General history: Gentlemen's seats, forests and deer parks

Magna Britannia: Volume 6, Devonshire. Originally published by T Cadell and W Davies, London, 1822.

'General history: Gentlemen's seats, forests and deer parks', in Magna Britannia: Volume 6, Devonshire, (London, 1822) pp. ccxxvi-ccxxxi. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol6/ccxxvi-ccxxxi [accessed 25 April 2024]

Gentlemen's Seats.



Name of the Seat.	Parish.	Owners or Occupiers.
Alston	Malborough	Abraham Hawkins, Esq.
Ambrook	Ipplepen	Mr. William Neyle.
Annery	Monkleigh	William Tardrew, Esq.
West Anstey		Willoughby Bryant Stawell, Esq.
Arlington		Jo. Palmer Chichester, Esq.
Ash	Iddesleigh	Hugh Malet, Esq.
Ashbury		John Morth Woollcombe, Esq.
Ashprington		Major-General Adams.
Beechwood	Plympton	Richard Rosdew, Esq.
Bellair	Heavitree	G. A. Rhodes, Esq.
Bellvue	Plymstock	Mrs. Bulteel.
Bickham	Kenne	Mrs. Short.
Blackhall	North Huish	Hubert Cornish, Esq.
Bluehayes	Broad Clist	Lieutenant-Colonel Lang
Borough	Northam	Vice-Admiral Barton.
Bowden	Ashprington	Mrs. Adams.
Bowringsleigh	West Allington	Rev. Roope Ilbert.
Bradfield	Uffculme	William Henry Walrond, Esq.
Bradford	Witheridge	Rev. W. P. Thomas.
Bradley	Highweek	Rev. Thomas Lane.
Bremridge	Sandford	Richard Melhuish, Esq.
Bridwell	Halberton	John Were Clarke, Esq.
Brookhill	Broad Clist	Lieutenant-General Thomas.
Buckland	Braunton	Henry Webber, Esq.
Buckland Filleigh		Jo. Inglett Fortescue, Esq.
Buckland in the Moor		Mrs. Bastard.
Buckland Toussaints		William Clarke, Esq.
Burrington	Tithing of Weston Peverell	John Were Clarke, Esq.
Bystock	Colyton Raleigh	Edward Divett, Esq.
Calverleigh		Charles Chichester, Esq.
Canonleigh	Burlescombe	Thomas Browne, Esq., (unoccupied).
Castlepark	Lifton	William Arundell Harris, Esq.
Chaddlewood	Plympton	William Hales Symons, Esq.
Churston Ferrers		In the occupation of Hon. George Vernon.
Cleve	St. Thomas	Thomas Northmore, Esq.
Cockington		Rev. Roger Mallock.
Cockwood	Dawlish	Rev. Dr. Drury.
Cofflete	Yealmton	Rev. Thomas Lane.
Coham	Black Torrington	Rev. William Holland Coham.
Coleridge	Stokenham	Michael Allen, Esq., (unoccupied).
Collipriest	Tiverton	James Hay, Esq., (unoccupied).
Combe	Gittisham	Rev. Thomas Putt.
Combe	Colebrooke	John Sillifant, Esq.
Combe Royal	West Allington	John Luscombe Luscombe, Esq.
Combe Sacheville	Silverton	Mrs. Brown.
Coryton	Kilmington	William Tucker, Esq.
Cowley	Brampford Speke	Mrs. Wells.
Cross	Little Torrington	Thomas Stevens, Esq.
Daddon	Bideford	Lewis William Buck, Esq.
Dallamore	Cornwood	Treby Hele Hayes, Esq.
Dartington		Mrs. Champernowne.
Deerpark	Buckerell	A. L. Shuldham, Esq.
Derriford	Egg Buckland	J. C. Langmead, Esq.
Doniton	Swimbridge	Vice-Admiral Bury.
Downes	Crediton	James Buller, Esq.
Dowrish	Sandford	Mrs. Arabella Morgan.
Dunsland	Bradford	Occasionally inhabited by the Rev. W. Holland Coham.
Durrant	Northam	J. S. Ley, Esq.
Eastdon	Dawlish	Richard Eales, Esq.
Eastleigh	Westleigh	Rev. John Torr.
Ebberley	Roborough	Henry Hole, Esq.
Edgecumbe	Milton Abbot	Richard Edgecumbe, Esq.
Edginswell	St. Mary Church	Rev. A. Neck.
Little Efford	Egg Buckland	Occupied by John Williams, Esq.
Eggesford		Honourable Newton Fellowes.
Elfordleigh	Plympton	William Langmead, Esq.
Fallopit	East Allington	E. N. W. Fortescue, Esq.
Farringdon		J. B. Cholwich, Esq.
Foleton	Totnes	Late Edward Cary, Esq.
Ford	Woolborough	Belongs to Lord Courtenay; in the occupation of Ayshford Wise, Esq.
Ford Abbey	Thorncombe	John Fraunceis Gwyn, Esq.
Fowelscombe	Ugborough	John King, Esq.
Franklyn	St. Thomas	Late John Jones, Esq.
Fremington		G. A. Barbor, Esq.
Fuge	Blackauton	Late Charles Hayne, Esq.
Fulford House	Dunsford	Baldwin Fulford, Esq.
Fulford Park	Shobrooke and Crediton	R. H. Tuckfield, Esq.
Fursdon	Cadbury	John Sydenham Fursdon, Esq.
Gatcombe	Little Hempston	Mrs. Cornish.
Gnaton	Newton Ferrers	Henry Roe, Esq.
Goodamore	Plympton	George Treby Treby, Esq.
Grange	Broad Hembury	William Drewe, Esq.
Greenofen	Whitechurch	George Drake, Esq.
Greenway	Brixham	John Marwood Elton, Esq.
Hall	Bishop's Tawton	Charles Chichester, Esq.
Halsdon	Dolton	Rev. P. W. Furse.
Ham	Weston Peverell Tithing	George Collins, Esq.
Hampton	St. Mary Church	T. W. France, Esq.
Hartland Abbey	Hartland	Mrs. Orchard.
Hayne	Plymtree	Rev. Charles Harward.
Hayne	Stowford	Isaac Harris, Esq.
Hembury Fort	Buckerell	Admiral R. Graves, (unoccupied).
Hemerdon	Plympton	George Woollcombe, Esq.
Hillersdon	Collumpton	John Laxon Swete, Esq.
Hockworthy		Charles Webster, Esq.
Holcombe Rogus		Peter Bluett, Esq.
Holwell	South Milton	Rev. H. A. Gilbert.
Holystreet	Chagford	J. R. Southmead, Esq.
Horsewell	South Milton	Peter Ilbert, Esq.
Huntsham		Rev. Dr. Troyte.
Ingleborne	Harberton	R. Brown, Esq.
Ipplepen		George Drake, Esq.
Kelly		Arthur Kelly, Esq.
Kitley	Yealmton	Edmund Pollexfen Bastard, Esq. M. P.
Langdon	Wembury	Mrs. Calmady.
Langley	High Bickington	George Smith, Esq.
Larkbear	Tallaton	Rev. Thomas Clack.
Leawood	Bridestowe	Calmady Pollexfen Hamlyn, Esq.
Leigham	Egg Buckland	Addis Archer, Esq.
Lew Trenchard		William Baring Gould, Esq.
Lindridge	Bishop's Teignton	Rev. John Templer.
Loventor	Berry Pomeroy	Mrs. — Baker.
Ludbrook	Ermington	Rev. N. A. Bartlett.
Lupton	Brixham	J. Buller Yarde Buller, Esq.
Luscombe	Dawlish	Charles Hoare, Esq.
Lymouth	Linton	John Lock, Esq.
Manadon	Tithing of Weston Peverell	Lately Mrs. Waldron, now Lady Elford, at present unoccupied.
Marpool	Withecombe Raleigh	William Hull, Esq.
Marridge	Ugborough	Unoccupied.
Marwood		C. Cutcliffe, Esq., occupied by Rev. William Mules.
Montrath House	Broad Hembury	Mrs. Walrond.
Cruwys Morchard		Mrs. Sharland.
Mothecombe	Holbeton	Belongs to Henry Legassick, Esq., occupied by Mrs. Harris.
Moult	Malborough	William Jackson, Esq.
Mount Boone	Townstall	John Seale, Esq.
Mount Ebford	Woodbury	Thomas Huckell Lee, Esq.
Mount Tavy	Tavistock	John Carpenter, Esq.
Netheway	Brixham	J. F. Luttrell, Esq.
Newcourt	Topsham	John Bawden Cresswell, Esq.
Newenham	Plympton	George Strode, Esq.
Newplace	King's Nympton	John Buller, Esq.
Newton-house	Newton St. Cyres	John Quicke, Esq.
Norton	Churchstow	John Hawkins, Esq.
Oaklands	Oakhampton	Albany Savile, Esq. M. P.
West Ogwell		P. J. Taylor, Esq.
Orleigh	Buckland Brewer	John Hanning, Esq.
Oxton	Kenton	John Beaumont Swete, Esq.
Park	Bovey Tracey	George Hunt Clapp, Esq.
Peamore	Exminster	Samuel Kekewich, Esq.
Pickwell	Georgeham	Untenanted.
Petticombe	Monkleigh	Miss Saltren.
Porthill	Northam	Sir R. G. Keats, occupied by Thomas Smith, Esq.
Portledge	Alwington	Richard Pine Coffin, Esq.
Postlinch, or Puslinch	Newton Ferrers	John Yonge, Esq.
Pound	Buckland Monachorum	Sir Herbert Sawyer, K. C. B.
Primley	Paignton	Rev. Finney Belfield.
Priory	Pilton	John Whyte, Esq.
Radford	Plymstock	John Harris, Esq.
Retreat	Topsham	Alexander Hamilton Hamilton, Esq.
Rhode	Uplime	Sir John Talbot, K. B.
Rockbeare		Thomas Porter, Esq.
		Mrs. Bidgood.
Sadborough	Thorncombe	J. Bragg, Esq.
Sandridge	Stoke Gabriel	(Lord Ashburton,) occupied by R. W. Newman, Esq.
Sandwell	Harberton	J. Bennet, Esq.
Satterleigh		Henry Byne, Esq.
Scobell	South Pool	Thomas Cornish, Esq.
Sharpham	Ashprington	John Bastard, Esq., M. P.
Shaugh	Luppit	Rev. James Bernard.
Sheephay	St. Mary Church	Rev. William Kitson.
Shilston	Modbury	Christopher Savery, Esq.
Sidbury house	Sidbury	Robert Hunt, Esq.
Slade	Cornwood	John Spurrell Pode, Esq.
Sorteridge	Whitechurch	Rev. Henry Pengelly.
Speechwick	Widdecomb-in-the-Moor	Lord Ashburton, on lease to George Leach, Esq.
Spreydon	Broad Clist	Aaron Moore, Esq.
Stedcombe, or Stutcombe	Axmouth	John Hallet, Esq.
Stokehill	Heavitree	Joseph Sanders, Esq.
Stokeley	Stokenham	Lydstone Newman, Esq.
Stover Lodge	Teigngrace	George Templer, Esq.
Stoodley		J. N. Fazakerley, Esq., M. P.
Sydenham	Marystow	J. H. Tremayne, Esq.
Tapelegh	Westleigh	A. Saltren Willett, Esq., (unoccupied).
Tidwell	East Budleigh	Mrs. Edye, now or lately occupied by — Fisher, Esq.
West Timewell	Morebath	Mrs. Bere.
Tor Abbey	Tor Mohun	George Cary, Esq., occupied by R. Peel, Esq.
Tor Royal	Lidford	Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt.
Tothill	Charles, Plymouth	Mrs. Culme.
Trehill	Kenne	Henry Ley, Esq.
Trowbridge	Crediton	John Yarde, Esq., the property of his niece.
Umberleigh	Atherington	John Davie Basset, Esq.
Upland	Tamerton Foliot	Jonathan Elford, Esq.
Upton	Brixham	George Cutler, Esq.
Warleigh	Tamerton Foliot	Rev. Walter Radcliffe.
Watermouth	Berry Narbor	Joseph Davie Basset, Esq.
Watton Court	Stoke Gabriel	Henry Studdy, Esq.
Way	Chagford	John Coniam, Esq.
Westcott	Rockbear	Rev. John Elliot.
Weston	Branscombe	Barnaby John Stuckey Bartlett, Esq.
Whitleigh	St. Budock	Edward Henry Gennys, Esq.
Wibbery	Alverdiscott	John Mervin Cutcliffe, Esq.
Widdecombe	Stokenham	Arthur Holdsworth, Esq.
Widey	Egg Buckland	Henry Anderson Morshead, Esq.
Wimpston	Modbury	William L. Prettyjohn, Esq.
Winscot	Petrockstow	Thomas Stevens, Esq.
Winslade	St. Mary Clist	— Porter, Esq.
Wiscombe Park	Southleigh	Charles Gordon, Esq.
Wolford Lodge	Dunkeswell	Mrs. Simcoe.
Wood	Woodleigh	John Luscombe Luscombe, Esq.
Woodovis	Tavistock	Jonas Morgan, Esq.
Woolston	Loddiswell	George F. Wise, Esq.
Yeotown	Goodleigh	R. N. Incledon, Esq.
Yeo Vale	Alwington	Rev. Thomas Hooper Morrison.
Zephyr Lodge	Tiverton	Philip Blundell, Esq.

Among the seats of the ancient gentry, of which but few traces remain, are, Afton Castle, the seat of the Aftons, and afterwards of the Stucleys; Bradstone, of the Cloberrys; Gidley Castle, of the Prous family; Mohuns Ottery, of the Carews; and Pinhoe, of the Cheyneys. Among those which remain, or did lately remain, in a dilapidated state, and mostly occupied as farm-houses, may be reckoned the following:


Decayed Mansions.

Names of the Seats.	Parishes.	Families, to whom they belonged.
Rashleigh	Wemworthy	Rashleigh, and afterwards Clotworthy.
Sand	Sidbury	Huyshe.
Santon	Braunton	Lutterell.
Spridlestone	Brixton	Fortescue.
Totley	Black Torrington	Davels, afterwards Harris.
Weare Gifford		Fortescue.
Yarty	Membury	Frye.

Forests and Deer-Parks.

The ancient and extensive forest of Dartmoor is in this county (fn. n1), and that of Exmoor is generally described as partly in Devonshire; but I am assured from good authority, that although very extensive commons adjoining to the forest, and scarcely separated from it by any visible boundaries, are in this county, yet the whole of the forest is in Somersetshire.

The only park described as existing in Devonshire, at the time of the Domesday survey, is that of Winkleigh, not noticed in any later account. The peregrination of Dr. Boorde, in the reign of Henry VIII. (fn. n2), mentions parks at Umberley, Testock, (most probably Tavistock,) Mownsatro, (Mohun's Ottery); Colriche; Chymley, (Chulmleigh); Chilitilton, (Chittlehampton); Whitchurch, Colcombe, Coliton, Shute, Wiscan, (Wiscombe); Kirklake, Kirton, (Crediton); Glyst, (Clist); Tyverton, alias Goodbere, Ashley, Afton, Okington, (Oakhampton); and Caadley, (Calwodley).

Westcote observes that there were in his time "some few parks remaining of the great store our fathers could speak of;" he mentions old parks at Annery, Inwardleigh, Brightleigh, Filleigh, and two at Tiverton. Dr. Boorde speaks of but one; and those at Annery, &c., are omitted by him. I find mention also of some ancient parks, not occurring in either list. The Earl of Cornwall had a park at Braneys, (Bradninch); the abbot of Hartland had two; the Bottreaux family had one at Molland, the Cogans one at Uffculme, the Crockers one at Lyneham, the Pollards one at King's Nympton, and Sir Thomas Brown one in the parish of Langtree; Sergeant Hele made a park at Wembury in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. There was a park at Ashton, the seat of the Chudleighs. The present deer-parks in the county are:



Werrington	belonging to the	Duke of Northumberland.
Castlehill		Earl Fortescue.
Mount Edgecumbe		Earl of Mount Edgecumbe.
Heanton		Lord Clinton.
Ugbrook		Lord Clifford.
Bicton and Stevenstone		Lord Rolle.
Eggesford		Honourable Newton Fellowes.
Killerton		Sir T. D. Acland, Bart.
Shute		Sir W. T. Pole, Bart.
Poltimore		Sir C. Bampfylde, Bart.
Creedy		Sir John Davie, Bart.
Youlston		Sir A. Chichester, Bart.
Clovelly		Sir James Hamlyn Williams, Bart.
Great Fulford		Baldwin Fulford, Esq.
Fulford Park		R. H. Tuckfield, Esq.
Newnham		George Strode, Esq.
Ogwell		P. J. Taylor, Esq.
Whyddon		Edward Seymour Bayley, Esq.

Red deer, ferœ naturœ, the remains of the inhabitants of the royal forest of Exmoor, still abound in sufficient quantities in the Devonshire woods, south of the forest, as well as in those of Somersetshire, to yield sport to the neighbouring nobility and gentry. A stag hunt has been for many years kept up in this vicinity. The hounds were formerly kept by Mr. Dyke, of Somersetshire, whose heiress married Sir Thomas Acland's grandfather, and afterwards by the Aclands. After the death of the late Sir Thomas Acland, they were kept for a while by Mr. Basset. After this, they were kept for several years by Lord Fortescue, at Castlehill, who, about three years ago, made them over to R. Lucas, Esq., of Baronshill, in Somersetshire. The average number of deer killed in a season has been about 10 stags, and about double that number of hinds. (fn. n3) Marshall, in his "Rural Œconomy of the Western Counties," observes, that wild deer abounded in the woods of the west of Devon; but that through the good offices of the Duke of Bedford, the country was then (about 1795) nearly free from them.