Feniton
Feniton is located within East Devon local authority area. Historically it formed part of Hayridge Hundred. It falls within Ottery Deanery for ecclesiastical purposes. The Deaneries are used to arrange the typescript Church Notes of B.F.Cresswell which are held in the Westcountry Studies Library. The population was 252 in 1801 387 in 1901 . Figures for other years are available on the local studies website. In 1641/2 87 adult males signed the Protestation returns.
A parish history file is held in Honiton Library. You can look for other material on the community by using the place search on the main local studies database. Further historical information is also available on the Genuki website.
Maps: The image below is of the Feniton area on Donn's one inch to the mile survey of 1765.
On the County Series Ordnance Survey mapping the area is to be found on 1:2,500 sheet 70/5,6 Six inch (1:10560) sheet 70NW
The National Grid reference for the centre of the area is SY117994. On the post 1945 National Grid Ordnance Survey mapping the sheets are: 1:10,000 (six inch to a mile: sheet SY19NW, 1:25,000 mapping: sheet Explorer 030, Landranger (1:50,000) mapping: sheet 192. Geological sheet 326 also covers the area.
Illustrations: The image below is of Feniton as included in the Library's illustrations collection. Other images can be searched for on the local studies catalogue.
Extract from Devon by W.G.Hoskins (1954), included by kind permission of the copyright holder:
FENITON is a neat, well-cared-for village, set in park-like country. Feniton Court, a Georgian house, was the birthplace of John Coleridge Patteson (1827-71), first missionary bishop of Melanesia, murdered by natives in 1871. His farther, Sir John Patteson, distinguished judge, died at Feniton, 1861.
The church (St. Andrew) is entirely 15th century work except the small N. transept. The fine 15th century rood-screen to nave and S. aisle is of the Kentisbeare type, well proportioned and rich in detail, with its vaulting almost intact. The cornice is singularly rich. The S. parclose screen is also of beautiful design. In the chancel is a tomb with a striking and emaciated cadaver, probably that of one of the Malherbes (15th century). A few 16th century carved bench-ends survive, together with a number of modern ones of excellent design.
In Fenny Meadow, just N. of Fenny Bridge, the western rebels of 1549 were defeated by Russell's mercenaries. Curscombe Farm was a Domesday manor. Colesworthy is mentioned as early as 1219 and is probably of 12th century foundation.
