Venue Type & Location
Performance Spaces
Overview
Set into a hillside overlooking the lower valley of the River Axe in E Devon near the main road from Axminster to Exeter.
The mid-15th c. flint service wing of the Bonvilles' large unfortified manor house remains, although its full ground plan has been obscured by subsequent additions and demolition.
Performance History
A probable performance venue. Although relevant household records do not survive, entertainers patronized by Sir William Bonville appeared elsewhere in the 15th c. and later by Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset, in the 16th c.
Current Status
History of the Venue
ca. 1292 Manor acquired by Nicholas Bonville via marriage with Hawyse, heiress of Sir Thomas Pyn.
later 14th c. Sir William Bonville built the first house at Shute.
mid-15th c. William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville, replaced the original house with a grander residence.
1461 Bonville estates, including Shute, briefly forfeited to the Crown after the 2nd battle of St Albans but subsequently restored by Edward IV.
1476 Acquired by Thomas Grey via marriage with Cicely Bonville. Residence renovated with an oratory and S gateway, a square E turret and an extension to the N and W of the original block.
1554 Manor forfeited and acquired by Sir William Petre after the Greys fell from favour.
1560 House sold to William Pole who made alterations and leased extensive land from the estate. Part of the inner court (including the hall wing) was demolished.
ca. 1570 New gatehouse built using materials from the demolished buildings.
late 16th c. N wing extended to the W with octagonal towers.
1640s Damaged by Cromwell's troupes during the Civil War.
1785 Sir John William de la Pole purchased the manor of Shute.
1787--90 Part of the older residence demolished and materials used in building a new house in the Palladian style on a different location to the E. The remains converted for use as a farmhouse.
1840 Internal alterations and repairs, including the introduction of a mezzanine floor between the great hall and the chamber above.
1955--9 Sensitive restoration by Sir John Carew-Pole.
1959 Given to the National Trust with the wish that the house be used as a family home, preferably by members of the Pole-Carew family as tenants.
Record Source
REED Devon 93; Shrops 1.177
Patrons who owned this venue
| Name | Date | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Bonville, Cecily | 1460-1530 | Baroness Harington (or Haverington) |
| Bonville, Cecily | 1460-1530 | Baroness Bonville |
| Bonville, Cecily | 1460-1530 | Marchioness of Dorset |
| Bonville, Cecily | 1460-1530 | Countess of Wiltshire |
| Bonville, William | 1393-1461 | Baron Bonville (of Chewton) |
| Bonville, William | 1393-1461 | Knight |
| Bonville, William | 1393-1461 | Knight of the Garter |
| Grey, Thomas | 1477-1530 | Marquess of Dorset |
| Grey, Thomas | 1477-1530 | Baron Ferrers of Groby |
| Grey, Thomas | 1477-1530 | Baron Harington |
| Grey, Thomas | 1477-1530 | Baron Bonville |
| Grey, Thomas | 1477-1530 | Knight of the Garter |
| Grey, Thomas | 1477-1530 | Lord Harington |
| Stafford, Henry | 1479-1523 | Earl of Wiltshire |
| Stafford, Henry | 1479-1523 | Knight of the Garter |
| Wotton, Margaret | 0-1541 |
Bibliographic Sources
- Bridie, M.F. The Story of Shute: The Bonvilles and the Poles. Axminster: Shute School, 1955
- 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
- Hoskins, W.G. Devon. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1973
- Hussey, Christopher. 'Shute Barton, Devon – I.'. Country Life 109 (2 Feb. 1951): 326--30.
- The National Trust. Shute Barton, Devon. London: The National Trust, 2003
- 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