Lower & Higher Summerwell in Thelbridge

Research & Notes by Kathryn J. Summerwill

Based on the Thelbridge Tithe Apportionment (PRO reference IR29/9/406) and Tithe Plan (PRO reference IR30/9/406), awarded 7 November 1844

Field Names & Usage 1844

Tithe Records

Tithe apportionments record the official commutation of tithes in kind to money payments. The Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 forced this to happen in every parish.
A tithe rent charge was levied on each property in lieu of the payment of crops or hens etc to the incumbent. A detailed survey of every field was made by commissioners who decided on the rent to be paid for each plot of land. Glebe land was exempt from tithes and was sometimes not mentioned in the apportionment. The plan was produced in order to better identify the premises. Three copies of the apportionment and plan were made: one was kept by the parish, one by the diocese and one by the commissioners.

Thelbridge

The biggest landowners in the parish were John Partridge Esq of Barnstaple and John Partridge Esq of Mension (presumably related). A Partridge was Lord of the Manor.

Properties:

• Woodhouse Down, Woodhouse and Little Woodhouse were owned by George Summers Esq (coincidental surname?)
• Thelbridge Barton was owned by John Partridge of Barnstaple and tenanted by William Bennett
• Lower Summerwell, including a house and garden, was owned and occupied by George Bennett
• Higher Summerwell was owned and occupied by Samuel Brown Esq
• Thelbridge Hall was used as the Rectory by Rev Draper and was glebe land
• Woodford was owned and occupied by Mary Ann Partridge and Sarah Partridge

The old cottage at Little Woodhouse (shown in the Thelbridge & Witheridge Photo Gallery) is a small mystery. On the tithe map there seems to be a building in the right place near Little Woodhouse, in field 240 (Great China Close), part of Woodhouse Farm, but it is not individually mentioned which is unusual as cottages were always noted. Maybe it was used as a barn and was later renovated.

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