The town, on the edge of Torridge, in North West Devon, rises from unspoiled countryside a few miles from Cornwall's Atlantic coast. Employing his services for a town of 1,890 people plus catchment area surely makes Holsworthy unusual, though symptomatic of the attitude and spirit Devon Life found there. This still applies in the late 1990s. Fore St ascends a slope.
Hills rise and drop away on either side.
Worthy' is usually an enclosure, fortress or settlement. General consensus believes 'Hols' originated from Harold's or Hal's, Haldeurdi in Domesday, later corrupted to Holsworthy. Holsworthy still has a Portreeve, and celebrates associated Court Leet ceremonies, one of few places in Devon to do so. William Cousins is current holder of the office - and I met him, in white coat, weighing sheep in the livestock market. It is impossible to imagine Holsworthy without markets.