HIGHBRAY, a parish in Barnstaple district, Devon; on the river Bray, near the boundary with Somerset, 6½ miles NNW of South Molton, and 9½ E by N of Barnstaple r. station. Post town, North Molton, under South Molton. Acres, 4, 273. Real property, £3, 505. Pop., 295. Houses, 48. The property is divided among a few. Lydcott, the house whence Amy Robsart of Sir Walter Scott's novel of " Kenilworth '' went, is now partly removed and partly a farm house; and the ancient chapel of it is now the farm garden; and a shilling of Queen Elizabeth was, a few years ago, found there. The surface of the parish is high, and partly moorish. An ancient fortification of about 4 acres, a tumulus 114 feet in circuit and 10 feet high, and several smaller tumuli, are on the moor. Successive strata in the tumuli have been found, on examination, to contain, -first, ashes, Roman coins, and cinerary urns; next, Greek coins; next, Egyptian coins, Phœnician coins, and copper arrow heads. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Exeter. Value, £280. Patron, P. P. Acland, Esq. The church is very ancient; has a peculiar tower; and contains a fine ancient font, and several very old monumental stones.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))