Huntsham
Coordinates: 50°58′29″N 3°25′08″W / 50.974800°N 3.418985°W
Huntsham is a small village and civil parish, formerly a manor and ecclesiastical parish, in the Mid Devon district of Devon, England. It lies within the Diocese of Exeter.[2] The nearest town is Tiverton, approximately 5.8 miles (9.3 km) to the south-west. The parish covers 2,930 acres (1,190 ha), and has a population of 157, it is served by All Saints church.[3] Prior to the 19th century Huntsham was within the historic Tiverton Hundred. The iron age fort Huntsham Castle is situated within the parish.
Grade II* listed[4] Huntsham Court, the former manor house built in 1868, sits on the hill above the village. Many of the buildings in Huntsham village were built to service the house at the turn of the 20th century. It is one of the best examples in Devon of a country mansion built in the Victorian-Gothic style. Currently in private ownership as a family home although it is often let out for private events and parties.[5]
Descent of the manor
Alric
Before the Norman Conquest of 1066 Huntsham was held by the Saxon priest Alric.[6]
Odo FitzGamelin
The Domesday Book of 1086 records Honesham as the 23rd of the 24 holdings of Odo Son of Gamelin[7] (i.e. Odo FitzGamelin). It was held by him in demesne and the estate of Stanlinz (Stallenge), (now "Stallenge Thorne" in the parish of Hockworthy[8]), formed part of it, although listed separately in Domesday Book.[9] Odo was the son-in-law of Theobald FitzBerner and his son was a constable. His lands and those of Theobald FitzBerner later formed part of the feudal barony of Great Torrington.[10]
de Santon
According to the antiquarian William Pole, in 1242 Huntsham was held by Thomas de Stanton[11] (i.e. de Saunton in the parish of Braunton, also a member of the feudal barony of Great Torrington).[12] In the Book of Fees (circa 1302) Huntsham is listed as being held from the feudal barony of Great Torrington by Thomas de Santon.[13] According to Pole it was held during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307) by Nicolas de Stanton[14] and according to Risdon during the same reign by John de Santon, who conveyed it to "Lord Wodeton" and his wife Rawling.[15]
de Dunsland
According to Pole in 1307 it was held by Peter de Dunsland.[16]
Bere
In 1309 (during the reign of King Edward II (1307-1327)[18]) the lord of the manor of Huntsham was Robert Bere.[19] The family is said to have originated at the estate of Bere (location unknown, possibly in Parkham or Barnstaple[20]) at some time before the reign of King Stephen (1135-1154)[21] from which they took their name, originally therefore de Bere. The descent of the family of Bere was as follows:[22]
- Robert Bere, lord of Bere in 1309, who married Agnes Clavill, daughter of John Clavill
- John Bere (son), who married Alis Clavill, daughter of Thomas Clavill of Lifton
- John Bere (son), who married a certain Constance
- Thomas Bere (son), who married Jone Call, daughter of Roger Call of Tiverton
- Robert Bere (son), who married Margaret Speake, daughter of William Speake of Bronsford (poss. Speke of Brampford Speke)
- John Bere (son) (d.1491), who married Elizabeth Gambon, daughter of John Gambon of Morston
- John Bere (1470-1524)(son), who married Elizabeth Chalvedon (d.1538), daughter of John Chalvedon
- John Bere (1494-1531) (son), who married Thomasine Stucley, daughter of Sir Thomas Stucley (1473-1542) of Affeton, Sheriff of Devon in 1521.[23] Thomasine survived her husband and in 1538 remarried to William Trewynard.
- Thomas Bere (1522-1589) (son), was heir to his grandmother Elizabeth Chalvedon.[24] He married Joane Keynes (d.1588) daughter of Humphry Keynes
- Charles Bere (d.1607) (eldest son), a lawyer admitted to the Inner Temple in 1567. He purchased the manor of Hockworthy.[25] He married Elinor Marwood (d.1619), daughter of John Marwood and widow of Robert Wichhalse then of Sir John Hanham of Dorset. Her monument survives in Huntsham church.[26] Without progeny.
- John Bere (d.1641) (brother and heir) who married Joane weare (d.1651), daughter of John Weare of Holbeton.
- Thomas Bere (1606-1629) (son), who married Mary Drewe (d.1638), daughter of Sir Thomas Drewe of Broadhembury.
- Thomas Bere (1631-1680) (son), who married twice, firstly in 1648 to Juliana Davie (d.1654), daughter of Sir John Davie, 1st Baronet (d.1654) of Sandford;[27] Secondly in 1657 to Agnes Giffard, a daughter of the distinguished Civil War Royalist commander Colonel John Giffard (1602–1665) of Brightley,[28] lord of the manor of Chittlehampton from 1638.[29] There had been a pre-existing connection between the Bere family and Chittlehampton, about 24 miles west of Huntsham, in that the vicar of Chittlehampton from 1621 to 1657 had been Rev. John Bere (d.1657), whose surviving mural monument in Chittlehampton Church displays the arms of Bere of Huntsham.[30] His name does not however appear in the pedigree submitted by the family in 1620 at the Heraldic Visitation[31] and thus his exact place within the Bere family is unclear.
- Thomas Bere (1652-1725) (son and heir from 1st marriage), MP for Tiverton 1690-1710 and 1715-1725.[32] He purchased from the Wallop family the manor of Morebath, about 4 miles north-west of Huntsham and conveyed a moiety of Morebath to his half-brother Richard Bere (1659-1724), who in about 1688 established his own family there,[33] which soon became the senior line of Bere on the extinction of the descendants of Thomas. Thomas married Mary Long (d.1700), daughter of Robert Long of Stanton Prior, Dorset. Thomas left by his wife two sons:
- Charles Bere, eldest son and heir, who left as progeny a daughter Juliana Bere (d.1792) who died unmarried at Chiswick
- Thomas Bere (d.1744), buried at Morebath.
Lucas
Having been abandoned by the Bere family in favour of Morebath, Huntsham was purchased by the Lucas family.[34]
Troyte
William Troyte
Huntsham was later purchased by William Troyte, Esquire, the owner in 1801, who was described by Rev. John Swete as "A hardy old gentleman of plain manners and powerful exertion, being one of the most animated hunters in the county, of the antient school of his relation and compeer Sir Thomas Acland, grandfather of the present baronet".[35]
Thomas Troyte
In 1810 Huntsham was the property of Thomas Troyte, Esquire.[36]
Edward Berkeley Troyte
Rev Edward Berkeley Troyte, DCL, Rector of Huntsham, by his will bequeathed his estates to Arthur Henry Dyke Acland, 2nd son of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 10th Baronet (1787–1871).[37]
Acland-Troyte
- Arthur Henry Dyke Acland (1811-1857)(2nd son of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 10th Baronet (1787–1871)), who inherited Huntsham from his relative Rev Edward Berkeley Troyte. In 1852 in accordance with the terms of the bequest he assumed by royal licence the name and arms of Troyte (Or, an eagle displayed with two heads proper within a border invected ermine in chief a cross-crosslet for distinction).[38] In 1835 he married Frances Williams (d.1856), daughter of Robert Williams of Bridehead, Dorset.
- Charles Arthur Williams Troyte (1842-1896), (eldest son & heir) JP, DL, was High Sheriff of Devon in 1881. he was Colonel of 1st Royal Devon Yeomanry Cavalry and Hon. Colonel and Lt.Col. 3rd Voluntary Battalion Devon Regiment. In 1864 he married Katharine Walrond (d.1934) a daughter of Sir John Walrond, 1st Baronet (1818-1889) of Bradfield House, Uffculme.
- Hugh Leonard Acland-Troyte (1870-1918), (2nd son of Charles Troyte) In 1899 he married Helen Jessie Chapman (d. 1941). Lt. Col 1st 4th Battalion Devonshire Regiment. Killed 17th April 1918 in the Lys Valley south of Ypres. He is buried in Berguette, France.
- Gilbert John Acland Troyte (1876-1964)) (3rd son of Charles Troyte). Educated at Eton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was MP for Tiverton (1924-1945), was Lt.Col. of King's Royal Rifle Corps and served in the Boer War in 1901, in Somaliland 1903-4 and in World War I, when he won the French Croix de Guerre. He served as Master of the Tiverton Foxhounds (1946-1950). In 1909 he married Gwladys Quicke, daughter of Ernest Quicke (1855-1921)of Newton House, Newton St Cyres.[39] He died without progeny in 1964.
Sources
- Thorn, Caroline & Frank, (eds.) Domesday Book, (Morris, John, gen.ed.) Vol. 9, Devon, Parts 1 & 2, Phillimore Press, Chichester, 1985.
- Risdon, Tristram (d.1640), Survey of Devon, 1811 edition, London, 1811, with 1810 Additions
- Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791
- Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895
References
- ↑ http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=793584&c=huntsham&d=16&e=15&g=436501&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1308239425372&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779
- ↑ Diocese of Exeter - Hunstham
- ↑ Hunstham acreage and more info
- ↑ Listed building text: Huntsham Court
- ↑ http://www.landedhouses.co.uk/england/devon-cornwall/huntsham-court/
- ↑ Per Domesday Book (Thorn & Thorn, 42:23)
- ↑ Thorn & Thorn, 42:23
- ↑ The estate of "Stallenge Thorne" later was owned by the Troyte family of Huntsham. (Pevsner, Nikolaus & Cherry, Bridget, The Buildings of England: Devon, London, 2004, p.483)
- ↑ Thorn & Thorn, 42:14
- ↑ Thorn & Thorn, part 2 (notes), chapter 36 & 42
- ↑ Pole, p.213, stated as regnal year 27 Henry III
- ↑ Thorn & Thorn, part 2 (notes), 42:23, quoting "Fees p.775; 36:10
- ↑ Thorn & Thorn, part 2 (notes), 42:23, quoting "Fees p.775; 36:10
- ↑ Pole, p.213
- ↑ Risdon, p.67
- ↑ Pole, p.213
- ↑ Pole, p.470; Vivian, p.59
- ↑ Risdon,p.67
- ↑ Pole, p.213, stated as regnal year 3 Edward II
- ↑ George Bere of Bere (of a junior branch of the Huntsham family) was buried in 1577/8 at Parkham and his eldest son was "John Bere of Barnstaple" (Vivian, p.62)
- ↑ Vivian, p.59, pedigree of Bere
- ↑ Vivian, pp.59-61, pedigree of Bere
- ↑ Vivian, p.721
- ↑ Vivian, p.60
- ↑ Pole, p.211
- ↑ Vivian, p.60, signified by "MI"
- ↑ Vivian, p.270
- ↑ Vivian, p.401, pedigree of Giffard
- ↑ Andrews, Rev. J.H.B., Chittlehampton, Transactions of the Devon Association, vol.94, 1962, pp.233-338, p.264
- ↑ Andrews, p.268
- ↑ Absent from Vivian, p.60
- ↑ http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/bere-thomas-1652-1725
- ↑ Vivian, p.61
- ↑ Gray, Todd & Rowe, Margery (Eds.), Travels in Georgian Devon: The Illustrated Journals of The Reverend John Swete, 1789-1800, 4 vols., Tiverton, 1999, vol.4, p.200
- ↑ Gray, Todd & Rowe, Margery (Eds.), Travels in Georgian Devon: The Illustrated Journals of The Reverend John Swete, 1789-1800, 4 vols., Tiverton, 1999, vol.4, p.200
- ↑ Risdon, 1810 additions, p.370
- ↑ Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 15th Edition, ed. Pirie-Gordon, H., London, 1937, pp.2290-1, pedigree of Acland-Troyte of Huntsham Court
- ↑ Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 15th Edition, ed. Pirie-Gordon, H., London, 1937, pp.2290-1, pedigree of Acland-Troyte of Huntsham Court
- ↑ Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 15th Edition, ed. Pirie-Gordon, H., London, 1937, pp.2290-1, pedigree of Acland-Troyte of Huntsham Court; pp.1875-6, pedigree of Quicke of Newton St Cyres
External links
Media related to Huntsham at Wikimedia Commons
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