Farms of the Wills Families in Devon

While studying the results of research of the Wills Family it was noted that many farms were named but no village or town/parish address was provided. Further research has located some of the farms as shown in the below table. Your contributions will be appreciated.

In many cases a reference is made to a "parish". For an explanation of the parishes see What is a Parish. The locations of the parishes/towns can be found at Devon Parish Finder or A Devon Gazetteer

Most parishes still undertake the old custom of "Beating The Bounds". This ensures that the parishioners know where the boundaries of their parish are, and warns the neighbouring parish not to encroach on them, as they did in former times by removing the boundary stone on a dark night ! Formerly young children of the parish were bumped on the boundary stones (which exist on the change of direction of the boundary) to instil into their memory where it is, telling them to do the same to their children in the future. Of course this is not allowed in our enlightened times, and now the chairman of the parish council has to suffer this indignity !

Ilsington has recently carried out this custom in honour of the Queen's Golden Jubilee and the boundary of 28 miles, which crosses all sorts of conditions, barbed wire, thick hedges, bogs and swamps, a golf course, rivers, up hill and down dale, was completed in four Saturdays. On the average about 40 people attended each time, and the sturdy ones who did all four were awarded a commemorative plaque."

Bovey Tracey parish used to extend to the stream that runs alongside the cricket pitch near the old railway line in Lustleigh. Hence the old Manor of Wreyland was in Bovey but is now in Lustleigh. Wreyland Manor in the 1500s included Willmead farm and Middle and North Kelly.

Where it is said that farms are now private houses, the land has been sold off to adjacent farmers and maybe only an acre or two retained. They are virtually all very expensive and desirable private homes for wealthy incomers to the villages and normally in an excellent state of repair.

As most of the old house were built of Dartmoor granite, on granite, the walls have survived even if the roofs have required new timbers hence the houses mentioned in documents as early as 1547 still exist today as residences. Some have been demolished in the past and replaced by newer buildings or extended beyond all recognition but the name of the farm remains.