Venue Type & Location
Overview
Originally located on a low-lying site along the E bank of the gently winding River Culm, a few miles from Exeter.
The Tudor residence of the Marquess of Exeter was demolished long ago and the site has not been excavated. Only the later 16th c. gateway arch of the Aclands' house and an early 17th c. chapel remain.
Performance History
Few household accounts survive for the influential Courtenay family but entertainers under the patronage of the Marquess of Exeter appeared elsewhere in the early 16th c. It is likely that these performers also entertained their patron at Columbjohn.
Current Status
Website
History of the Venue
by 1415 Owned by Sir John Prideaux. Granted to Richard Banfield.
1486 Reverted to Edward Courtenay, 17th Earl of Devon.
early 16th c. Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter, began construction of a new house.
1539 Reverted to the Crown on Henry Courtenay's attainder.
155x Given to George Basset. Subsequently sold to W. Rowswell.
1580/1 Sold to Sir John Acland of Acland Barton by Alexander Every.
ca. 1590 Acland built a new house on the site.
1608 Chapel consecrated.
1622 Columbjohn became the principal residence of the Acland family.
1642--6 Alternating periods of occupation by royalist and parliamentarian troupes.
1680 Acland family relocated to their Killerton estate on a more commanding site 1 mile away. Sir Hugh Acland enlarged the Killerton house.
by 1756 House demolished. Only the chapel, gatehouse and a cottage remained.
Record Source
REED Devon 37, 129, 130--2, 135, 194, 222, 224--5; Shropshire 1.196
Patrons who owned this venue
| Name | Date | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Courtenay, Henry | 1498-1539 | Earl of Devon |
| Courtenay, Henry | 1498-1539 | Marquess of Exeter |
| Courtenay, Henry | 1498-1539 | Knight of the Garter |
Bibliographic Sources
- Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Devon. London: Penguin Books, 1989
- Fletcher, Martin. The Mansion at Columbjohn, Broadclyst, Devon. Exeter: English Heritage, 2003
- 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.