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Bere Ferrers

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Venue Type & Location

Private Residence

Site Name: Bere Ferrers
Location: near Plymouth
County: Devon
Location Type: Town - near town at determined location

Overview

Tucked away in the Bere peninsula in a secluded location along the N bank of the River Tavy, a few miles inland from Plymouth, the much altered old stone manor house remains on its original site beside the parish church.

Performance History

Possible performance venue. Entertainers patronized by the Willoughby family performed elsewhere in Devon in the late 15th and 16th c.

Current Status

Privately owned. The estate has been reduced and the Bere Barton farm buildings were sold as separate units in the late 20th c. The remains of the medieval fortified tower are incorporated at the rear of the house.

History of the Venue

1337 Sir William de Ferrers granted a licence to crenellate his manor house.

late 14th c. Alexander Champernowne acquired Bere Ferrers via marriage with the Ferrers heiress.

1475 Robert Willoughby acquired the manor via marriage to Blanche Champernowne.

1530 Manor passed to the Blounts via marriage of Anne, daughter of Robert Willoughby, to Charles Blount, 5th Baron Mountjoy.

early 17th c. Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport, sold the estate to Sir John Maynard.

1694 John Hobart, 14th Earl of Buckinghamshire, acquired the manor via marriage to Elizabeth Maynard (Sir John's granddaughter).

early 18th c. House renovated in Georgian style, with a new entrance block at the front, probably replacing an older structure.

1793 Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, acquired manor via marriage to Sophia Hobart, daughter of the 15th Earl of Buckinghamshire.

early 19th c. Some additions made to the house, including a large dairy wing at the right end.

Record Source

REED Devon 34, 221

Patrons who owned this venue

Name Date Titles
Willoughby, Robert 1452-1502 Baron Latimer
Willoughby, Robert 1452-1502 Baron Willoughby de Broke
Willoughby, Robert 1452-1502 Knight
Willoughby, Robert 1452-1502 Knight of the Garter
Willoughby, Robert 1472-1521 Baron Latimer
Willoughby, Robert 1472-1521 Baron Willoughby de Broke
Willoughby, Robert 1472-1521 Lord Broke

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

  • Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Devon. London: Penguin Books, 1989
  • Hoskins, W.G. Devon. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1973
  • Lysons, Daniel and Samuel. Magna Britannia; being a concise topographical account of the several counties of Great Britain. 6 vols. London: T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1806--22
  • Mackenzie, James D. The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure. 2 vols. New York: The Macmillan Co., 1896