The church of St. Peter, Zeal Monachorum

©Richard J. Brine

Zeal Monachorum is a village and parish in Taw vale, 8 miles W.N.W of Crediton and contains 649 souls and 2946 acres of land, including the hamlets of LOOSESBEAR (or LOXBEARE), BURSTONE and TUCKINGMILL. It was anciently called Sele Monachorum and had the latter part of its name from its being long held by the monastery of Buckfast, to which it was given by King Canute.

J. H. Ley, Esq. is now Lord of the Manor; but Loosebeare belongs to the Kelland family, and Burstone to J. and W. Wreford  Esqrs. Messrs J. and R. Pedler, John Sweet, and a few smaller owners, have estates in the parish.

The church (St. Peter) has a tower and five bells and the living is a rectory, valued in the King's Book at £17. 8s. 9d., and in 1831 at £401. The Rev. John Comyns, M.A of Bishopsteignton is the rector, and has sold the parsonage to Mr. Tombs. The glebe is 52½ acres and the Parsonage is a neat residence, with tasteful grounds. The tithes have been commuted for £419 per annum.

The Poor have £10 and the rector and trustees £2 yearly from the bequest of Francis Hole in 1930. For schooling poor children, Weekes Hole, in 1768, left £100, now vested at interest. The poor parishioners have £3. 1s. 8d. per annum, in four rent charges, left by Andrew Davy, Richard Hole, Robert Packer and Edmund Rowland.

RESIDENTS

Bibbings, Joseph, wheelwright

Bibbings, William, farming implement maker & Registrar

Clotworthy, William, victualler, North Star

Cooper, Rev. Edward, curate, Rectory

Hill, George, gent., Laurel Cottage

Hill, William, gent. Foldhay

Hooper, William, blacksmith

Mitchell, William, machine maker and victualler, Golden Lion

Staniford, George, blacksmith

FARMERS

Cheriton, Samuel, Newton

Hern, James, Little Tolhay

Homeyard, Samuel, Gill House

Moor, Edward, Higher Burrows

Pedler, John, Baronswood

Pedler, Robert, Baronswood

Snell, George, Hayne

Snell, William, Sutton

Sweet, John, Burston

Wreford, John, Suston

Wreford, William, Lower Week

SHOPKEEPERS

Slee, Charity

Slee, Thomas

Vanstone, Ann