Anstey is derived from the Old English An-stiga, meaning hilli pathway for one, i.e. narrow pathway. There are several
references to it in the Domesday Book of 1086, when it was
called Anestinga. In 1175 it is recorded that the Manor was held by Robert Monachus (French form of le Moigne), and this family name was for a time incorporated into the name of
the district, which became Anstey le Moigne. A corruption of the name still
exists in that portion of the common known as Anstey Money Common.
West Ansty Church St. Petroc
In the year 1304, Roger le Mony, Lord of the Manor (and, one may assume, a descendant of Robert le Moigne referred to above), granted the advowson, then a Rectory, together with two acres of land, to William de Kilkenny and Walter de Tottonia (Totnes). William, a Canon of Exeter Cathedral, and Walter, Chaplain, were executors of the will of Andrew de Kilkenny, Dean of Exeter, who died on 4th November 1302. In 1305 they appropriated the benefice as a Vicarage to the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, at the same time founding a Chantry in the Chapel of St. Andrew in Exeter Cathedral, endowed with the Rectoral Tithes of West Anstey, for the celebration of memorial masses for the souls of Dean Andrew and three members of his family, (William de Kilkenny, formerly Bishop of Ely, Henry de Kilkenny, formerly Archdeacon of Chichester, and Henry de Kilkenny, former Rector of Bridestowe).
The population of the parish did not vary for many centuries, and stood at about 200 until the early 19th century. It rose to over 300 in 1871 due to an influx of workers engaged on building the railway, and since then has steadily declined to its present level of about 100.
The present church was dedicated on 12th November 1319 by Bishop Stapledon of Exeter and comes under the Exeter diocese. It it uncertain what the dedication was: some sources give it as Holy Trinity, whereas others favour St. Petrock. The latter has generally been adopted as correct. The dedication entry records that there were three altars at that time - the Majus Altare (high altar) and two others. The existence of the minor altars may perhaps account for the uncertainty over the dedication, but a more likely explanation may be that the local worshippers had a different preference to that of their distant Patrons and their own choice of dedication has prevailed.
The 1319 church consisted only of the present nave and chancel. The piscina in the South wall of the chancel is apparently of that date, and parts of the original walls remain. These were built chiefly of local stone but also partly of stone brought from Thorverton, near Exeter, which is probably accounted for by the fact that the Thorverton quarries were the property of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, the Patrons of the Living.
West Anstey is a tiny village with church on Exmoor's southern edge in hill farmland of steep fields, streams, woods. Open moorland (heather hills), 1 mile; PO/shop, 1½ miles; riding stables, 1½ miles; pub, 3. Dulverton and Tarr Steps, both about 8 miles; the sea at Minehead (sandy beach), 20 miles, or Woolacombe (sand and surf), 25 miles.
West Ansty Longstone
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