Venue Type & Location
Overview
The site of the Courtenays' castle is on the southern slope of a hill overlooking the lovely Axe Valley, 1/2 mile N of Colyton on the Dorset border. Not a defensive site, but eminently suitable for a lavish residence.
A 17th c. stone rubble house stands on the site of Colcombe Castle, possibly incorporating some fabric from the original.
Part of the late medieval domestic range, possibly the kitchen, survives as an outbuilding.
Performance History
A fragmentary household account survives for 1523--4 when Katherine, Countess of Devon (wife of the 18th Earl), was in residence at Colcombe. Relevant payments to royal performers and for the Courtenay fool's livery are included.
Few other household accounts survive for the influential Courtenay family but entertainers under their patronage appeared elsewhere in the 14th, 15th and 16th c. It is likely that these performers also entertained their patrons at one or more of the Courtenay residences.
Current Status
History of the Venue
late 13th c. Manor acquired by the Courtenays of Okehampton, Devon, as heirs to the de Reviers, Earls of Devon, builders of the original house.
early 16th c. Henry Courtenay began the rebuilding of the house on a grand scale.
1540 Confiscated by the Crown after the attainder of Henry Courtenay and neglected. Later returned to Edward, 20th Earl of Devon (d 1556).
late 16th c. Purchased by William Pole of Shute, Devon, for his son.
ca. 1635 Sir William Pole largely rebuilt the house.
mid-17th c. Extensive fire damage by Cromwell's troops during the Civil War. The Pole family subsequently relocated to Shute. The remains of the house were converted for farmhouse use and became ruinous.
Record Source
REED Devon 30, 37, 85, 90--4, 129--32, 135, 194, 222, 224--5, 306--9; Shropshire 1.196 ; Public Record Office: E36/223 ff 28v, 33, 39, 39v
Patrons who owned this venue
| Name | Date | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Courtenay, Edward | 0-1509 | Earl of Devon |
| Courtenay, Edward | 0-1509 | Knight |
| Courtenay, Edward | 0-1509 | Knight of the Garter |
| Courtenay, Edward de | 1357-1419 | Earl of Devon |
| Courtenay, Edward de | 1357-1419 | Baron Courtenay |
| Courtenay, Henry | 1498-1539 | Earl of Devon |
| Courtenay, Henry | 1498-1539 | Marquess of Exeter |
| Courtenay, Henry | 1498-1539 | Knight of the Garter |
| Courtenay, Henry | 0-1469 | |
| Courtenay, Hugh de | 1389-1422 | Earl of Devon |
| Courtenay, Hugh de | 1389-1422 | Baron Courtenay |
| Courtenay, Hugh de | 1389-1422 | Knight |
| Courtenay, Thomas de | 1414-1458 | Earl of Devon |
| Courtenay, Thomas de | 1414-1458 | Baron Courtenay |
| Talbot, Anne | 0-1441 | Countess of Devon |
Bibliographic Sources
- Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Devon. London: Penguin Books, 1989
- The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. 1887–98 (8 vols); 1910–59 (13 vols). 6 vols. Gloucester: Alan Sutton, 1982
- 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
- 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
- Westcott, Margaret. 'Katherine Courtenay, Countess of Devon, 1479--1527.'. Devon: U of Exeter P, 1992 Tudor and Stuart Devon: The Common Estate and Government. Essays presented to Joyce Youings 13--38.
- Westcott, Margaret. 'Surveying the Estates of Henry Courtenay, Earl of Devon, Marquis of Exeter and Traitor, 1543--4.'. Tiverton: 1996 Devon Documents in honour of Mrs Margery Rowe 199--203.