Peamore (anciently Pevmere, Peanmore, Peamont, [1] etc.) is a historic country estate in the parish of Exminster, Devon, which is near the city of Exeter. In 1810 Peamore House was described as "one of the most pleasant seats in the neighbourhood of Exeter". [2] The house was remodelled in the early 19th century and is now a grade II listed building, [3] set in grade II listed parkland. [4]
The Domesday Book of 1086 records PEVMERE as one of the 58 holdings of Ralph de Pomeroy, the first feudal baron of Berry Pomeroy, Devon, [5] who was one of the Devon Domesday Book tenants-in-chief of King William the Conqueror. De Pomeroy's tenant was Roger FitzPayne. [6] The estate later passed to the feudal barony of Lancaster. [7]
According to the antiquary William Pole, writing in the early 17th century, Peanmore in the parish of Exminster was the inheritance of the family of Bolhay of Blackborough Bolhay. James de Bolhay was the last in the male line, whose daughter and heiress Amisia Bolhay was the wife of Sir John Cobham. [8] Sir John Cobham (died 1335) inherited Blackborough [9] and Peamore upon his marriage to Amisia Bolhay, heiress of Peamore. It remained in the Cobham family for several generations until the male line failed. Elizabeth Cobham was the heiress of Peamore but died childless. [8] The heirs general of Elizabeth Cobham were Lord Hungerford, Hill of Spaxton and Bampfield of Poltimore. However the succession was claimed by the magnate Sir William Bonville (c. 1392/1393 – 1461) (later 1st Baron Bonville) of Shute, who "carried away this and the greatest part of the land". [10] Upon the attainder of Bonville's eventual heir Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk (1517–1554), all of his estates escheated to the crown.[ citation needed ]
Jeffrey Tothill purchased the estate from the crown. He was Recorder of Exeter. [12] He was the eldest son of William Tothill, an Alderman of the City of Exeter, [12] by his wife Elizabeth Mathew, a daughter of Jeoffry Mathew, possibly of the ancient Welsh Mathew family, lords of Llandaff. One of Tothill's sisters, Elizabeth Tothill, married Thomas Stukley (c. 1525–1578), the third son of Sir Hugh Stukley (1496–1559) of Affeton in the parish of West Worlington, Devon, and head of an ancient gentry family, a Knight of the Body to King Henry VIII and Sheriff of Devon in 1545. [13] [14] He married twice: firstly to Joane Dillon, [15] second daughter of Robert Dillon of Chimwell, lord of the manor of Bratton Fleming, [16] Devon, by his wife Isabel Fortescue (16th century), [17] by whom he had three sons: Henry, his eldest son and heir, Robert and Eleys. His second marriage in 1569 was to Elizabeth Fortescue, daughter of Bartholomew Fortescue (died 1557) of Filleigh, Devon, and widow of Lewis Hatch of Aller, South Molton. [18] Jeffrey Tothill died childless.
Henry Tothill (1562–1640) was the eldest son by his father's first wife; he was Sheriff of Devon in 1623. [19] He married Mary Sparke (died 1647), the daughter and heiress of Nicholas Sparke of Sowton, Devon. [20] Henry Tothill was in residence at Peamore in the time of Pole (died 1635). Beneath the south window of St Martin's Church, Exminster, is a coffin-shaped stone with the inscription: Here lyeth the Body of Henry Tothill of Peamore Esq: who dyed the 9th day of December Ano 1640, ætatis suæ 78. Mary the only wife of ye aforesaid Henry and sole Daughter and Heire of Nicholas Sparke, Gent: lieth also here. [21] He left two daughters as his co-heiresses:
Johanna Tothill was Henry's eldest daughter; she became the wife of Robert Northleigh (1582–1638) of Matford, Alphington. [22] Northleigh's monument survives in Alphington Church. Henry's younger daughter Grace Tothill (1605–1623) married her second cousin William Tothill, grandson of John Tothill, a younger brother to her grandfather Geffery Tothill of Peamore. Grace died aged 18, having produced three children; a son Henry (living in 1640) and daughters Elizabeth and Ann. Grace Tothill's monument with her semi-recumbent effigy survives in St Martin's Church, Exminster. [23] [24]
Robert Northleigh of Matford (born 1581), married Johanna Tothill, heiress of Peamore. [25] His family was seated at Matford, Alphington, near Exeter, and was a junior branch of the ancient Northleigh family of Northleigh in the parish of Inwardleigh, near Okehampton, Devon. [25] [26] The Northleigh family made Peamore their seat and abandoned their previous residence of Matford. In 1799 the Devon topographer Rev. John Swete visited the area and noted in his journal the ancient mansion of "Matford Dinham" had been an ancient seat of the Dinhams and Northleighs, and "a century ago of respectability among the mansions in the neighbourhood, is now on the verge of ruin and desolation, by an anticlimax it has pass'd from the hands of the gentleman to those of the farmer and is now become the habitation of a family or two of labourers, dilapidated and overspred with huge volumes of ivy, it will perhaps soon become untenantable". [27]
Henry Northleigh (1612–1675) [28] (eldest son and heir), who in 1639 married Lettice Yarde, the second surviving daughter of Edward [29] Yarde (1583–1612) of Churston Ferrers, Devon. [25]
Henry Northleigh (1643–1694) was the second and eldest-surviving son and heir of Peamore House; he was thrice MP for Okehampton and married Susanna Sparke, daughter of John Sparke, a dyer of Exeter. [30] Susanna was the grand-daughter of Stephen Toller, haberdasher of Exeter, who in 1673 purchased Crediton Parks, the former park of the Bishops of Exeter, from Sir John Chichester of Hall, Bishop's Tawton. Susanna devised Crediton Parks to her daughter Susanna Northleigh, who devised it to her nephew John Tuckfield (c. 1719 – 1767) of Little Fulford, MP for Exeter, eldest son of her sister Elizabeth Northleigh by her husband Roger Tuckfield of London, Merchant. [31]
Henry's son Stephen Northleigh (c. 1692 – ?1731) of Peamore was MP for Totnes from 1713 to 1722, which seat he obtained on the interest of his cousins the Yarde family. [32] He married Margaret Davie, daughter of Sir William Davie, 4th Baronet (1662–1707), of Creedy House in Sandford, Devon. [33] He died with no sons, leaving his daughter Mary Northleigh as heiress.
In 1738, John Hippisley Coxe (1715–1769) of Ston Easton, Somerset, married Mary Northleigh (died 1773), [34] heiress of Peamore. [35] Hippisley Coxe was the builder of the Palladian mansion Ston Easton Park in Somerset.
John's third son Henry Hippisley Coxe (1748–1795) of Ston Easton Park, Somerset, was MP for Somerset from 1792 to 1795 and died childless. The Devon topographer Rev. John Swete visited the area in 1789 and made a sketch of Peamore, from which he made a watercolour painting in 1794. In 1789 he noted in his journal it was then the residence of Sam Strode, Esquire, [36] (died 29 August 1795), [37] lord of the manor and hundred of Crediton in 1790, [38] who had purchased a life-interest lease from Henry Hippisley Coxe. In 1789 Swete noted concerning Peamore:
The foregoing sketch was taken near the road leading into the house just within the gate of entrance in the front of a noble and magnificent grove of elms. The building is here seen in its east and south aspect and though low carries with it a venerable look. But the chief beauty of Peamore lies in the undulating form of its grounds, rising and falling in the regular alternation of hills and dales; in its woods, groves and trees and in a quarry which surrounded by a thicket of high towering oaks, beech, etc., is one of the grandest and most romantic objects in the country. [39]
Swete revisited the area in 1800 and noted in his journal that "Mr Coxe of Peamore" had planted a "crest of firs" on top of a local conical hill owned by him, a "conspicuous knoll of a conical shape", in the parish of Exminster or Alphington, which he compared to a similarly shaped hill at Killerton. [40] Shortly thereafter "H.H. Coxe" sold Peamore to Samuel Kekewich (died 1822), who was the owner in 1810. [2]
The family's unusual surname is thought to derive from Keckwick in Cheshire, which lies close to the Lancashire border. The first family member recorded, Sir Piers Kekewich, originated from Lancashire before moving to Shropshire. By the early 1500s, one branch of the family had moved again and had settled in east Cornwall. George Kekewich (1530–1582) of Catchfrench was MP in March 1553 for nearby Saltash and was then Sheriff of Cornwall in 1576. [41] The family stayed in Cornwall for more than a century, before moving to west Devon.
The Kekewich arms are: Argent, two lions passant guardant in bend sable between two bendlets gules. [42]
Samuel Kekewich (1767–1822) DCL was a barrister and Sheriff of Devon in 1805. [42] </ref> He purchased Peamore from "H.H. Coxe". [2] In the early 1800s, the house was remodelled. [43] Samuel was the eldest son of William Kekewich (1736–1799) of Bowden House, Ashprington, Devon, who was a member of Royal Exchange Assurance. Samuel's son Samuel Trehawke Kekewich (1796–1873) also serves as Sheriff of Devon in 1835 before becoming a Deputy Lieutenant of Devon (DL).
The second Samuel's son Trehawke Kekewich (1823–1909) was the eldest son of the Deputy Lieutenant. His son, also named Trehawke Kekewich (1851–1932), was created a baronet in 1921 but had no surviving son so the title died with him. With both of his children already deceased, in later life he shared Peamore with his brother Robert Kekewich (1854–1914), when the Major-General retired from the army. After Robert had died, the third brother Lewis Pendarves Kekewich (1859–1947), JP., who had lived in Hove, Sussex, moved to Devon with his wife. Initially sharing a wing with his eldest brother, Lewis owned Peamore himself from 1932.
The last Kekewich to own Peamore was Sydney Kekewich (1893–1980), the fifth son of Lewis. The sole survivor of four brothers who served in the Great War, and with another who had died in infancy, Sydney had no interest in taking on the burdens of an estate late in life and promptly sold Peamore in 1948.
After its sale in 1948, Peamore House was operating as a country hotel by 1952.[ citation needed ] In the 21st century, the house is residential once again but is now partitioned into four separate properties.[ citation needed ]
The landed gentry and nobility of Devonshire, like the rest of the English and European gentry, bore heraldic arms from the start of the age of heraldry circa 1200–1215. The fashion for the display of heraldry ceased about the end of the Victorian era (1901) by which time most of the ancient arms-bearing families of Devonshire had died out, moved away or parted with their landed estates.
Sir John Hele of Wembury in Devon, serjeant-at-law, was a Member of Parliament for Exeter and was Recorder of Exeter (1592–1605). He was one of Prince's Worthies of Devon (1701). He built at Wembury one of the grandest manor houses ever seen in Devon, called by his near contemporary Risdon : "A magnificent house, equalling, if not exceeding, all other in these western parts, for uniform building; a sightly seat for shew; for receipt spacious; for cost sumptuous; for sight salubrious". It was already a ruin by about 1700, and was finally demolished in 1803. He founded a boys' hospital in Plymouth. His monument and effigy survives in Wembury Church.
Way is a historic estate in the parish of St Giles in the Wood, Devon. It is situated about 2 miles (3.2 km) north-east of the village of St Giles in the Wood and about 4 miles (6.4 km) north-east of the town of Great Torrington. It was described by Hoskins (1959) as "the fons et origo of the mighty tribe of Pollard" and had been acquired by them from the de la Way family at some time before 1242.
Great Fulford is an historic estate in the parish of Dunsford, Devon. The grade I listed manor house, known as Great Fulford House, is about 9 miles west of Exeter. Its site was said in 1810 to be "probably the most ancient in the county". The present mansion house is Tudor with refurbishment from the late 17th century and further remodelling from about 1800. The prefix "Great" dates from the late 17th century and served to distinguish it from the mansion house known as "Little Fulford" in the parish of Shobrooke, Devon, about 8 miles to the north-east, also owned briefly by Col. Francis Fulford (1666–1700), as a result of his marriage to the heiress of the Tuckfield family. Great Fulford has been the residence of the Fulford family, which took its name from the estate, from the reign of King Richard I (1189–1199) to the present day. There are thus few, if any, families in Devonshire of more ancient recorded origin still resident at their original seat. In 2004 the estate comprised 3,000 acres.
Little Fulford was a historic estate in the parishes of Shobrooke and Crediton, Devon. It briefly share ownership before 1700 with Great Fulford, in Dunsford, about 9 miles (14 km) to the south-west. The Elizabethan mansion house originally called Fulford House was first built by Sir William Peryam (1534–1604), a judge and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. It acquired the diminutive epithet "Little" in about 1700 to distinguish it from Fulford House, Dunsford and was at some time after 1797 renamed Shobrooke House, to remove all remaining confusion between the two places. Peryam's mansion was demolished in 1815 and a new house erected on a different site away from the River Creedy. This new building was subsequently remodelled in 1850 in an Italianate style. It was destroyed by fire in 1945 and demolished, with only the stable block remaining today. The landscaped park survives, open on the south side to the public by permissive access, and crossed in parts by public rights of way, with ancient large trees and two sets of ornate entrance gates with a long decorative stone multiple-arched bridge over a large ornamental lake. The large pleasure garden survives, usually closed to the public, with walled kitchen garden and stone walls and balustrades of terraces. The park and gardens are Grade II listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The estate was the home successively of the families of Peryam, Tuckfield, Hippisley and lastly the Shelley baronets, in whose possession it remains today.
Henry Hippisley Coxe (1748-1795) of Ston Easton Park, Somerset, was MP for Somerset (1792-5).
Matford is an historic estate in the parish of Alphington, near Exeter, Devon. It should not be confused with Matford in the parish of Heavitree, almost immediately opposite on the other side of the River Exe.
Creedy is an historic estate in the parish of Sandford, near Crediton in Devon. It is named from its location on the west side of the River Creedy. It was the seat of the Davie family from about 1600 until the late 20th century. The mansion house on the estate has been called at various times New House, Creedy House, and as presently, Creedy Park. It was first built in about 1600, rebuilt in 1846, burnt down in 1915 and rebuilt 1916–21. It is surrounded by a large park, the boundary of which is enclosed by a stone and brick wall several miles long.
Edward Yarde (1669–1735), of Churston Court in the parish of Churston Ferrers in Devon, England, was a Member of Parliament for Totnes in Devon 1695–1698.
Stephen Northleigh (?1692-?1731), of Peamore, Exminster, Devon, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1713 to 1727.
Sharpham is an historic estate in the parish of Ashprington, Devon. The Georgian mansion house, known as Sharpham House, overlooks the River Dart and is a Grade I listed building. The house was commenced in about 1770 by the Royal Navy captain Philemon Pownoll to the designs of the architect Sir Robert Taylor (1714–1788). In the opinion of Nikolaus Pevsner it contains "one of the most spectacular and daring later 18th century staircase designs anywhere in England". The park and gardens are Grade II* listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Part of the descent of Sharpham is shown on the Palmes family heraldic pedigree roll.
Floyer Hayes was an historic manor in the parish of St Thomas on the southern side of the City of Exeter in Devon, England, from which city it is separated by the River Exe. It took its name from the ancient family of Floyer which held it until the early 17th century, when it was sold to the Gould family. In the 19th century the estate was divided up and the manor house demolished. The parish church of St Thomas, situated a short distance to the west of the house, was burned down in 1645 during the Civil War, and was rebuilt before 1657. Thus no monuments survive there of early lords of the manor, namely the Floyer family.
Sir Hugh Stucley (1496–1559) was the lord of Affeton in Devon, and Sheriff of Devon in 1545. His third son was Thomas Stukley, known as "The Lusty Stucley".
The Manor of Bicton is an historic manor in the parish of Bicton in east Devon, England.
Sir William Davie, 4th Baronet (1662–1707) of Creedy in the parish of Sandford, near Crediton in Devon, inherited the Davie baronetcy and the Davie estates from his elder brother Sir John Davie, 3rd Baronet (1660–1692), MP for Saltash 1679–85 and Sheriff of Devon in 1688, who died unmarried at the age of 32.
Sandridge is an historic estate in the parish of Stoke Gabriel in Devon, situated on high ground at the head of the River Dart estuary. The estate was originally encompassed on three sides by the river, which meanders along its border, leaving it on the east side. The present grade II* listed Italianate style Regency mansion house known as Sandridge House was built in 1805 by Lady Ashburton, to the design of John Nash.
Henry Northleigh (1643–1694) of Peamore in the parish of Exminster in Devon, was the MP for Okehampton in Devon.
John Fownes (1661–1731) of Kittery Court in the parish of Kingswear and of Nethway in the parish of Brixham, both in Devon, was a British landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1714 to 1715.
Weycroft is an historic manor in the parish of Axminster in Devon, England. The surviving manor house known as "Weycroft Hall" is a Grade I listed building which includes elements from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, with a great hall of circa 1400, and was restored in the 19th century.
Bagtor is a historic estate in the parish of Ilsington in Devon, England. It was the birthplace of John Ford the playwright and poet. The Elizabethan mansion of the Ford family survives today at Bagtor as the service wing of a later house appended in about 1700.
