Who owned Dartmoor around 1840?
In the 1830s and 1840s every parish in England was surveyed so that tithe (a church tax) could be paid in money instead of produce. The survey listed every field: who owned it, who farmed it, what it was called, what it was used for and how big it was. This page is built from that survey for 33 parishes around and on Dartmoor.
The numbers: 42,674 plots, about 163,092 acres. About 152,016 acres (93%) have a named owner; 11,076 acres (7%) are common or waste with no owner recorded. 1205 different owner names appear in the records (they are merged below where they are plainly the same person, which is a judgement, not a certainty).
In 10 parishes one owner held more than half of the named land:
- Walkhampton: Sir Ralph Lopes held 96% of the land
- Buckland in the Moor: Reverend John Leman Rogers Robert Hurrell Troute and Henry Karslake held 89% of the land
- Dean Prior: Sir John Buller Yarde Buller held 82% of the land
- Mary Tavy: Sir John Buller Yarde Buller held 74% of the land
- Gidleigh: Parishioners held 71% of the land
- Sheepstor: Sir Ralph Lopes held 61% of the land
- Holne: Sir Bourchier Palk Wrey held 57% of the land
- Sampford Spiney: Sir Trustees of Humphrey Hall George Pownell Adams and John William Spicer held 57% of the land
- Shaugh Prior: Lord Morley held 51% of the land
- Cornwood: Sir John Leman Rogers held 50% of the land
The biggest owners
| # | Owner | Acres | Parishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Ralph Lopes | 18,672 | 7 |
| 2 | Sir John Buller Yarde Buller | 7,249 | 3 |
| 3 | Earl of Devon | 5,175 | 4 |
| 4 | Lord Morley | 4,400 | 1 |
| 5 | Albany Bourchier Savile | 3,643 | 1 |
| 6 | John Gubbins Newton | 3,196 | 3 |
| 7 | Reverend John Luxmoore | 3,135 | 2 |
| 8 | Sir John Leman Rogers | 3,018 | 1 |
| 9 | Calmady Hamlyn | 2,055 | 2 |
| 10 | Sir Thomas Trayton Fuller Elliott Drake | 1,872 | 2 |
| 11 | Lady Elizabeth Carew | 1,864 | 4 |
| 12 | Reverend Charles Marsham | 1,632 | 1 |
| 13 | Richard Harvey Junior Catherine O'brian | 1,573 | 1 |
| 14 | John Morth Woolcombe | 1,355 | 1 |
| 15 | Sir Bourchier Palk Wrey | 1,344 | 1 |
| 16 | Margaret Baring | 1,325 | 2 |
| 17 | Reverend John Leman Rogers Robert Hurrell Troute and Henry Karslake | 1,305 | 1 |
| 18 | Sir Lawrence Vaughan Palk | 1,293 | 1 |
| 19 | John Tolland | 1,070 | 1 |
| 20 | George Ponsford | 1,048 | 2 |
| 21 | Cranstown Lord | 969 | 1 |
| 22 | William Mackworth Praed | 967 | 2 |
| 23 | John Butter M D | 816 | 1 |
| 24 | Duke of Bedford | 811 | 5 |
| 25 | John Courtier | 799 | 2 |
The table shows the top 25; the cards below carry the top 40.
Sir Ralph Lopes
18,672 acres | 2419 plots | 7 parishes
Written in the records as: Sir Ralph Lopes; Ralph Lopes, Sir; Ralph Lopes Sir, Bart.; Sir Ralph Lopes Baronet
Parishes: Walkhampton (10,124 ac), Shaugh Prior (2,710 ac), Buckland Monachorum (2,321 ac), Sheepstor (2,186 ac), Meavy (1,225 ac), Whitchurch (83 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Robert Hancock (1,885 ac); John Burn (321 ac); William Pethybridge (231 ac); Nicholas Ware (223 ac); Edward Doidge (195 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 10,382 ac, Not Stated 3,115 ac, Arable 2,628 ac, [Commons] 1,050 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: The Burrator Inn; The London Inn; White Thorns; Meavy Church of England Primary School; Well Pharmacy; Yelverton Post Office; Co-op - Yelverton; Lady Bertha Mine; Longstone Manor (Medieval Ruin); Norsworthy Bridge; Potato Cave; Riddapit Longhouse; Vinneylake (ruins); Bal Mine and 24 more
Sir John Buller Yarde Buller
7,249 acres | 1416 plots | 3 parishes
Written in the records as: John Buller; John Buller Yarde Buller, Sir; Sir John Yarde Buller Buller Baronet
Parishes: Dean Prior (3,336 ac), Mary Tavy (3,056 ac), Lydford (857 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: John Tucker (450 ac); John Ford (431 ac); Samuel Furneaux (322 ac); George Barter (298 ac); John Buller Yarde Buller Sir (229 ac)
What the land was: Common 2,091 ac, Arable 1,766 ac, Pasture & Furze 1,423 ac, Not Stated 614 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Dean Court Farm Shop; Sherberton Farm; Two Bridges Hotel (nearby); Manaton and East Dartmoor Theatre (nearby); Sounding Bowls; Mary Tavy and Brentor Community Primary School; The Mary Tavy Inn; Lydford Gorge White Lady Entrance (nearby); Blowing house and mill at Gobbet; Prince Hall Hotel; Skylarker Well-being Project (nearby)
Earl of Devon
5,175 acres | 1452 plots | 4 parishes
Written in the records as: Earl Of Devon; Earl of Devon
Parishes: Moretonhampstead (2,808 ac), North Bovey (2,312 ac), Whitchurch (47 ac), Ilsington (9 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Thomas Roberts (592 ac); Elias Cuming (392 ac); William Heyward (270 ac); Andrew Rowe (215 ac); William Cuming (202 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 4,709 ac, [Moor] 209 ac, [Meadow] 106 ac, [Wood] 46 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Kestor Inn; The Ring of Bells Inn; Wild Hart Venison; Blackaller Apiary; Bovey Castle; Gate House; Manor House Hotel Including Terraces Immediately to South East; Sanduck Cross
Lord Morley
4,400 acres | 140 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Shaugh Prior (4,400 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Gray (3,402 ac); Nicholas Ware (320 ac); John Damerell (212 ac); Elisabeth Gullett (78 ac); William Phillips (75 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 3,894 ac, Arable 223 ac, Common 138 ac, Coppice 39 ac
Albany Bourchier Savile
3,643 acres | 1004 plots | 1 parishes
Written in the records as: Albany Bourchier Savile; Reverend Bourchier Savile, Glebe
Parishes: Okehampton (3,643 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Jonathan Pellow (361 ac); Edward Knapman (348 ac); George Gould (289 ac); John Newcombe (Hill Farm) (273 ac); William Fowell (248 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 2,052 ac, Arable 819 ac, Not Stated 336 ac, Wood & Coppice 197 ac
John Gubbins Newton
3,196 acres | 578 plots | 3 parishes
Written in the records as: John Gubbins Newton; John G Newton Esquire; John Gubbins Newton, Esquire
Parishes: Bridestowe (2,183 ac), Okehampton (682 ac), Sourton (332 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Thomas Baker (385 ac); John Banbury (342 ac); John Hill (329 ac); Thomas Lock (255 ac); John Banbury (with sole right of Tillage and one fifth Right of Pasturage) (202 ac)
What the land was: Arable 1,197 ac, Pasture 894 ac, Not Stated 724 ac, Plantation 85 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Bearslake Inn; The Highwayman Inn; Collaven Manor Hotel
Reverend John Luxmoore
3,135 acres | 287 plots | 2 parishes
Parishes: Okehampton (3,107 ac), Sourton (28 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Rich (1,047 ac); Charles Ball (430 ac); Samuel Palmer (388 ac); Joanna Palmer (284 ac); Richard Newcombe (190 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 2,469 ac, Arable 482 ac, Not Stated 88 ac, Wood 26 ac
Sir John Leman Rogers
3,018 acres | 795 plots | 1 parishes
Written in the records as: Sir John Leman Rogers Bart; Sir John Leman Rogers, Bart (Rectorial Glebe)
Parishes: Cornwood (3,018 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Alexander Horton (530 ac); Robert Sercombe (529 ac); Richard Colton Junior (313 ac); Alexander Horton Junior (241 ac); William Dodderidge (190 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 1,375 ac, Arable 1,066 ac, Not Stated 412 ac, Meadow 92 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Woodlands Park Primary School (nearby); Kerbed cairn near Yealm Steps
Calmady Hamlyn
2,055 acres | 561 plots | 2 parishes
Written in the records as: Calmady Hamlyn Esquire; Calmady Hamlyn, Esquire
Parishes: Bridestowe (1,449 ac), Sourton (606 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Calmady Hamlyn (239 ac); John Palmer (172 ac); Edward Lavis (171 ac); Henry Coombe (168 ac); Joseph Brook (156 ac)
What the land was: Arable 894 ac, Pasture 523 ac, Not Stated 406 ac, Pasture And Furze 81 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Sourton Village Hall
Family tree: Hamlyn (Calmady Hamlyn) of Leawood and Paschoe →
Sir Thomas Trayton Fuller Elliott Drake
1,872 acres | 424 plots | 2 parishes
Written in the records as: Thomas Trayton Fuller Elliott Drake, Sir; Sir Thomas Trayton Fuller Elliott Drake Bt; Sir Thomas Trayton Fuller Elliott Drake Baronet
Parishes: Buckland Monachorum (1,144 ac), Meavy (728 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Croft (550 ac); William Daw (194 ac); Richard Daw (133 ac); Nathaniel Gill (122 ac); John Atwill (103 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 668 ac, Arable 283 ac, [Woodland] 282 ac, Pasture 272 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: The Rosemont Guest House; Drake Vets Yelverton; Buckland Abbey; Buckland Abbey; Meavy Barton; The Infirmary; The Cider House (nearby)
Family tree: Drake of Buckland Abbey (Fuller Elliott Drake) →
Lady Elizabeth Carew
1,864 acres | 943 plots | 4 parishes
Written in the records as: Lady Carew; Carew Lady; Elizabeth Carew Lady; Lady Elizabeth Carew
Parishes: South Brent (815 ac), Widecombe in the Moor (478 ac), Ugborough (333 ac), Dean Prior (238 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Nicholas Easterbrook (291 ac); John Crocker (154 ac); John Easterbrook (133 ac); William Bradridge (116 ac); Philemon Brooking (100 ac)
What the land was: Arable 924 ac, Pasture 327 ac, Not Stated 325 ac, Meadow 74 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: How Now Dairy; St Michaels Chapel Remains.
Reverend Charles Marsham
1,632 acres | 33 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Ilsington (1,632 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: William Michael Tucker Paige, Revd (1,545 ac); Charles Corbyn Wills (88 ac)
What the land was: Common Land 1,079 ac, Common 363 ac, Not Stated 98 ac, Arable 87 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Direction Post
Richard Harvey Junior Catherine O'brian
1,573 acres | 5 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Chagford (1,573 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Harvey Junior, James Nixon Cross (1,573 ac)
What the land was: Furze & Pasture 1,572 ac, Pasture 1 ac
John Morth Woolcombe
1,355 acres | 451 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Sourton (1,355 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Thomas Bray (210 ac); William Voaden (208 ac); James Hill (199 ac); Richard Pellow (183 ac); Charles Horn (174 ac)
What the land was: Arable 826 ac, Pasture 401 ac, Meadow 47 ac, Not Stated 25 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Bundu Camping and Caravan Park
Sir Bourchier Palk Wrey
1,344 acres | 34 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Holne (1,344 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: John Sherwill (157 ac); John Ford (150 ac); Nicholas Easterbrook (142 ac); William Waycott (139 ac); Thomas Stranger (96 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 1,344 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: The Church House; Holne War Memorial; Barn near Inglettes Farmhouse; Church of St Mary the Virgin, Holne; The Holne Ram Feast and Revel
Margaret Baring
1,325 acres | 587 plots | 2 parishes
Parishes: Widecombe in the Moor (1,317 ac), Holne (8 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Thomas Hext (289 ac); Thomas Willcocks (184 ac); John Hern (140 ac); James Nosworthy (132 ac); William French (112 ac)
What the land was: Arable 781 ac, Pasture 297 ac, Not Stated 149 ac, Meadow 92 ac
Reverend John Leman Rogers Robert Hurrell Troute and Henry Karslake
1,305 acres | 16 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Buckland in the Moor (1,305 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Edward Smerdon (137 ac); William Mann (120 ac); Thomas Smerdon (86 ac); John Hext (79 ac); Thomas Hext (46 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 1,305 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Cockingford Campsite; Bowden Farmhouse
Sir Lawrence Vaughan Palk
1,293 acres | 377 plots | 1 parishes
Written in the records as: Sir Lawrence Vaughan Palk Baronet; Sir Lawrence Vaughan Palk, Baronet
Parishes: Bridford (1,293 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: George Brock (422 ac); Joseph Beer (203 ac); William Hemens (191 ac); James Beer (74 ac); John Lamacraft (56 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 1,088 ac, [Wood] 116 ac, [Orchard] 41 ac, [Coppice] 35 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Swanaford Vineyard; Weeke Barton
John Tolland
1,070 acres | 8 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: North Bovey (1,070 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Thomas Heyward (1,070 ac)
What the land was: [Common] 836 ac, Not Stated 234 ac
George Ponsford
1,048 acres | 237 plots | 2 parishes
Parishes: Drewsteignton (992 ac), Chagford (56 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Woolland (249 ac); Henry Blanchford (172 ac); George Ponsford, Harry Blanchford & Richard Woolland (166 ac); George Ponsford and John Ford (95 ac); John Skinner (74 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 993 ac, Arable 46 ac, Pasture 4 ac, Meadow 2 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Fingle Bridge Inn; Fingle Mill (est 1790) (nearby); Prestonbury Castle (fort); Prestonbury Castle (hillfort); Preston Farmhouse; Prestonbury Castle; Fingle Bridge (nearby)
Cranstown Lord
969 acres | 100 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Ilsington (969 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: William Irish (669 ac); William Winsor (128 ac); John Hayman (12 ac); Wiiliam Irish (2 ac)
What the land was: Down & Furze 268 ac, Common 217 ac, Arable 192 ac, Timber 117 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Wheelpit (60', Dartmoor's Largest)
William Mackworth Praed
967 acres | 301 plots | 2 parishes
Written in the records as: William Mackworth Praed; William Mackworth Praed, Esquire; William Mackworth Praed, Esquire (Trustee)
Parishes: Cornwood (966 ac), South Brent (1 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Kingwell (103 ac); John Sandover (21 ac); William Saunders (19 ac); William Gale (15 ac); Henry Mudge (7 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 541 ac, Not Stated 225 ac, Arable 174 ac, Meadow 19 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Cornwood Inn
John Butter M D
816 acres | 474 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: South Brent (816 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Thomas Smerdon (275 ac); John Manning (149 ac); Henry Goodman (96 ac); Elijah Smerdon (68 ac); John Butter (67 ac)
What the land was: Arable 327 ac, Pasture 157 ac, Pasturage 146 ac, Meadow 41 ac
Duke of Bedford
811 acres | 275 plots | 5 parishes
Written in the records as: Duke of Bedford; Bedford, Duke of; The Duke of Bedford
Parishes: Peter Tavy (297 ac), Brentor (293 ac), Buckland Monachorum (144 ac), Whitchurch (77 ac), Sampford Spiney (0 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Thomas Bickle (130 ac); Thomas Prout (124 ac); Joseph Reed (77 ac); John Damarel (43 ac); John Roskelly (34 ac)
What the land was: Arable 284 ac, Arable Pasture Furse 183 ac, Not Stated 101 ac, Coppice And Fir 80 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Peter Tavy Village Hall
Family tree: Russell, Dukes of Bedford (Tavistock and Endsleigh) →
John Courtier
799 acres | 173 plots | 2 parishes
Parishes: Moretonhampstead (476 ac), Chagford (323 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: John Courtier and George Brock (291 ac); Mary Woolland (156 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 477 ac, Furze & Pasture 264 ac, Arable 43 ac, Pasture 10 ac
William Pode
798 acres | 154 plots | 2 parishes
Written in the records as: William Pode Esquire; William Pode, Esquire
Parishes: Cornwood (704 ac), Harford (94 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Philip Horton (325 ac); Robert Mumford (130 ac); Phillip Horton (94 ac); William Horton (57 ac); Roger Phillips (35 ac)
What the land was: Arable 316 ac, Not Stated 135 ac, Pasture 118 ac, Brake, Pasturage 93 ac
Right Honourable Earl of Morley
783 acres | 126 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Cornwood (783 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Philip Luscombe (329 ac); Samuel Nicholls (185 ac); John Chapple (147 ac); John Langberry (29 ac); Edward Sampson (29 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 220 ac, Pasture Furze 129 ac, Arable 127 ac, Not Stated 112 ac
Reverend John Wollocombe
742 acres | 204 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Bridestowe (742 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: William Bailey (242 ac); Thomas Mason (205 ac); Phillip Brook (106 ac); Priscilla Rule (62 ac); Philip Brook (39 ac)
What the land was: Arable 289 ac, Pasture 256 ac, Pasture Etc. 106 ac, Not Stated 47 ac
Calmady Hamlyn John Morth Woolcombe and John Newton
739 acres | 86 plots | 1 parishes
Written in the records as: Calmady Hamlyn Esquire, John Morth Woolcombe Esquire and John Newton Esquire; John Morth Woolcombe Esquire, Calmady Hamlyn Esquire and John Newton Esquire
Parishes: Sourton (739 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Pellow (434 ac); Edward Allin (122 ac); Richard Ball (44 ac); John Newton (40 ac); Richard Gloyn (34 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 433 ac, Arable 139 ac, Pasture 139 ac, Furze And Pasture 13 ac
William Courtenay
723 acres | 237 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Whitchurch (723 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Edward Goddard (97 ac); John Tozer (85 ac); Elizabeth & Eliza Nicholls (81 ac); John Jope (38 ac); William Henry Slocombe (35 ac)
What the land was: Arable 393 ac, Meadow 53 ac, Timber And Coppice 50 ac, Arable And Waste 47 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Dartmoor Inn, Merrivale; Unique Kitchens and Interiors; Site of Drake's birthplace (nearby); Barn Attached to near Walreddon Manor; Stable near Walreddon Manor; Wall with Gateway near Walreddon Manor; Walls near Walreddon Manor; Walreddon Manor; POD Training & Consultanty; Tapestry Choir Tavistock (nearby)
Reverend Walter Radcliffe
704 acres | 254 plots | 2 parishes
Written in the records as: Walter Radcliffe Reverend; Reverend Walter Radcliffe
Parishes: Peter Tavy (540 ac), Whitchurch (165 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: George Harvie (146 ac); William Reep (112 ac); William Slocombe (91 ac); Roger Mudge (83 ac); Peter Oxenham (77 ac)
What the land was: Arable 543 ac, Meadow 47 ac, Pasture 39 ac, Furze 23 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Tavistock, Camping & Caravan Club
Duke of Somerset
659 acres | 132 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Ilsington (659 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: John Vooght (119 ac); Stephen Kingwell (94 ac); Joseph Rowell (39 ac); Philip Windsor (30 ac); William Skinner (5 ac)
What the land was: Fir Etc 271 ac, Arable 234 ac, Timber Etc 65 ac, Furze Etc 22 ac
Harry Bulteel Harris
647 acres | 267 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Whitchurch (647 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Nicholas Glanville (239 ac); Samuel Witheridge (86 ac); William Popplestone (61 ac); John Gidley (55 ac); John Smith (53 ac)
What the land was: Arable 429 ac, Meadow 42 ac, Arable Occasionally 28 ac, Furze And Coppice 17 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Tavy Signs; Rentafford; Drake Vets Tavistock; Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles; Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery; Morrisons; Moorcare Devon Limited
Lord Cranston
643 acres | 212 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Widecombe in the Moor (643 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Robert Hannaford (290 ac); Roger Hannaford (128 ac); Samuel Mann (60 ac); James Hext (54 ac); William Hamling (47 ac)
What the land was: Arable 406 ac, Pasture 174 ac, Meadow 40 ac, Not Stated 12 ac
George Wills
642 acres | 225 plots | 3 parishes
Written in the records as: George Wills; George Wills (Ilsington)
Parishes: Lustleigh (315 ac), Ilsington (307 ac), Chagford (20 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Thomas French (174 ac); Abraham Hill (141 ac); William Rowell (97 ac); Samuel Cox (0 ac)
What the land was: Arable 362 ac, Pasture 50 ac, Arable, Timber Etc 46 ac, Timber Etc 34 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Westcott Cottage
Sir Antony Buller
625 acres | 195 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Buckland Monachorum (625 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Elias Moses (107 ac); Isaac Beer (97 ac); Samuel Cunnabeer (73 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 533 ac, [Meadow] 73 ac, [Orchard] 12 ac, [Woodland] 6 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Dartmoor Bakery; Habulous; The Pantry
John Bastard
598 acres | 15 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Manaton (598 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: William Westington (598 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 595 ac, [Waste] 2 ac
George Strode
589 acres | 123 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Shaugh Prior (589 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Emanuel Maddock (184 ac); Tomas Tozer (92 ac); William Andrews (40 ac); John Pollybank (37 ac); James Collacott (0 ac)
What the land was: Arable 220 ac, Pasture 204 ac, Coppice 47 ac, Coppice And Plantation 40 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Browney Cross socket stone (Shaugh Prior) (nearby)
Elizabeth Lyde
531 acres | 54 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Widecombe in the Moor (531 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: William Smerdon (531 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 349 ac, Arable 106 ac, Pasture 62 ac, Meadow 11 ac
Charles Hale Monro
524 acres | 103 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Ilsington (524 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Joseph Mann (133 ac); Charles Corbyn Wills (75 ac); Jonas Mitchell (8 ac); William Bond (2 ac)
What the land was: Arable 182 ac, Pasture 178 ac, Coppice Etc 123 ac, Orchard 11 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Ilsington Village Shop; Welcome Stranger
Churches, the Crown, companies and trusts
Parishioners
2,445 acres | 16 plots | 4 parishes
Written in the records as: Parishioners; The Parishioners
Parishes: Gidleigh (2,443 ac), Widecombe in the Moor (1 ac), Mary Tavy (0 ac), Whitchurch (0 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: William Mortimore (0 ac); Paupers (0 ac); Walter Toop (0 ac)
What the land was: Coarse Pasture 2,442 ac, Not Stated 1 ac, Meadow 1 ac, Garden 0 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: The Whitchurch; Holy Trinity Church, Gidleigh
Reverend Dean and Chapter of Canterbury
1,079 acres | 377 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Moretonhampstead (1,079 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Medland Germon (204 ac); Joseph Taverner (145 ac); Francis Guy (144 ac); Richard Cowling (140 ac); William Smale (115 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 1,079 ac
Sir Trustees of Humphrey Hall George Pownell Adams and John William Spicer
977 acres | 222 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Sampford Spiney (977 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Gosling (130 ac); Joseph Spur (110 ac); Thomas Spurrell (95 ac); John Lillicrap (79 ac); Walter Mashford (60 ac)
What the land was: Arable 431 ac, Common 404 ac, Meadow 53 ac, Wood 43 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Huckworthy Cross; Cross on Sampford Spiney village green; Sampford Manor; Whimington Farmhouse
Reverend Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Earl of Devon
402 acres | 2 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Moretonhampstead (402 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Trustees of the late Reverend George Gregory and Earl of Devon (402 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 402 ac
Samuel Trehawke Kekewich and John Wilkinson- Trustees of Late Earl of Devon
177 acres | 62 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Manaton (177 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Robert Nosworthy (111 ac); William Winsor (66 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 135 ac, [Wood] 23 ac, [Meadow] 9 ac, [Waste] 5 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Manaton Show and Fair
Trustees of I P Carpenter
169 acres | 4 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Brentor (169 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Joseph Glanville (97 ac); John Isaac (46 ac); Elizabeth Harvey (25 ac); John Down (0 ac)
What the land was: Arable Pasture Coppice 97 ac, Arable Pasture 46 ac, Arable Pasture Orchard 25 ac, Not Stated 0 ac
Trustees of Late Robert Grant
159 acres | 90 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Ugborough (159 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Samuel Willing (159 ac); Samuel Algar (0 ac); Joseph Serle (0 ac); Thomas head (0 ac); John Lavers (0 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 139 ac, Arable 11 ac, Pasture 6 ac, Wood And Furze 3 ac
Reverend Duchy of Cornwall and Edward Bray Atkins
153 acres | 22 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Lydford (153 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: John Hannaford (153 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 79 ac, Coarse 66 ac, Arable 7 ac, Pasture 1 ac
Landowners of Parish
148 acres | 13 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Belstone (148 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 148 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Ladywell Cross; Adit; Solace in Devon (nearby); Spring head, Belstone
Holes Charity Trustees
138 acres | 42 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Mary Tavy (138 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: James Maunder (76 ac); Joseph Maunders (49 ac); John Paul (11 ac); Joseph Maunders and James Maunders (1 ac)
What the land was: Arable 59 ac, Course Pasture 24 ac, Common 23 ac, Coppice Etc 13 ac
Feoffees of Brixham
88 acres | 35 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: South Brent (88 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Philemon Brooking (88 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 46 ac, Arable 27 ac, Furze 7 ac, Pasture Etc. 4 ac
Poor of Oakhampton
88 acres | 34 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Mary Tavy (88 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Reddicliffe (88 ac)
What the land was: Arable 49 ac, Not Stated 33 ac, Pasture 4 ac, [Waste] 2 ac
Trustees of Dunsford Charity
75 acres | 16 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Moretonhampstead (75 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Robert Potter (75 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 75 ac
William Richard Bishop
74 acres | 38 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Drewsteignton (74 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: George Pike (62 ac); William Austin (12 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 74 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: All Seasons South West
Poor of Brixham
73 acres | 25 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Lydford (73 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: James Barter (73 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 30 ac, Coarse 27 ac, Arable 7 ac, Pasture 4 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: The Judge's Chair
John Courtier Zacharias Rendall Trustees of Late Judith Soutmead
60 acres | 32 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Chagford (60 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Richard Wreyford Clampitt (57 ac); Edward Aggett (3 ac)
What the land was: Arable 29 ac, Meadow 10 ac, Waste 5 ac, Timber Furze & Pasture 5 ac
Feoffees of Okehampton and South Tawton
59 acres | 34 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Drewsteignton (59 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: William Northcott (59 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 59 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Coombe Farmhouse
Samual Trehawke Kekewich and John Wilkinson Trustees of Late Earl of Devon
53 acres | 22 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Chagford (53 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Gabriel Clampitt (53 ac)
What the land was: Arable 42 ac, Pasture & Furze 4 ac, Pasture & Underwood 4 ac, Meadow 2 ac
Places on our site that stand on or beside this land: Druids Well (nearby)
Trustees of Dunsford Charity &thomas Pethybridge Newcombe
51 acres | 1 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Moretonhampstead (51 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Robert Potter, Thomas Dayment (51 ac)
What the land was: Not Stated 51 ac
Feoffees of Lands In Common
50 acres | 38 plots | 1 parishes
Parishes: Okehampton (50 ac)
Main tenants and occupiers: Solon Luxmoore (34 ac); John Newcombe (7 ac); William Palmer (5 ac); Thomas Bridgeman Luxmoore (2 ac); Robert Drew (1 ac)
What the land was: Pasture 46 ac, Coppice 2 ac, Not Stated 1 ac, Arable 1 ac
Commons and waste
11,076 acres in 140 plots have no owner recorded. These are the commons and open moor: land that was not titheable or not held by anyone in the usual way. The empty owner line is itself a fact about who did not own the moor.
The Forest of Dartmoor and the Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall owned the Forest of Dartmoor, yet the Forest is not in this survey. The tithe maps covered parishes, and the Forest was royal forest. In 1848 Rowe wrote that tithe is not due of common right from royal forests, and that the tithe of the Forest's herbage (the grazing of barren cattle) reached the church only because Henry III granted it to the chaplain of Lydford. By 1727 that grant had become a fixed £3 a year, paid at Michaelmas to the Rector of Lydford out of the Prince's high rents from the Borough of Lydford. A Duchy Office copy of the borough's rent roll says the £3 was paid in lieu of all the tithes of the Forest of Dartmoor. There was therefore nothing for the tithe commissioners to apportion there.
The Duchy appears in the 1840 records only where it held land inside a parish: 39 plots in Lydford, about 26 acres in its own name and about 153 acres jointly with the Rev. Edward Bray Atkins as lessee. They are in the Crown and trusts list above.
Source: Rowe, A Perambulation of the Antient and Royal Forest of Dartmoor (1848): the introduction to the documents, and Documents XIII (the Lydford rent roll) and XIV (the Lydford terrier of 1727). Plot counts and acreages are from the Devon County Council tithe transcriptions.
Parishes
Each parish has its own page: who owned and farmed it, what the land was, and the old field names. Open the parish pages.
Explore further
- The map: every parish, its largest owners, and the land each owner held.
- Family trees: the biggest owners, line by line with their sources and stories.
- Tenants and farmers: who worked the land.
- Field names: what the old names tell us.
- Places: each one linked to who held the land in 1840.
Credit: Tithe polygons: Devon Tithe Mapping Polygonisation Project (Adnams 2023), © Devon County Council and Devon Heritage Centre, CC BY 4.0. Transcriptions: Devon County Council. The records may contain errors and duplicate entries.
