Fowelscombe[a] is a historic manor in the parish of Ugborough[1] in Devon, England. The large ancient manor house known as Fowelscombe House survives only as an ivy-covered "romantic ruin"[2] overgrown by trees and nettles,[3] situated 1 mile south-east of the village of Ugborough. The ruins are a Grade II listed building.
The ruins of Fowelscombe House, viewed in 2008
It is believed to be one of three possible houses on which Conan Doyle based his "Baskerville Hall" in his novel The Hound of the Baskervilles,[4] (1901–02) the others being Hayford Hall (also owned by John King (died 1861) of Fowelscombe) and Brook Manor.
In the time of William Pole (died 1635), the manor of Fowelscombe comprised the estates of Bolterscombe, Smythescombe and Black Hall, situated in the parishes of Ugborough and North Huish.[5]
Fowell
The earliest member of the Fowell (alias Foghill, Foel, etc.) family identified by William Pole (who did not record his first name) was an attorney during the reign of King Henry IV (1399–1413).[6] His eventual successor Sir Thomas Fowell (born 1453), a member of the King's court, is recorded as being born at Fowelscombe,[citation needed] implying that there was a house on this site before that date. His eventual successor William Fowell (died 1507)[7] of Fowelscombe was a member of parliament for Totnes in Devon in 1455.[7] His great-grandfather Thomas Fowell of Fowelscombe is the earliest member of the family recorded in the pedigree submitted by the family for the 1620 Heraldic visitation of Devon.[7]
The grandson of William Fowell (died 1507) was Thomas Fowell (died 1544) (son of Thomas Fowell by his wife a member of the Bevil family of Cornwall)[7] who in 1537[2] rebuilt the manor house at Fowelscombe. His great-grandson Richard Fowell (died 1594)[7] of Fowelscombe had four sons, one of whom was William Fowell (1556–1636) who founded the junior branch of the family seated at Black Hall (within the manor of Fowelscombe[5]) in the parish of North Huish.
The second Baronet's son and heir was Sir John Fowell, 3rd Baronet (1665–1692), Member of Parliament for Totnes (1689–1692), who died unmarried aged 26, when the baronetcy became extinct. His heirs were his two surviving sisters, Elizabeth and Margaret who until 1711 held the Fowell estates of Fowelscombe and Ludbrooke jointly.[10] In 1679 Elizabeth married George Parker (1651–1743)[11] of Boringdon and North Molton, both in Devon. The marriage was without children. Margaret married Arthur Champernowne of Dartington in 1679,[12] and was the mother of Arthur Champernowne (died 1717) of Dartington, MP for Totnes.[13]
Champernowne
In 1711 a division of the estates took place, with Fowelscombe going to the Champernowne family, which held it until 1758.[10]
Herbert
In 1758 Mr Herbert of Plymouth purchased the estate from the Champernownes. The house was enlarged in the 18th century.[2] His son George Herbert sold it to Thomas King in 1780.[14]
King
The estate was purchased by Thomas King who had interests in the brewing industry and owned property in Plymouth and London.[15] According to Richard Polwhele (died 1838) King made many improvements to the house, which Meller (2015) interprets as meaning that it was he who enlarged the house beyond the original tower, hall and entrance and added the castellations.[14] After Thomas King died childless in 1792 the estate was left to his three brothers, John (died 1795), Robert and Richard. In 1807 Robert exchanged his interest in Fowelscombe for Richard's manor of North Huish. After Richard died childless, Fowelscombe was inherited by Robert's eldest son, John in 1811.[15]
John King, Master of the South Devon Foxhounds
John King (died 1861)[16] was Master of the South Devon Foxhounds for two years 1827-9, when they were known as "Mr. King's Hounds", having re-established the pack.[17] In 1817 he purchased the nearby estate of Hayford, near Buckfastleigh, then a modest farmhouse with 162 acres, and spent a large sum on transforming it into a gentleman's residence and hunting lodge, by the addition of three wings.[16] He borrowed money from Servington Savery (1787–1856), a solicitor and Receiver of Crown Rents in Modbury.[16][18] In 1838 Savery foreclosed on the mortgage and entered into possession of Fowelscombe and also purchased from King the estate of Hayford. He stripped Fowelscombe of its fittings, including a Jacobean staircase, wooden panelling and a turret clock made in 1810 by Samuel Northcotte of Plymouth, which survives today at Hayford.[16] In 1856 following a lengthy lawsuit, John King recovered possession of Fowelscombe from Savery, but was still in financial difficulties. After his death it was sold in 1865.[16]
In 1836 John King was living in Hampshire and his tenant at Fowelscombe was a Mr Hosking, who looked after his hounds there. Also in 1836 the huntsman, Pinhay, "lives in Mr. King's house, at Fowlescombe, without paying rent, and his horse is kept in the stable at the kennel".[19] According to Tozer (1916) John King died in 1841, whilst hunting with Mr. Trelawny's hounds on Dartmoor, but according to Podnieks & Chait he died in 1861.[20]
The King family made valuable agricultural improvements at Fowelscombe and other estates in Ugborough and adjoining parishes for which "the county is greatly indebted".[21][22] They were the last occupants of the manor house[23] and after their departure it fell into ruins sometime between 1860 and 1880, and is today an ivy-clad ruin.
Later history
In 1890 the estate was bought by Rev. Gordon Walters. In 1919 it was split up and sold, with the remains of Fowelscombe House being included as part of the Bolterscombe estate farm which was sold to Reginald Nicholls. Bolterscombe and the ruins of the house were sold to the Burden family in 1948.[23]
Richard Barker (1946–2015)[24] purchased the estate in 1998 and began a restoration of Bolterscombe Farm, renamed as Fowlescombe Farm.[23] As of 2018 it was an organic farm of nearly 300 acres, known as Fowlescombe.[25]
Architectureedit
The main building took the form of a hall house surrounded by parkland and a water garden. Although in ruins, it is Grade II listed.[26] The 17th-century stable block was built around a courtyard, which may also have been the location of the kennels for the pack of hounds used for fox and deer hunting.[23] The late 18th-century bridge leading to the manor house is also Grade II listed.[27]
Notesedit
^Tristram Risdon, writing in the early 17th century reported that Vowelscombe was an alternative spelling; likewise Vowell, or in some deeds Foghill, for the family name.[1]
^Blazoned as Argent, a chevron sable on a chief gules three mullets pierced of the first in Vivian, p.369
^ abcHoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954), p.509
^Pevsner, Nikolaus & Cherry, Bridget, The Buildings of England: Devon, London, 2004, p.451
^Weller, Philip, The Hound of the Baskervilles – Hunting the Dartmoor Legend, Devon Books, Halsgrove Publishing, c.2002, quoted in Dartmoor: In the footprints of a gigantic hound, The Telegraph, 9 March 2002
Meller, Hugh (2015). The Country Houses of Devon. Vol. I. Crediton: Black Dog Press. ISBN978-0-9524341-4-6.
Pole, Sir William (died 1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791.
Risdon, Tristram (died 1640), Survey of Devon. With considerable additions. London, 1811.
Tozer, Edward J.F., The South Devon Hunt : a history of the hunt from its foundation, covering a period of over a hundred years, with incidental reference to neighboring packs, Teignmouth, 1916, pp. 33–40
Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620. Exeter, 1895.
fowelscombe, historic, manor, parish, ugborough, devon, england, large, ancient, manor, house, known, house, survives, only, covered, romantic, ruin, overgrown, trees, nettles, situated, mile, south, east, village, ugborough, ruins, grade, listed, building, ru. Fowelscombe a is a historic manor in the parish of Ugborough 1 in Devon England The large ancient manor house known as Fowelscombe House survives only as an ivy covered romantic ruin 2 overgrown by trees and nettles 3 situated 1 mile south east of the village of Ugborough The ruins are a Grade II listed building The ruins of Fowelscombe House viewed in 2008It is believed to be one of three possible houses on which Conan Doyle based his Baskerville Hall in his novel The Hound of the Baskervilles 4 1901 02 the others being Hayford Hall also owned by John King died 1861 of Fowelscombe and Brook Manor Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Arms of Fowell of Fowelscombe b In the time of William Pole died 1635 the manor of Fowelscombe comprised the estates of Bolterscombe Smythescombe and Black Hall situated in the parishes of Ugborough and North Huish 5 Fowell The earliest member of the Fowell alias Foghill Foel etc family identified by William Pole who did not record his first name was an attorney during the reign of King Henry IV 1399 1413 6 His eventual successor Sir Thomas Fowell born 1453 a member of the King s court is recorded as being born at Fowelscombe citation needed implying that there was a house on this site before that date His eventual successor William Fowell died 1507 7 of Fowelscombe was a member of parliament for Totnes in Devon in 1455 7 His great grandfather Thomas Fowell of Fowelscombe is the earliest member of the family recorded in the pedigree submitted by the family for the 1620 Heraldic visitation of Devon 7 The grandson of William Fowell died 1507 was Thomas Fowell died 1544 son of Thomas Fowell by his wife a member of the Bevil family of Cornwall 7 who in 1537 2 rebuilt the manor house at Fowelscombe His great grandson Richard Fowell died 1594 7 of Fowelscombe had four sons one of whom was William Fowell 1556 1636 who founded the junior branch of the family seated at Black Hall within the manor of Fowelscombe 5 in the parish of North Huish The grandson and eventual heir of Richard Fowell died 1594 was Sir Edmund Fowell 1st Baronet 1593 1674 of Fowelscombe also lord of the manor of Ludbrooke in the parish of Ugborough 8 created a baronet in 1661 He married Margaret Poulett a daughter of Sir Anthony Poulett 1562 1600 7 His eldest son and heir was Sir John Fowell 2nd Baronet 1623 1677 who married Elizabeth Chichester died 1678 a daughter of Sir John Chichester 1598 1669 of Hall Bishop s Tawton 9 The second Baronet s son and heir was Sir John Fowell 3rd Baronet 1665 1692 Member of Parliament for Totnes 1689 1692 who died unmarried aged 26 when the baronetcy became extinct His heirs were his two surviving sisters Elizabeth and Margaret who until 1711 held the Fowell estates of Fowelscombe and Ludbrooke jointly 10 In 1679 Elizabeth married George Parker 1651 1743 11 of Boringdon and North Molton both in Devon The marriage was without children Margaret married Arthur Champernowne of Dartington in 1679 12 and was the mother of Arthur Champernowne died 1717 of Dartington MP for Totnes 13 Champernowne In 1711 a division of the estates took place with Fowelscombe going to the Champernowne family which held it until 1758 10 Herbert In 1758 Mr Herbert of Plymouth purchased the estate from the Champernownes The house was enlarged in the 18th century 2 His son George Herbert sold it to Thomas King in 1780 14 King The estate was purchased by Thomas King who had interests in the brewing industry and owned property in Plymouth and London 15 According to Richard Polwhele died 1838 King made many improvements to the house which Meller 2015 interprets as meaning that it was he who enlarged the house beyond the original tower hall and entrance and added the castellations 14 After Thomas King died childless in 1792 the estate was left to his three brothers John died 1795 Robert and Richard In 1807 Robert exchanged his interest in Fowelscombe for Richard s manor of North Huish After Richard died childless Fowelscombe was inherited by Robert s eldest son John in 1811 15 nbsp John King Master of the South Devon FoxhoundsJohn King died 1861 16 was Master of the South Devon Foxhounds for two years 1827 9 when they were known as Mr King s Hounds having re established the pack 17 In 1817 he purchased the nearby estate of Hayford near Buckfastleigh then a modest farmhouse with 162 acres and spent a large sum on transforming it into a gentleman s residence and hunting lodge by the addition of three wings 16 He borrowed money from Servington Savery 1787 1856 a solicitor and Receiver of Crown Rents in Modbury 16 18 In 1838 Savery foreclosed on the mortgage and entered into possession of Fowelscombe and also purchased from King the estate of Hayford He stripped Fowelscombe of its fittings including a Jacobean staircase wooden panelling and a turret clock made in 1810 by Samuel Northcotte of Plymouth which survives today at Hayford 16 In 1856 following a lengthy lawsuit John King recovered possession of Fowelscombe from Savery but was still in financial difficulties After his death it was sold in 1865 16 In 1836 John King was living in Hampshire and his tenant at Fowelscombe was a Mr Hosking who looked after his hounds there Also in 1836 the huntsman Pinhay lives in Mr King s house at Fowlescombe without paying rent and his horse is kept in the stable at the kennel 19 According to Tozer 1916 John King died in 1841 whilst hunting with Mr Trelawny s hounds on Dartmoor but according to Podnieks amp Chait he died in 1861 20 The King family made valuable agricultural improvements at Fowelscombe and other estates in Ugborough and adjoining parishes for which the county is greatly indebted 21 22 They were the last occupants of the manor house 23 and after their departure it fell into ruins sometime between 1860 and 1880 and is today an ivy clad ruin Later history In 1890 the estate was bought by Rev Gordon Walters In 1919 it was split up and sold with the remains of Fowelscombe House being included as part of the Bolterscombe estate farm which was sold to Reginald Nicholls Bolterscombe and the ruins of the house were sold to the Burden family in 1948 23 Richard Barker 1946 2015 24 purchased the estate in 1998 and began a restoration of Bolterscombe Farm renamed as Fowlescombe Farm 23 As of 2018 it was an organic farm of nearly 300 acres known as Fowlescombe 25 Architecture editThe main building took the form of a hall house surrounded by parkland and a water garden Although in ruins it is Grade II listed 26 The 17th century stable block was built around a courtyard which may also have been the location of the kennels for the pack of hounds used for fox and deer hunting 23 The late 18th century bridge leading to the manor house is also Grade II listed 27 Notes edit Tristram Risdon writing in the early 17th century reported that Vowelscombe was an alternative spelling likewise Vowell or in some deeds Foghill for the family name 1 Blazoned as Argent a chevron sable on a chief gules three mullets pierced of the first in Vivian p 369References edit a b Risdon p 179 a b c Hoskins W G A New Survey of England Devon London 1959 first published 1954 p 509 Pevsner Nikolaus amp Cherry Bridget The Buildings of England Devon London 2004 p 451 Weller Philip The Hound of the Baskervilles Hunting the Dartmoor Legend Devon Books Halsgrove Publishing c 2002 quoted in Dartmoor In the footprints of a gigantic hound The Telegraph 9 March 2002 a b Pole p 315 Pole p 316 a b c d e f Vivian p 369 Risdon pp 385 179 Vivian p 177 pedigree of Chichester a b Risdon p 385 Vivian p 370 p 588 pedigree of Parker Vivian p 370 Vivian p 164 pedigree of Champernowne a b Meller pp 418 420 a b Lauder p 119 a b c d e Elizabeth Podnieks Sandra Chait eds Hayford Hall Hangovers Erotics and Modernist Aesthetics Southern Illinois University 2005 pp 22 4 Tozer pp 33 40 Vivian p 672 pedigree of Savery Locke John The Game Laws Comprising All the Acts Now in Force on the Subject London 1840 pp 171 2 Tozer p 40 Risdon 1810 Additions p 385 Vancouver Charles General View of the Agriculture of the County of Devon London 1808 p 135 a b c d Gray Abigail 2009 Fowlescombe Archaeological Notes PDF Devon Rural Archive Archived from the original PDF on 22 February 2018 Retrieved 25 August 2018 Memorial to Richard Barker 1946 2015 Welcome to Fowlescombe Fowlescombe Retrieved 25 August 2018 Historic England Ruins of Fowlecombe House 1325432 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 16 April 2017 Historic England Bridge 100 metres south east of Ruins of Fowelscombe House 1307161 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 14 August 2016 SourcesLauder Rosemary 1997 Vanished Houses of South Devon Bideford North Devon Books pp 115 127 ISBN 0 9528645 9 2 Meller Hugh 2015 The Country Houses of Devon Vol I Crediton Black Dog Press ISBN 978 0 9524341 4 6 Pole Sir William died 1635 Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon Sir John William de la Pole ed London 1791 Risdon Tristram died 1640 Survey of Devon With considerable additions London 1811 Tozer Edward J F The South Devon Hunt a history of the hunt from its foundation covering a period of over a hundred years with incidental reference to neighboring packs Teignmouth 1916 pp 33 40 Vivian Lt Col J L Ed The Visitations of the County of Devon Comprising the Heralds Visitations of 1531 1564 amp 1620 Exeter 1895 External links editwww fowlescombe co uk50 22 53 N 3 50 19 W 50 38139 N 3 83861 W 50 38139 3 83861 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fowelscombe amp oldid 1171953529, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
