LIDSTONE

Family

The name 'Lidstone' still survived in the parish in 1841. A farming family at 'Beeson' is listed as follows in the 1841 census
William Lidstone, Farmer, 60y
Agnes Lidstone, 55y
WIlliam Lidstone, 25y
George Lidstone, 20y
Agnes Lidstone, 20y

From White's Devonshire Directory (1850):
"STOKENHAM, or Stockingham, a small pleasant village, 5½ miles E. by S. of Kingsbridge, has in its parish 1619 inhabitants, and 5920 acres of land, including six villages, extending 4 miles along the picturesque shore of Start Bay, of which the following are the names and population :- Chillington, 325; Beeson, 106; Beesands, 104; Halsands, 128; Kellaton, or Kellington, 105; and Torcross, 192. several of them are fishing villages, noted for fine crabs, which are in high repute in London. The parish extends southward to Start Point, where there is a lighthouse. It includes also the hamlets of Bickerton, Dunstone, Cornborough, and many scattered houses. TORCROSS, near Ley lake and Slapton Sands Hotel (see Slapton), is a pretty little bathing place, with several lodging-houses for visitors. . . . Sir R.L. Newman, Bart., of Mamhead, is lord of the manor of Stokenham, and has a neat marine residence, called Stokely House, built about 35 years ago. The manor has been held by the Fitzjohns, Fitzherbert, Courtenays, Hastings, and Carys, and was sold by the latter to the Newmans. Miss Burnell is lady of the manor of Kellaton, and A.B.E. Holdsworth, Esq., owns Stokenham Priory estate. . . . Coleridge, a handsome new mansion, in the Elizabethan style, is the seat of John Allen, Esq. . . . The Nicholls, Edmunds, Pitts, Randall, Cole, and other families have estates in the parish, mostly freehold. The Church (St. Barnabas,) is a large antique structure, with a low tower and six bells. . . . The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £48. 7s. 8½d., and in 1831 at £625, with the curacies of Chivelstone and Sherford annexed to it, is in the patronage of the Crown, and the incumbency of the Rev. Hy. Taylor, M.A., of South Pool Rectory. The Parsonage is small, but neat, and the glebe is only 2A. 21P."
The parish church is now dedicated to St Michael and All Angels. Previously it was dedicated to St Barnabas, and before this it was dedicated to St Humbert the Confessor.