TIVERTON, Devonshire, a market-town, municipal and parlia mentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Tiverton, is on the elope of a bill at the coufluence of the rivers Ex and Loman, in 50' 54' N. lat., 3" 39' W. long., distant 13 miles S. by E. from Exeter, 165 miles W.S.W. from Loudon by road, and 184 miles by the Great-Westeru and Bristol and Exeter railways. The population of the borough of Tivertou in 1851 was 11,144. The borough is governed by 6 aldermen and 13 councillors, of whom one is mayor; and returns two members to the Imperial Parliament. The livings are in the srehdeaconry and diocese of Exeter. Tiverton Poor-Law Union contains 27 parishes and townships, with an area of 106,291 acres, and a population in 1851 of 33,521.
Tiverton is watered by a brook called the Town Lent, which rises above five miles north of the town. On the went side of the river Ex is a large suburb called Westex, very densely populated, and principally inhabited by operatives. One of the greatest attrac tions of the town is the trout-fishing in the two rivers. The oldest part of the pariah church was built in 1073; the south front and porch, with other portions, were rebuilt, and the whole of the church new seated, in 1825. It is a noble edifice, 186 feet long, and 82 feet wide; the tower is 116 feet high. St. George's Chapel is of the Doric
order. The Independents, Baptists, and Wesleyan Methodists have places of worship. There are in Tiverton Blundell's Free Grammar school ; National schools ; a British school ; Chilcott's Endowed school for boys ; a Blue-Coat school for boys, and a Blue. Coat school for girls. There are several almshouses and varioue minor charities.
The woollen trade of Tiverton was formerly very extensive, but early in the present century it yielded to the superior capabilities of the Yorkshire manufacturers. The cotton manufacture was subse quently introduced, but it soon declined. The making of bobbin-net introduced in 1816 is still carried on, and gives regular employment to a considerable number of persons, besides temporary employment to several hundred girls and women. A county court is held in the town. Tuesday and Saturday are the market-days ; fairs are hold on the second Tuesday after Whitsuntide, and on September the 20th. A spacious market-place was erected in 1830, with a suite of rooms for assemblies; there is also a theatre. Races are held annually on the Castle Meadows for two days in the month of August.