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St. Michael
Historical Overview
Archaeological research in the area has found evidence of tin being mined right back to Roman times and that Chagford certainly played its part in the production of tin. A charter in 1305, legislated that Chagford should become one of Devon's Stannary Towns. The word "stannary" meaning a place where smelted tin was collected for stamping and taxation. Early records show that at least 40% of Devon's total tin production passed through the parish and that it was the most important Devon Stannary until the 15th century. (Source: "Dartmoor Visitor") Kelly (1893) goes on to tell us that it continued as a Stannary Town until the end of the 18th century. Chagford also played a part in Devon's thriving Woollen industry and was particularly prosperous in the 16th, 18th and 19th century. (Source: "Dartmoor Visitor") There was a Woollen Mill in Chagford until 1848, but it then closed causing a decline in the population of the town. Many families consequently moved away in search of work elsewhere. Unemployment is not just a modern day phenomena and changes in population sizes in the past were often the result of changes in the employment circumstances of an area.
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Name | WHITE (1850) | KELLY (1893) |
Bakers' Arms | Rd. HOLMES (wheelwright) | William LYDDON |
Globe Inn | Henry COOPER (cooper) | James Usher WINKFIELD |
King's Arms (listed as family and commercial hotel and posting house in 1893) | John HOOPER (butcher) |
Samuel Henry JEWELL |
Royal Oak | George HARVEY (butcher) | |
Ring of Bells | Richard STANBURY | Lewis HOLMES (butcher) |
Three Crowns (listed as Hotel in Kelly's) | John BROCK | Joseph COLLINS |
Kelly's (1893) also lists quite a few other properties that were either hotels or lodging houses, used for people staying in the parish. Because of the area's beauty and evidence of the prehistoric remains of stone circles and the like, which appear to have fascinated the Victorians, Chagford appears to have been quite a popular tourist resort in the latter half of the 19th century when the idea of "holidays" began to take off. Kelly tells us that:
"This portion of Dartmoor is much frequented in the summer time by invalids, its dry and bracing air having been found very beneficial to persons having consumptive tendency; it is also a constant resort of tourists, antiquaries and anglers." (p. 105)
Chagford today, still remains a popular visitor attraction to those who venture to Dartmoor. As you can see from the pictures of Chagford above, I have visited the parish and can truly vouch that it is a lovely place and well worth a visit, if you get the chance. Although today the parish still only has around 1500 inhabitants, to some designating that it should be a "village", its residents strongly defend its status of being a town because of its historical importance in the history of Dartmoor.
My special thanks to the Dartmoor National Park Authority for allowing me to use their free newspaper entitled "Dartmoor Visitor" as a source for some of the historical information connected with Chagford, as cited above.
Dartmoor National Park Authority (2002) "Dartmoor Visitor", Dart Publishing Dartmouth, Devon.
Please note that where cited - information from the Dartmoor Visitor, remains copyright to the Dartmoor National Park Authority and permission must be obtained to use this material in publication. This piece has been written in my own words and information added from other sources, as listed. The pictures of Chagford are my own.
Year | 1801 | 1851 | 1901 | 1931 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 |
Population | 1115 | 1557 | 1397 | 1584 | 1346 | 1250 | 1394 | 1421 | 1466 |
Source: 1801-1991 Census ©Crown Copyright
Source: 2001 Registrar General Population Estimates
Data originally from Devon Facts and Figures part of the Devon County Council website. [no longer available]
![]() JOD's Genealogy Graphics
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