James Templer (canal builder)

James Templer (1748–1813) was a Devon landowner and the builder of the Stover Canal. He was the eldest son of the Reverend James Templer (1722-1782) of Stover House, Teigngrace, Devon.[1] Templer was a Master in the Crown Office at London.[1] He inherited the estate in 1782, and began construction of a new church at Teigngrace, built in the local granite from quarries at Hay Tor.[2] This was completed in 1787,[3] and his brother John was the first rector of the church.

The mining of ball clay in the area had begun to rapidly expand, and from 1790 Templer built the Stover Canal at his own expense to transport clay to cellars on the banks of the River Teign,[4] for onward transportation by barge down the river estuary to the port of Teignmouth on the coast.

He died aged 65 on 21 June 1813,[2] and is commemorated by a Coade stone monument in the church.[5] His son, George Templer, inherited the estate.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ewans 1966, p. 11
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Templers and their history". Stuart Callon. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
  3. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 12
  4. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 13
  5. ↑ "Teigngrace Church". Devon Historic Churches Trust. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
  6. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 15

Bibliography

  • Ewans, M.C. (1966). The Haytor Granite Tramway and Stover Canal. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.