North Molton

North Molton is a village, parish and former manor in north Devon, England. The population of the parish in 2001 was 1,047, decreasing to 721 in the 2011 census. An electoral ward with the same name also exists. The ward population at the census was 2,206. Bounded on the north east by the border with Somerset, it is the second largest parish in Devon, covering about 15,000 acres. Until the 18th century the village was an important centre of the woollen industry, and mining was also a significant employer in the parish until the 19th century.

History

North Molton was a manor within the royal demesne until it was granted to a member of the la Zouche family by King John. In 1270 Roger la Zouche was granted a licence to hold a weekly market in the manor and an annual fair on All Saints' Day. The manor then passed through the St Maur family to the Bampfylde family, in the 15th century.Amyas Bampfylde (died 1626) built Court Hall—now demolished—to the immediate east of the church.

The other significant family in the parish was the Parker family: in 1550 Edmund Parker was granted the office of bailiff of the manor and he built Court House, adjacent to the west of the church in 1553.