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MARKET TOWNS OF DEVON (from SDUK Penny Cyclopedia)

Appledore in 1836

Appledore is a port and market-town on the western side of the river Torridge, just at its junction with the Taw ; it is in the parish of Northam, and in the hundred of Shebbear, 204 miles west by south of London, through Barnstaple and Bideford. It is a small place, but has a considerable coasting trade. Risdon, who compiled his survey of Devon 1605-1630, says of Appledore that it is “a place, since our fathers’ age, meanly inhabited, but at present mustereth many mansions, and may for multitude compare with some towns.” Appledore has two weekly provision markets, on Wednesday and Saturday, for the convenience of shipping. There is a chapel in the town kept in repair by the church of Windsor, but it has not been used as a place of public worship within memory : the church is at the village of Northam, above a mile from the town. The living of Northam is a vicarage, of the yearly value of £125, with a glebe-house, in the gift of the dean and chapter of Windsor. The parish contains places of worship for Independents, Baptists, and Wesleyan Methodists. The population of the parish in 1831 was 2,727 ; that of the town of Appledore was not distinguished. The education returns from this parish in 1833 contain six infant schools with about 90 scholars ; seven day-schools (one a national school of 50 boys and 30 girls, supported by an endowment and by subscription), containing in all 274 scholars ; and three Sunday-schools with above 200 scholars. A parochial lending library is connected with the national school, and a lending library with one of the Sunday-schools.

On the coast, near Appledore, is a sandy tract of about 800 acres, called ‘Northam Burrows,’ adjoining to which is a high bank of pebbles, about a mile long, resembling the Chesil-bank, near Weymouth. Kinwith, or Kenwith Castle, in besieging which Ubbo or Hubba the Dane was killed, A. D. 878, was near Appledore. Henni Borough, or Henni Castle, a small fortified spot not far from Bideford, has been supposed to be the site of this castle.