East Anstey's History Pages

In old records East Anstey is described as:

“a small scattered village, among the high hills, near the borders of Somersetshire, 3½ miles W.S.W. of Dulverton, and 10 miles E. of South Molton,”

It has a length, north to south, of about 5 miles and a width, west to east, averaging about 1 mile.

East Anstey was part of the South Molton Hundred (a 'Hundred' being a 10th century administrative division of a Shire, administered by a reeve, who served writs on behalf of the sheriff of the shire, and later by a constable, who was responsible for the apprehension of criminals. In 1894 the Local Government Act established district councils which were effectively the successors to the Hundred Courts.)

These history pages cover various aspects of the area's local history; from the Domesday Book onwards.

They have been compiled from information researched by Parish Councillor Neville Vereker, the Methodist Chapel information by Parish councillor Robert Blake, and the Early Minutes from the Minute Books held by Parish Councillor John White.