleigh, Old English mere tun homestead or village by a lake. The village stands on the river Meer, an affluent of the Tofridge 5 miles NNW of Hatherleigh, and 7 from Great Torrington station is a pleasant place with picturesque environs, and has a post and money order office under Bea-ford; telegraph office, Hatherleigh. The parish contains also the hamlets of Potheridge and Smithacott. The manor of Merton belonged to a family of its own name from the time of Henry II. till that of Edward III., and belongs now to Lord Clinton. The church is dedicated to All Saints. Potheridge house, once the residence of the celebrated General Monk, who rebuilt it, was a noble structure, with a chapel attached, and some magnificent stables, which yet remain; the mansion is now occupied as a farm-house. Pipe and potters' clay exists in this parish. The Bishop himself holds MERTONE. Before 1066 it paid tax for 2½ virgates of land and ½ furlong. Land for 10 ploughs. In lordship 3 ploughs; [½ virgate and ½ furlong. Exon] 12 villagers and 8 smallholders with 6 ploughs [and ½ hide. Exon]. 9 pigmen who pay 25 pigs; 3 slaves. Meadow, 15 acres; pasture, 30 acres; woodland, 60 acres. [1 cob; 12 cattle; 9 pigs; 50 sheep Exon] Formerly £6; value now £8. Thorkell held it before 1066.
The manor of Potheridge belongs to the Rolle family. Potheridge House was long the seate of the Le Moignes, became the birthplace and the property of General Monk, was rebuilt by him after he became Duke of Albemarle, was taken down in the 18th century, and is now represented chiefly by its stables. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Exeter; value, £300 with residence. Patron, Lord Clinton. The church is a handsome building, with a tower, and has been restored. There are a Bible Christian chapel and an industrial home for girls.
Ashton also names a scattered village and parish west of Chudleigh. Most of which belonged to Viscount Exmouth, lord of the manor, like the Chudleighs seated from 1320 to 1750 near the church (St. John). Sir George Chudleigh was created baronet in 1620 when the title became extinct. A parish, on an acclivity, rising from a small rivulet, 4 miles N. by W. of Chudleigh, includes two villages called Higher and Lower Ashton, and has a station on the Teign Valley Railway. It is in St. Thomas's union, Exeter county court district and archdeaconry, Wonford petty sessional division, Exeter polling district of East Devon, Kenn rural deanery, and Exminster hundred. Its parish had 255 inhabitants (127 males, 128 females) in 1871, living in 48 houses on 1709 acres of land. John Treeby, Esq., is the lord of the manor and principal owner of the soil. The Chudleighs were lords of the manor, and were seated here from 1320 till about 1750, and the remains of their mansion may be seen in a farm house. Sir George Chudleigh was created a baronet in 1620, but the title became extinct on the death of Sir James, who was killed at Ostend, in 1745. Their house, which had been garrisoned for the King, was taken by the Parliamentarians, December 29, 1645.
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