Skip to main content

Castle Hill

Tag this record

Venue Type & Location

Private Residence

Site Name: Castle Hill
Location: Castle Hill
County: Devon
Location Type: Countryside - at determined location

Overview

Located on the edge of Exmoor in N Devon on a narrow rocky ledge overlooking a tributary of the River Bray, originally on the main road to Barnstaple from Somerset.

Little is known of the Tudor manor house of the Fortescues, which was replaced by a neo-Palladian residence set in magnificent landscaped grounds in the 18th c.

Performance History

A possible performance venue. Household papers do not survive but players patronized by the Fortescue family performed elsewhere in Devon and Somerset in the mid-16th c.

Current Status

Available for rent.

History of the Venue

mid-15th c. Martin Fortescue (d 1471) acquired Filleigh manor via marriage to Elizabeth Denzil.

1605 House fell into disrepair after the death of John Fortescue.

1684 Reconstruction began, including repositioning of the house, by Arthur Fortescue and his son, Hugh. The estate acquired its present name at this time.

1730--40 Hugh, 1st Baron Fortescue of Castle Hill and 1st Earl Clinton, renovated the house in neo-Palladian style, adding low wings on both sides and refacing the facade. The saloon was located on the site of the original great hall.

1842 House enlarged, mansard roof, cupola over the central block and tower and domes on the wings added.

1934 Central block destroyed by fire.

1934--8 Exterior restoration to original early Georgian design, with interior renovation.

Now owned and operated as an income property by Loyd & Townsend-Rose Ltd.

Record Source

REED Devon 65; Somerset 1.48

Patrons who owned this venue

Name Date Titles
Fortescue, Richard 1517-1570

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

  • Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Devon. London: Penguin Books, 1989
  • Delderfield, Eric R. West Country Historic Houses and Their Families. Exmouth: E.R.D., 1975
  • Gray, Todd. The Garden History of Devon: An Illustrated Guide to Sources. Exeter: U of Exeter P, 1995
  • Green, Candida Lycett. Country Life 100 Favourite Houses. London and Basingstoke: Boxtree, 1999
  • Hoskins, W.G. Devon. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1973
  • Hussey, Christopher. 'Castle Hill Devon: The Seat of the Earl Fortescue – II.'. Country Life 75 (1934): 272--7.
  • Hussey, Christopher. 'Castle Hill Devon: The Seat of the Earl Fortescue – I.'. Country Life 75 (1934): 300--5.
  • Hussey, Christopher. 'The Re-building of Castle Hill, Devon: The Seat of the Earl Fortescue.'. Country Life 84 (29 Oct. 1938): 426--30.
  • 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
  • Polwhele, Richard. The History of Devonshire. 1st ed. [1793--1806] printed by Trewman and Son for: Cadell, Johnson and Dilly (vol 1); Cadell, Dilly and Murray (vol 2); Cadell and Davies (vol 3); all in London. 3 vols. Dorking: Kohler & Coombes, 1977