Devon Notes and Queries, 165 Tiverton had one of the earliest markets in Devonshire, for as early as 1200 it was of sufficient importance to be a Market Town. West Exe, which possessed some of the oldest mills and cottages in the town had a separate market on account of the inefficiency of the bridge accommodation. When the Redvers lords built their castle, the almost bridgeless river was a natural defence. With regard to the origin of the name Colliepriest, — the ancient form was Colly-priest. Risdon, in his Survey of 1630, says that "Colly" means several rivers or streams. That is the case in Colliepriest. It is the junction of the Cxe and Lowman, and the word really means 'the rivers of the priests.' Why ? Colliepriest originally belonged to the Courtenay family, and part of the land by Cranmore Castle was, I believe, given by them either as an endow- ment or for a chantry. The Earls of Devon, who retained all the land bordering the Exe for their private use, were generous with the lands that bordered the Lowman, and in all deeds and charters, 'as far as can be traced, there is an absolute silence about their use of this river. The Courtenays gave Elmore for the use of the poor, and some of the land adjoining to the Church. Colliepriest was chiefly in the Tidcombe portion, — Tidcombe, or in the old form Tyd- combe, from its situation. The word " Comb " in Anglo- Saxon meant a valley with trees on both sides — " Tyd " (bound), " Comb *' (valley) on either side a hill ; and so it -was with this old ecclesiastical portion. It included in the valley Elmore, Cowleymore, and Phenix Moor, between the -wooded hills of Exeter Hill and Collypriest, and the other side, now Knightshayes. So that it appears never to have derived its name from any family or manor but from its natural situation. The Church of Tiverton has been called a Collegiate Church, but as Oliver {Mon. Exon. p. 315) says "whether it be strictly and canonically entitled to that character may be questioned.*' Richard, Earl of Devon in 11 59 richly endowed it, and settled a dispute between the Canons of Tiverton and the Priory of St. James. And the lands of this endowment, known by the name of Priors' Portion, were on the opposite side of the River Exe. The church path : there were two old chapels near this part of the town of some importance. The Chapel of
