WHITESTAUNTON
The parish of Whitestaunton, known as Staunton
until the earlier 14th century, (fn. 1) lies on the southern
boundary of the county, 3 miles NW. from Chard.
It had an area of 1,937 a. in 1883, (fn. 2) and extends just
over 2 miles from east to west and about the same
from north to south. Its western boundary with
Yarcombe (Devon) is formed by the river Yarty and
its southern marked the division between Somerset
and Dorset until Wambrook was transferred to
Somerset in 1896. (fn. 3) A stream and lanes mark the
northern and eastern boundaries with Combe St.
Nicholas.
Whitestaunton lies in the dramatic terrain of the
Devon—Somerset border, with steep-sided hills and
narrow valleys, the thickly-wooded high ground
affording extensive views over the surrounding
district. The parish occupies the valley of a tributary
of the Yarty, and stretches up to high ground on
both sides, reaching over 700 ft. on Cinder hill and
Longlie common in the NW., to 771 ft. on the east,
and to over 825 ft. on the southern boundary. The
geology is extremely varied. In the north the soil is
Lower Lias, Upper Greensand, and Rhaetic Beds,
in the SW. Keuper Marls with alluvium along the
Yarty, in the NE. and central areas further Upper
Greensand with chalk outcrops, and in the south
and SE. principally clay. (fn. 4) Quarries at Longlie and
south of the manor-house were formerly worked
for limestone for both burning and building, (fn. 5) and
the same stone may give the parish its name.
Traces of prehistoric settlement survive in an
oval camp south of Howley and a barrow north of
Northay in a field which was called Burrow Close
in 1838. (fn. 6) A Roman villa was discovered c. 1845 near
an ancient well in the grounds of the manor-house
in Whitestaunton village. The building contained
hypocausts, mosaics, and painted wall plaster, but
has never been satisfactorily excavated. The well,
known as St. Agnes well, presumably indicates why
the site was chosen for both villa and manor-house
and suggests continuity of settlement. The water is
slightly warm and reputedly good for sprains. (fn. 7)
Whitestaunton village and Northay lie in small
coombes at the head of the dividing stream in the
north-east of the parish, and Howley (Holleway in
1479) (fn. 8) is on the steep hillside above the Yarty in the
south-west. Cleave and Nash both occur as settlements by 1327, and Lapse, Pyle, Brownsey, and
Woodhayes by 1479, indicating scattered settlement
probably originating in woodland clearings. (fn. 9) There
may have been some open-field system around the
village, (fn. 10) and there was a park, then a wood, to the
west of the manor-house by 1479, which survived as
fields called Park Hill and Horse Park in 1838. (fn. 11)
The road system is irregular, two present principal
arteries bypassing all the areas of settlement. The
main Chard—Honiton road runs from east to west
through the south-east of the parish, while the
Ilminster—Honiton road cuts off the north-west
corner. From these two roads access lanes run north
and south to serve the various hamlets and farms
and other roads link the parish with Yarcombe
(Devon), Combe St. Nicholas, and Wambrook.
The houses in 1791 were stated to be 'thinly
scattered and very mean, there being many cottages
or huts of only one floor and a single room for the
family'. (fn. 12) At Northay two houses close to the crossroads are of traditional 17th-century form, most of
the others being of the 19th century, and ¼ m. to
the west the house at Nash Hill appears to be 17th
century. At Howley, Browns Farm is a long
plastered and thatched house of the 17th century (fn. 13)
with later additions, and adjacent to it there are
a granary on staddle stones and a farmyard partly
enclosed by tall buildings with open timber fronts.
Cleave Hill Cottage may also be of the 17th century,
but the other houses in the southern part of the
parish appear to be of 19th-century or later origin.
None of the other scattered cottages and farmhouses
in the parish seem earlier than the 17th century, and
20th-century development has been concentrated
on Howley.
There were four licensed victuallers in 1735 one
of whom, John Meacham, evidently held the Rising
Sun at Howley, first mentioned by name in 1766.
This has been the only licensed house in the parish
since the early 19th century. There is a single
reference to the Bush inn in 1770. (fn. 14)
The population of Whitestaunton was 259 in
1801 and rose to 327 in 1821, continuing fairly
stable until 1841 when it was 321. Thereafter it fell
to 261 in 1851, remaining at that level until a further
drop to 208 in 1881 and 187 in 1901. (fn. 15) A rise to
205 in 1911 was succeeded by an abrupt decline
after the First World War to 121 in 1921. Since
1931, when the population numbered 169, there has
been little change, the figure in 1961 and 1971
being 164. (fn. 16)
Charles Isaac Elton (1839–1900), lawyer and
antiquary, was lord of the manor and M.P. for West
Somerset. He wrote a variety of monographs on
archaeological, legal, and literary subjects and was
founder member of the Selden Society. (fn. 17) Patrick
Reynolds Mitchell, dean of Wells from 1973, was
born at the manor-house in 1930. (fn. 18)
In 1644 during the Civil War while Charles I
stayed at Chard the Royalist troops were housed at
Whitestaunton manor-house and, presumably, in
the grounds. (fn. 19) Two parishioners were suspected of
complicity in the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685. (fn. 20)
MANOR.
The overlordship of WHITESTAUNTON manor was held in 1086 by Ansgar (I) Brito
(d. c. 1092–5) under the count of Mortain. (fn. 21) It then
evidently descended with the barony of Odcombe,
passing in turn to Walter (I) Brito (last mentioned
1108), Ansgar (II) (fl. 1126), Roger (d. by 1157),
Walter (II) (d. 1179), and to the son of the last,
Walter (III) (d. 1199). On the death of Walter (III)
without issue the barony was divided between his
two nephews Walter Croc and John de Longchamp, who in 1200 and 1202 surrendered their
shares to Richard Briwere (d. 1215). (fn. 22) The latter's
brother William Briwere (d. 1233) was said to be overlord in 1234, and subsequently his lands were divided
amongst his sisters and coheirs. (fn. 23) The Briwere heirs
still held the overlordship in 1284–6, but before
1321 it had passed, possibly by descent, to Aubrey
wife of John Hyngaud, who had granted it to
William de Montacute (cr. earl of Salisbury 1337,
d. 1344). (fn. 24) Subsequently it descended with the
earldom of Salisbury, although the manor is sometimes described as being held of Donyatt manor, one
of the Montacute properties. (fn. 25) The overlordship
was last mentioned in 1618 when it was held as of
the earldom of Salisbury. (fn. 26)
A mesne lordship held by William de Percy (d.
1245) in 1234 was probably created on or after his
marriage with Joan daughter of William Briwere,
then overlord. (fn. 27) Their son Henry (d. 1272) was
succeeded by John de Percy, whose heirs possessed
the mesne lordship in 1284–6. (fn. 28) It is not mentioned
thereafter.
The terre tenancy was held in 1066 by Alward,
and in 1166 Robert (I) of Staunton occupied two
fees of Mortain under Walter (II) Brito. (fn. 29) By 1234
the manor had passed to Robert (II) of Staunton
and by 1284–6 to Sir William of Staunton (d. 1311). (fn. 30)
In 1312 it was conceded by Thomas of Staunton to
Sir William's son Roger (I), and Roger's heirs were
in possession in 1316. (fn. 31) Robert (III) of Staunton,
a minor, held it in 1321 and Roger (II) of Staunton
(d. 1351) in 1344. (fn. 32) Roger's son William was
probably holding the manor in 1370 but by 1397
a life interest had passed to Nicholas Rede of Pole
Anthony in Tiverton (Devon) and his wife Parnel,
possibly widow of William of Staunton. (fn. 33) The
Redes were still holding the manor in 1433–4, but
by 1438 the advowson and probably the manor
were in the hands of the overlord, possibly during
the minority of the heir. (fn. 34) An enquiry into the ownership of the advowson in 1447 stated that the manor
was 'long ago' given by William of Staunton to
Thomas Hugyn in tail. On Thomas's death, his
son John being a minor, it was granted by the overlord to John's mother Roberta, widow of James
Harington. (fn. 35) An interest in the manor, however, had
been retained by John Brett of Thorncombe in
Bicknoller, cousin and heir of William Staunton, (fn. 36)
and the Brett and Staunton coats of arms appear
together on a tomb in Whitestaunton church. It
seems likely that the Bretts and Hugyns represented
coheirs of William Staunton, each with half the
manor and the alternate right of presentation to the
benefice. John Hugyn and John Brett were described
as joint lords of the manor in 1449 and 1473 and
Brett's daughter Joan married John Hugyn's son
and heir Thomas. (fn. 37) One half descended from
Thomas Hugyn to his son John (d. 1485) and
subsequently to his grandson John (d. 1493). The
last was succeeded by his daughter Joan, then
a minor, who was later probably the first wife of
Simon Brett. (fn. 38)
The half held by John Brett (d. 1478) passed to
his son Alexander (d. 1511) and then to Alexander's
son Simon (d. 1530). (fn. 39) In 1524 Simon and his
second wife Eleanor settled the reversion on Simon's
uncle John Brett of South Petherton (d. 1532). (fn. 40)
Both Simon and John died without issue and the
property was inherited by John's brother Robert
Brett (d. 1541) and, subsequently, by Robert's
grandson John (d. 1588), son of Alexander Brett. (fn. 41)
Efforts made by Simon's brother Robert to obtain
the manor were evidently fruitless. (fn. 42) From John's
son Sir Alexander Brett (d. 1609) the manor
descended in turn to the latter's son Alexander
(d. 1617) and grandson Sir Robert Brett (d. 1666). (fn. 43)
Sir Robert inadvertently saved Whitestaunton from
sequestration during the Interregnum, having
settled the manor on trustees in 1636–7 to raise
portions for his younger children. (fn. 44) After the
Restoration he failed to secure this provision for his
family and turned his eldest son Alexander out of
the manor-house, disposing of much of his own
furniture to pay debts. In 1669 Alexander brought
an action of trespass and ejectment against his
father and obtained possession of the house. (fn. 45)
Alexander (d. 1671) was succeeded by his brother
Robert Brett, a Jesuit, who in 1673 sold the manor
to Alexander's widow, Elizabeth (d. 1713), by birth
a Brett of a different family who afterwards married
Dr. Henry Klee (d. 1677). (fn. 46) Elizabeth Klee settled
the manor on trustees in 1697 for her niece Ann,
daughter of Robert Brett of London, for Ann's
husband Henry Brett (of yet another family of that
name), and for their son Alexander, reserving a life
interest for herself. Henry Brett sold the property
to Sir Abraham Elton of Bristol, Bt., in 1718 for
£11,642. (fn. 47)
On Sir Abraham's death in 1728 the manor
descended to his third son Jacob (d. 1765) and
thereafter in turn, during Jacob's lifetime, to his
sons Abraham (d. 1762) and Isaac (I) (d. 1774). (fn. 48)
It passed from Isaac (I) through successive generations to Isaac (II) of Stapleton (Glos.) (d. 1790),
Isaac (III) (d. 1837), and Robert James Elton (d.
1869). The last 'unexpectedly' bequeathed the
estate to his nephew Charles Isaac Elton (d. 1900),
and Charles's brother Frederick (d. 1922) sold off
most of the lands in 1920. (fn. 49) The manor-house and
lordship were retained by Frederick's widow who
sold them in 1925 to Lt.-Col. Percy Reynolds
Mitchell. They were purchased by Col. Couchman
in 1945 and by the present owner, Mr. A. E. Dobell,
in 1947. (fn. 50)
Plan of Whitestaunton House Showing the
Medieval Building and its later Development
The manor-house was first expressly mentioned
in 1479, although the lords had been resident on
the manor from the time of the Stauntons. Under
the terms of John Hugyn's will of 1483 his widow
Joan was to have a life tenancy of 'all the housing
above the west end of the hall of Whitestaunton,
and the occupation of the old stable, the kitchen
and bakehouse to make her meat, to brew, and to
bake', and underwood from the park. (fn. 51) Simon
Brett (d. 1530) granted his second wife Eleanor a life
interest in the house and demesnes if she continued
to occupy them. On the death of John Brett in 1532
his brother and nephew, Robert and Alexander,
challenged Eleanor's rights, (fn. 52) and in 1565 Alexander's son John acquired the house for a lump sum
of £100 and an annuity of £40 a year, though
subsequently reletting the property to her. (fn. 53) The
Eltons, as successors to the Bretts, did not initially
occupy the manor-house, the first Elton to be
buried at Whitestaunton being Abraham (d. 1762). (fn. 54)
In 1785 Isaac Elton leased the manor-house, Manor
farm, and 500 a. of land, to a Whitestaunton yeoman,
reserving the hall, parlour, the four bed-chambers
over the hall and parlour, the cellar within the parlour, a little cellar taken out of the dairy house, the
parlour green, coach-house, lower stable, and joint
use of the kitchen. (fn. 55) The house has been occupied
by the lords of the manor from the time of R. J.
Elton (d. 1869). (fn. 56)
The house lies immediately to the west of the
churchyard in a small valley from which the land
rises steeply on the south and west. (fn. 57) It is of ashlar
and rubble with slated roofs and has been enlarged
on several occasions giving it a rambling character
with principal fronts to the north and west. The
earliest surviving part is a relatively small house of
the later 15th century containing, within a single
range, a passage entry and service rooms at the east
end and a ground-floor hall with a great chamber
above. The chamber has an arch-braced roof of
three bays which was formerly open and is elaborately decorated with mouldings and cusped windbraces. In the later 16th century the house was more
than doubled in size by the addition of a western
range which contained three principal rooms on
each floor and has a long symmetrical front to the
garden. The panelling in the ground-floor room
bears the date 1577 and the initials of members of
the Brett family. At the same time as the western
range was being built the old house was modernized.
An entrance passage was formed across the western
end of the hall and a new doorway and two-storeyed
porch added to the north front and a staircase in
a tower, which may in part have been older, set
in the angle between the old and new ranges. The
service end was extended southwards and the hall
and great chamber were refenestrated, a twostoreyed oriel being constructed between the staircase tower and the extended service wing. There
were internal alterations, probably of only minor
character, in the 18th century but more extensive
remodelling took place in the early 19th century.
The roof of the hall range was raised on the south
side to admit a new range of bedrooms which are
partly over the oriel, and the first floor of the service
end was extensively refitted. Later in the century
the interior of the western range was modernized
and by this time the former open court between the
west and the service ranges had been largely built
over for additional outbuildings.
To the east of the house, bordering the churchyard, there is a two-storeyed range of the 16th
century containing stables and, added to its south
end, a 19th-century building containing coach
houses.
ECONOMIC HISTORY.
At the time of the Conquest the manor gelded for three hides. There was
land for 8 ploughs but only 5 to till it. The demesne
totalled 1¼ hide with 1½ plough and 6 serfs, and
there were 18 villeins and 4 bordars with the
remaining 1¾ hide and 3½ ploughs. There were
260 a. of woodland and 50 a. of pasture which
rendered 4 blooms of iron, such a customary due
being recorded for only five other manors in Domesday Somerset. (fn. 58) Finds of iron slag on the Roman
villa site suggest that smelting was established
locally in very early times. (fn. 59) Stock in 1086 included
16 swine, 59 sheep, and 13 she-goats. (fn. 60)
A dearth of references to open fields and the
hilly nature of the terrain suggest that inclosure of
the low-lying areas took place early, while the
higher ground remained, as at present, predominantly devoted to woodland. The parish continued
almost wholly in the ownership of the lord of the
manor until the 20th century. In 1479, apart from
the manor-house and appurtenant closes, there were
21 tenements occupied by 15 tenants lying at
Benhayes, Cleave Hill, Howley, Lapse, Pyle,
Brownsey, Woodhayes, Nash, Ford, and Northay.
Among the demesne lands in 1479 references to
'Bryghtfurlong', Northfields, and Southfields (and
mention in 1838 of North field and Cherry Furland) (fn. 61)
suggest a former arable field system around the
parent settlement. In 1493 tenements were also
held of the manor at Whitehall and Weston in
Combe St. Nicholas, at Leigh and 'Jakettes' in
Winsham and Whitestaunton, and in South
Bradon. (fn. 62)
Villeins on the manor were mentioned in 1434,
when two were abducted by Nicholas Cleyhill, and
again in 1473. (fn. 63) Customary works are referred to as
late as 1534 when every tenement holder had to
weed corn for half a day, mow and 'make' one
acre of meadow, and rick the grass at the manorhouse; also to reap and set up 'stitches' on one acre
of wheat. All tenants, including cottagers, had to
work for one day at reaping corn, receiving meat
and drink for their labours. (fn. 64)
The demesne was valued at 5 marks a year in
1493 and half the manor at £10 in 1511. (fn. 65) The
manor continued to be valued at £20 between 1532
and 1618, (fn. 66) but when temporarily seized by the
Parliamentary Committee in 1648 the leasehold
and copyhold tenants were paying £130. In 1649
when let by the family trustees the rental rose to
£283. (fn. 67) The last available valuation in 1674 was
for about £300. (fn. 68)
In 1532 lands held with half the manor by John
Brett comprised 24 messuages and gardens, 40 a.
of arable, 100 a. meadow, 200 a. pasture, 200 a.
woodland, and 100 a. furze and heath: (fn. 69) acreages
which, while not necessarily accurate, probably
reflect the land use throughout the parish. Common
land is mentioned at various sites, usually on the
higher ground. Howley common abutted east on
the Park in 1534 (and thus evidently included
most of Great Copse), when oak trees were felled
there for house repair. (fn. 70) In 1746 the tenant of
Brownseys farm covenanted not to plough the
Higher common immediately west of his house,
and Long lie in common in the north-west of the
parish was mentioned in 1783. Land recently
inclosed from Lapse common is referred to in
1796. (fn. 71) Few alterations, however, to the medieval
agrarian pattern seem to have taken place and
c. 1800 it was thought that the land was still 'capable
of great agricultural improvement'. (fn. 72) If the 1532
figures are to be relied on, the amount of land
converted to arable gradually increased. By 1838
there were 742 a. of arable, 705 a. of meadow and
pasture, and 450 a. of woodland. (fn. 73) By 1905 the area
devoted to grassland had risen to 881 a. while
arable had fallen to 624 a. and woodland to 418 a. (fn. 74)
This pattern continues relatively unchanged to the
present day.
Several of the larger farms were apparently
named after their tenants. Thus Brownseys may be
linked with the Brownsey family, apart from the lord
the wealthiest inhabitants of the parish in 1582 and
1641, (fn. 75) Browns farm with George Brown, gentleman,
who kept tame deer there in 1681, and Parrisees
farm with the Parris family, cousins of the Browns. (fn. 76)
Tenements were usually leased for 99 years or three
lives in the 17th century, but during the 18th
century shorter terms at increased rents were
introduced by the Eltons. A lease of Brownseys for
14 years was granted in 1746, the agreement
including 500 bundles of faggots annually from the
lord, and another for Woodhayes (20 a.) in 1783 for
the same term. (fn. 77) Browns and Southay farms were
combined in a seven-year lease in 1785, as were
Pyle and Dymonds (65 a.) in the same year, and,
for six years, Benhayes (27 a.) in 1787. Apart from
Manor farm, which comprised 500 a. in 1785, the
size of holdings was small, generally under 50 acres.
The 18th-century leases often included manuring
covenants. Thus at Woodhayes in 1783 the tenant
agreed that on every acre in tillage he would spread
12 hogheads of lime or 180 seams of dung; and that
he would not take more than two successive crops
of corn or grain and thereafter sow grass seed. (fn. 78)
By 1814 the lands leased with Manor farm had
shrunk to 420 a. (fn. 79) and by 1838 to 338 a., although
in the latter year the lessee also occupied 53 a. of
glebe. By 1838 the Eltons had extended the grounds
attached to the manor-house to 434 acres. There
were then, apart from Manor farm, three other
farms of over 150 a., one of 84 a., and the remainder
smallholdings under 50 a. (fn. 80) Redistribution of farmland to form viable units had resulted by 1851 in
a five-farm parish: Manor (387 a.), Browns (250 a.),
Northay (204 a.), Parrisees (200 a.), and Elms farms
(200 a.). In addition there were a further 100 a.
attached to Knapp House and 40 a. to Woodhayes. (fn. 81)
In 1920 when the estate was split up and sold the
nine farms were principally pasture land, while the
woodlands had been greatly reduced by felling
during the First World War. The largest holdings
were then Northay farm with 280 a., Manor farm
255 a., Browns 196 a., and Woodhayes 121 a. The
estate then included not only 1,679 a. in Whitestaunton (the whole parish excepting the manorhouse grounds and glebe) but a further 853 a. in the
adjacent parishes of Combe St. Nicholas and
Wambrook. (fn. 82) Since 1920 the farms have continued
in the hands of the farmers with one exception.
When sold in 1947 the manor-house had only 28 a.
of ground, but purchases by the Dobells increased
this to about 400 a. including Manor farm. Since
1965 much of this has been resold to other farmers
or sublet. (fn. 83)
The parish had links with the cloth industry from
the 16th century, probably supplying markets in
Chard. Fulling mills occur in 1573, (fn. 84) two weavers
in 1629 and 1668, and a tailor in 1657. (fn. 85) Thomas
Ford (d. 1624) mentioned his looms in his will and
bequeathed serge to provide suits and petticoats for
his relations and friends. (fn. 86) John Harvie had a mill
and a pair of weaver's looms in 1629. (fn. 87) A clothier
occurs in 1789 and a tailor in 1813. (fn. 88) In more
recent times virtually all the inhabitants have been
employed in agriculture, although gloving as
a cottage industry was pursued by eight women in
1851. (fn. 89)
A quarry (or quarries), presumably for the extraction of lias and limestone, were mentioned in 1479,
1513, and 1532. (fn. 90) In 1783 the tenant of Woodhayes
had the right to dig limestone in several quarries on
Long lie common and to burn the stone in the
limekiln there. (fn. 91) The field-name Quarry close
immediately north of Northay was recorded in 1838
and a second limekiln in the Warren south of the
manor-house was mentioned as disused in 1903. (fn. 92)
Limestone for the second kiln evidently came from
closes called Lime Pits in 1838, south-west of the
Warren. (fn. 93) Masons are regularly recorded in the
parish in the later 18th and 19th centuries. (fn. 94) The
right to take marl for Leigh tenement from a marl
pit at Bromeley (located in Winsham but part of
Whitestaunton manor) for half a year was granted
by the lord in 1639, and another tenant received
a similar licence for a marl pit in Court field in the
same year. A marl pit was also recorded at Leigh in
1663. (fn. 95)
There was a mill in Whitestaunton in 1086 but it
then rendered nothing as it ground solely for the
manor. (fn. 96) This may possibly be identified with
a blade mill held with the manor in 1513 and 1532.
In 1532 John Brett also held half of another mill. (fn. 97)
The manor was credited with two water-mills in
1527 and three grain-mills and three fulling mills
in 1573. (fn. 98) John Brett at his death in 1588 left
Howley mills to his fourth son Robert, after the
death of the tenant. (fn. 99) Millers or mill-owners occur
in 1615, 1619, 1629, and 1664. (fn. 100) The field-name
Tucking Mill, immediately north-east of Lapse on
the stream north of Howley, probably locates the
site of the fulling mills once known as Howley mills.
Similarly the field-names Mill Plot and Millers
mead on the northern boundary along the road
between Woodhayes and Northay (fn. 101) apparently
indicate another mill on the same stream. Traces of
a mill-leat and former buildings survive immediately
south of the road there.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The manor court of
Whitestaunton was described in 1629 as court leet
with view of frankpledge and manor court, and was
held twice a year in 1639. (fn. 102) No court rolls have been
traced, but suit of court was demanded of a tenant
in 1766. (fn. 103) No overseers' records survive but in 1812
it was evidently the custom for bread to be distributed to the poor at St. Agnes well. (fn. 104) The parish
joined the Chard poor-law union in 1836. (fn. 105)
CHURCH.
The church of Whitestaunton is first
mentioned in 1291. (fn. 106) The living was a rectory in
1297 and the advowson was held with the lordship
of the manor by 1321, (fn. 107) when the patron was Robert
de Bernyll by grant of the overlord during a minority. (fn. 108) Richard Montacute, earl of Salisbury,
presented as overlord in 1438, and Roberta Harington as mother and guardian of John Hugyn in
1447. (fn. 109) The patronage was exercised in 1449 by
William, Lord Bonville, and William Stafford by
grant of John Hugyn and John Brett as joint lords,
and between 1489 and 1500 the alternate patrons
were Alexander Brett and Joan Hugyn. (fn. 110) Robert
Tedbury and William Cabell presented in 1517,
John Alyn in 1544, and Nicholas Wootton in 1578,
all by grants from the Bretts. (fn. 111) Subsequently
presentations were made by the lords of the manor
or their trustees until c. 1928 when the advowson
passed to Lt.-Col. William Marwood Elton (d. c.
1932–3), the lord's cousin. His widow held the
patronage until her death c. 1965, when she was
succeeded by her son Group Capt. N. W. D. Elton,
the patron in 1974. Since 1949 the rectory has been
held in plurality with Combe St. Nicholas, where
the incumbent lives. (fn. 112) The united benefice of
Combe St. Nicholas and Whitestaunton with
Wambrook was created in 1974.
The value of the living was £5 6s. 8d. in 1291 and
£14 15s. 1d. in 1535. (fn. 113) Subsequently it rose to £40
c. 1668, nearly £100 in 1727, £255 net in 1831, and
£257 in 1851. (fn. 114) In 1535 predial tithes were worth
£5, those of sheep and lambs £2 16s. 4d., and
oblations and personal tithes £4 10s. 9d. (fn. 115) No later
valuation has been found until 1838, when the tithes
were commuted for a rent-charge of £222. (fn. 116) The
glebe lands were valued at 47s. in 1535, and in 1617
and 1635 were extended at c. 38 a. (fn. 117) The same lands
were estimated to contain 54 a. in 1838 and valued
at £65 a year in 1840. (fn. 118) Their income had fallen to
£50 by 1851, but the extent remained constant at
50 a. between 1861 and 1939. (fn. 119)
A rectory house was mentioned in 1534, when it
was occupied by Alexander Brett, son of the lord
of the manor. (fn. 120) In the 17th century it had 'an entry
with a hall upon the left hand, with one house
within the hall with a loft over, and on the right
hand . . . two little house(s) with three little chambers over'. There was also 'a kitchen without the
backer court with one other little house'. Outbuildings included a barn and stable, a little barton
by the barn, two small courts, and a herb garden. (fn. 121)
In 1670 the hall, study, great and little butteries, the
buttery chamber, the hall chamber, and the bakehouse are named. (fn. 122) The house was described as
unfit for the rector in 1815, and was not occupied
by his successor in 1833. (fn. 123) The building includes
the kitchen, cross-passage, and hall of the 16th-century house. The parlour and the roof were
renewed in the later 1830s when W. T. Elton took
up residence. (fn. 124) The old house then became the
service end and the new block housed the principal
rooms, entrance hall, and main staircase. It was sold
c. 1967 and subsequently divided into two
dwellings. (fn. 125)
Andrew de Staunton, rector in 1297, was probably related to the lords of the manor. (fn. 126) John
Jordan alias Stoke, rector by 1425 until 1438, was
pardoned in 1425 for having himself tonsured
without mentioning that he was illegitimate. (fn. 127)
William Lumbard, rector 1449–89, was instituted
after his deprivation at Marston Bigot and was not
ordained deacon until 1450. (fn. 128) William Wyett,
rector 1576–8, occupied the living while subrector and fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, and
rector of Tawstock (Devon). (fn. 129) Joseph Greenfield,
rector 1615–?51, was imprisoned during the Civil
War until released by the royal Cornish army. (fn. 130)
The intruded minister, Richard Smith, rector 1651–
62, removed to Dinnington after his ejection. (fn. 131)
John Chase, rector 1670–84, held the rectory with
a fellowship at Wadham College, Oxford, and
Michael Marlow, rector 1789–93, with one at St.
John's College, Cambridge. (fn. 132) Joseph Attwell Small,
rector 1799–1814, held the living in plurality with
a number of other benefices including a chaplaincy
to the King. (fn. 133) Robert Pearse Clarke, rector 1814–
27, was non-resident and successively curate of
Culmstock and Churchstanton. (fn. 134) W. T. Elton,
rector 1827–74, was son and brother of successive
lords of the manor and with his son-in-law, H. A.
Cartwright, rector 1874–1909, occupied the rectory
for 82 years. (fn. 135)
Thomas Snaydon, a Whitestaunton clerk also
described as a thatcher, was imprisoned in 1511 for
the theft of sheep. (fn. 136) An assistant minister was
mentioned in 1532 and 1572–5 (fn. 137) and assistant
curates were regularly employed by rectors during
the 17th century. (fn. 138)
A service was held each Friday in 1588, and the
parishioners complained in 1612 that the Bretts had
built two cross walls adjoining the chancel and
tower so that they could not go about the church. (fn. 139)
There were usually only 5 or 6 communicants c.
1776. (fn. 140) Single Sunday services were being held in
1815 and 1827 and, in 1843, alternately morning and
afternoon. (fn. 141) Holy Communion was celebrated twice
a year in 1840 and four times in 1843. (fn. 142) In 1851 the
Census-Sunday congregations totalled 55 in the
morning (with a further 21 Sunday-school pupils)
and 76 in the afternoon. (fn. 143) By 1870 there were two
Sunday services and Holy Communion was being
administered six times a year. (fn. 144)
A light of the Blessed Mary was recorded in
1492 and by 1548 there was a guild of Our Lady at
the church with 23s. 5½d. in the hands of two
wardens. There was also a cow valued at 20s. in
1548 given to maintain obits in the church. (fn. 145)
The church of ST. ANDREW has walls of
Ham stone ashlar and rubble and comprises
chancel with north and south chapels, nave with
south porch, and west tower. The walls of the narrow
chancel may be in part of the 13th century; those
of the nave are at least as old as the later 14th
century when the two doorways and the porch
were built. The whole building was refenestrated
in the later 15th century, probably at about the
same time as small north and south chapels were
added to the chancel. The tower, of three stages
with a projecting south-east stair turret, was built in
the early 16th century. Also in the 16th century
a rood screen, with a loft approached by a stair
projecting from the north wall, was put in and the
chancel arch was rebuilt. Later in the century the
south chapel was widened and an external doorway
was put into the west wall under the will of John
Brett (d. 1588). (fn. 146) The roofs were renewed in the
19th century when the building was thoroughly
restored. The fittings include a 12th-century font
and some 16th-century bench ends.
There are five bells: (i) 1696, Thomas Purdue;
(ii) 1695, Thomas Purdue; (iii) earlier 16th cent.,
Thomas Jeffries; (iv) c. 1380, Salisbury foundry;
(v) 1779, T. Pike, Bridgwater. (fn. 147) Apart from modern
plate there is a silver cup of 1658. (fn. 148) The registers
cover baptisms from 1659 to 1666 and baptisms,
marriages, and burials from 1692. (fn. 149)
NONCONFORMITY.
The Brett family, lords of
the manor, probably resumed the ancient faith
c. 1591, on the second marriage of Sir Alexander
Brett (d. 1609) with Ann daughter of John Gifford
of Weston Subedge (Glos.). (fn. 150) Lady (Ann) Brett
(d. 1647) occurs as a recusant at Whitestaunton in
1605. (fn. 151) She was convicted of recusancy in 1609,
was heavily fined, and in 1625 was deprived of
a quantity of 'old arms'. (fn. 152) John Yates alias Hopton,
admitted a Jesuit in 1604, was partly educated at
Whitestaunton by his uncle Alexander Brett, esq.,
'a Catholic in Somerset', and Alexander Cotton,
admitted a Jesuit in 1655, was the grandson of
Lady (Ann) Brett and was born at Whitestaunton. (fn. 153)
Of Sir Alexander's children his heir Alexander
married into the Kirkhams, a recusant family at
Blagdon (Devon), and two of his sisters similarly
married Roman Catholic gentry. Sir Alexander's
younger brother Robert Brett (d. 1665) rose to be
a Benedictine prior on the Continent. (fn. 154) Some of
the lands of Alexander's son, Sir Robert Brett
(d. 1666), 'a papist in arms', were sequestered
during the Interregnum, and in 1651 it was ordered
that his children have nothing 'till it appear that they
are brought up Protestants'. (fn. 155) Sir Robert's younger
son Robert (d. 1678), who inherited Whitestaunton
on his brother's death, was a Jesuit and was involved
in the Popish plot. (fn. 156)
The Bretts evidently attracted to their house and
parish other Roman Catholics seeking refuge from
persecution. In 1605 there were four recusant
servants in the manor-house, (fn. 157) and Thomas Suttle,
the Bretts' bailiff, and Ann his wife were repeatedly
presented for recusancy from 1612 until 1626 as
were other inhabitants in the parish. These included
in 1623 a woman who kept a dame school and one
Agnes Harvey 'lately turned a recusant'. In 1641
there were six recusants including three servants
at the manor-house. (fn. 158)
The house of John Kerley and two rooms in the
house of Thomas Locock were licensed for Baptist
meetings in 1804. (fn. 159)
EDUCATION.
Richard Parker of Whitestaunton,
'sometime schoolmaster' to Sir Alexander Brett's
children, was mentioned in 1607. (fn. 160) Between 1623
and 1630 a school was kept in the parish by Mary
Prescott, a recusant then living in the almshouse. (fn. 161)
In 1786 Roger Summerhayes gave £1,500 to the
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, out of which
£10 10s. a year was to be paid to a poor person to
teach 11 boys and 10 girls, orphans, or other poor
children of the parish or from Yarcombe (Devon). (fn. 162)
This school was still open in 1819 but did not
satisfy demand. (fn. 163) A Sunday school was added by
the rector in 1818 and in 1835 it had 20 boys and
20 girls, attendance at the day-school having risen
to 30. (fn. 164) By 1846–7 both schools were being run
together in two schoolrooms taught by two mistresses who had housing provided. (fn. 165) A new school
with a house for the mistress was built by the Eltons
south of the churchyard in 1863–4, and by 1894
had an average attendance of 26. (fn. 166) In 1903 there
were 48 children on the books and attendances
averaged 37. The school had been in 'a lamentable
state' but a change of teacher had caused 'a pronounced improvement'. There was then one
teacher helped by a monitor and the school was
supported by £14 18s. from the Summerhayes fund,
with additional help from R. J. Elton and small
subscriptions. (fn. 167) In 1937 children over 11 were
removed to Combe St. Nicholas school leaving 15
on the books. The school was closed in 1966, the
seven children remaining being transferred to
Buckland St. Mary. (fn. 168) In 1974 the former school was
a private dwelling called the Old Schoolhouse.
CHARITIES FOR THE POOR.
John Brett (d.
1588) left £10 a year subject to a life interest from
a tenement called Jacquets and lands in Yarcombe
(Devon) to support four poor impotent persons in
an almshouse. Until the almshouse was built Brett's
heir was to continue the distribution of two loaves
of bread to each of the ten poorest householders of
the parish every Friday, provided that at least three
attended morning service on that day each week. (fn. 169)
The almshouse occurs in 1623 and 1644 (fn. 170) but not
thereafter.
Thomas Ford of Whitestaunton left £5 in 1624,
the interest from which was to be distributed to the
poor on St. Thomas's day. (fn. 171) Stephen Brownsey of
Whitestaunton, by will proved in 1657, left £5
to the churchwardens and overseers for the same
purposes, to be distributed 'at every year's end'. (fn. 172)
Similarly Humphrey Warren of Whitestaunton,
by will proved in 1648, gave £5 for the relief of the
poor. (fn. 173) None of these three charities is expressly
mentioned after their foundation. They may, however, be represented by an income of 10s. a year held
in 1787–8 by the overseer for the benefit of the
unrelieved poor. (fn. 174)
In 1786 Robert Summerhayes gave £1,500 to the
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital from the income
of which £10 10s. was to be distributed weekly in
seven sixpenny loaves to the unrelieved poor. The
money was so used in 1926, and in 1953–5 bread
was purchased for one person and 'grants' made to
two others. (fn. 175)