Agricultural History Review, Volume 59 Part 2 (2011), p. 337

Although the author’s assertion that this is ‘the first scholarly study of Victorian north Devon’ can be disputed, he does address a need for more published work concerning Devon’s history. It is a great pity therefore that Jones’s book is marred by its failure to fulfil expectations that are raised by the title. Jones’s meticulous research and exemplary extracts from a myriad primary sources centre on the parish of Rose Ash and its hinterland, in the south-eastern corner of the area that he defines as north Devon. Focusing on this district means that key influences are ignored. Lacking, as it does, an adequate recognition of north Devon’s maritime communities, this cannot truly be a social history of north Devon. As a history of the impact of religion on the agricultural communities around South Molton, this book works much better. Jones’s central theme of the disparity between the rural poor and their landlords, the clergy in particular, is well handled. If the title had not led readers to expect a wider application, then there would be less to condemn in this book.

Chapters two and three are entitled ‘Rural Life’ and ‘Community Life’ respectively, but it is not altogether clear how Jones is distinguishing between the two. ‘Rural Life’ encompasses customs, beliefs and prejudices and how they shaped and controlled Victorian rural society. It then ranges across sexual mores, public health and migration. ‘Community Life’ begins with an assessment of the extent of rural unrest in north Devon, then moves on to clubs, societies and parish charities before returning to examine crime. It is a shame that a great deal of interesting material becomes somewhat lost in this lack of structure.

The biographies of five members of the rural elite, with authority in Rose Ash and the surrounding area, rate a chapter of their own. There is an assessment of the influence that these individuals had on the parishes where they held sway. It is unfortunate that these are stand-alone biographies, lacking in contextual comment on the role the middle classes played in agricultural communities. When Jones moves on to church, chapel and clergy he is at his best and these sections have real merit. Here is the context and insight that is lacking in earlier chapters, providing a valuable account of the impact of the Anglican Church, its fabric, sacraments and clergy, on Victorian rural communities. Although Jones does perhaps underplay the role of the chapel, this is a reflection of the small part of north Devon upon which he is concentrating.

The chapter on schooling has general relevance but Jones’s discussion of farming and enclosure returns to the parochial, and is applicable to the area around South Molton rather than the wider region. He finishes with a somewhat incongruous chapter on the village green, which, he acknowledges, is a feature of few Devon villages. The account of the disputes over the ownership of the green at Rose Ash does help to illustrate the control of prominent families in that one village but again there is a need for this to be given broader significance.

When Jones tackles his proposed work on the twentieth century, and I hope he will, he would do better to acknowledge that he is focusing on a smaller area and on themes that are not so broad. That way he will not raise unrealistic expectations in his readers and the book will be recognized as a good example of what it actually is, rather than one that fails to live up to its claims.