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HER Number:MDV982
Name:Castle Hill House, Filleigh

Summary

An 18th century Palladian mansion house on the site of a Tudor manor house which was itself rebuilt in 1684. Further changes were made in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The whole of the central block was gutted by fire in 1934 and subsequently rebuilt.

Location

Grid Reference:SS 671 284
Map Sheet:SS62NE
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishFilleigh
DistrictNorth Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishFILLEIGH

Protected Status

Other References/Statuses

  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SS62NE/4
  • Old Listed Building Ref (II*): 98946
  • Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SS62NE2

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • MANSION HOUSE (Built, XVIII - 1701 AD (Between) to 1800 AD (Between))

Full description

1900-1901, Tour in North Devon by Rev. John Swete, 206 (Article in Serial). SDV84663.

Pevsner, N., 1952, The Buildings of England: North Devon, 67-68 (Monograph). SDV336196.

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 398-399 (Monograph). SDV17562.

Filleigh House, a mansion at Castle Hill. In 1684, the old manor house was enlarged and turned around. A work which involved the removal of the parish church. Much of the mansion visible today, however, was the work of Hugh Fortescue, Lord Clinton in the 1730's. Further changes were made in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The whole of the central block was gutted by fire in 1934 and subsequently rebuilt. The landscaping of the gardens involved the building of a 'ruined' triumphal arch and a sham ruin of a castle behind the house etc. Full details in Hoskins.

Fortescue, Earl, 1956, Address by the President. Some notes on the family of Fortescue, 4, 6 (Article in Serial). SDV76556.

The property came to Martin Fortescue by marriage in 1454. There was a manor house more or less on the site of the present house, which was rebuilt in 1685. The 1685 house was demolished and the present house built by the first Lord Fortescue in the 18th century, who gave it the name of Castle Hill. He also laid out the grounds, building the arch and the castle.

Andrews, J. H. B., 1960, The Parish of Satterleigh and Warkleigh, 40 (Article in Serial). SDV78211.

Ministry of Housing and Local Government, 1964, South Molton Rural District, 29 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV320155.

The 1684 house was enlarged and refashioned about 1730. Further work took place in 1841, 1862 and 1934. A long Palladian front. Grounds finely landscaped.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1978, SS62NE2 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV84660.

Castle Hill is one of the stateliest mansions in Devon, built in 1684. The park and mansion dominate the parish. The original Tudor or medieval building was largely rebuilt in 1684-94 (citing Pevsner and Hoskins).
Site visit 6th November 1970. There are no notable remains of the 17th century house.

Department of Environment, 1987, Filleigh, 32-33 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV89818.

Castle Hill house formerly listed as Castle Hill. Dated rebuilding of late Tudor house in 1684. The 1684 block is basically rectangular but breaks forward at each end at the front and the back forming a shallow H-shape plan. In circa 1730 the house was remodelled.

Swete, J. (ed. Gray T. + Rowe, M.), 1997, Travels in Georgian Devon. The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Swete. Vol. 1, 45 (Monograph). SDV341166.

Revd Swete described the house as 'of no extraordinary beauty' and was not impressed by the wide gravelled terrace in front of it which was raised above the lawn. He was told that this was to be demolished and the lawn brought nearer to the house.

Ordnance Survey, 2015, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV357601.

Walls, S. + Wapshott, E. + Balmond, F., 2018, Land Adjacent to Filleigh Village Hall, Filleigh, North Devon, Devon. Results of a Historical Visual Impact Assessment, 29 (Report - Assessment). SDV362928.

A grand 18th century Palladian mansion, incorporating and remodelling an earlier, Tudor structure that was itself rebuilt in 1684. The house was extended in the 1800s and restored after a fire in the 1930s, which mainly affected the central block.
The house was the focus of the landscaped park designed in the 18th century and subsequently altered in the 19th century, with a north-south axis between the house and triumphal arch, on the hill to the south and sham castle to the north, bisected by the east-west flow of the river. All views are designed to frame or conceal the house or its eye catchers. The high level of survival and good preservation of this park overall and continued occupation by the same family has ensured we experience the house largely as intended. This adds group value to the significance of the site overall.
Although the proposed development may be seen from the first floor, views towards it are softened by parkland planting. The key view to the south to the triumphal arch is not affected and the key inward views to the house will also not be affected. The overall impact of the proposed development is considered to be moderate/slight.

Historic England, 2024, National Heritage List for England, 1107537 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365835.

Castle Hill House. Country house situated in landscaped park. Dated rebuilding of late Tudor house in 1684, considerably enlarged and remodelled c.1730 by Roger Morris. Extended in 1841 and 1862 reputedly by Edward Blore. A disastrous fire in 1934 almost entirely gutted the interior of the main range which was subsequently reconstructed with some alterations to the plan architect, Duke of Wellington. Ashlar joint-lined stucco on stone rubble with ashlar dressings. Slate roof, hipped to projecting wings of main range and flanking wings. Rebuilt rendered stacks to centre range. Ridge stacks to flanking wings with recessed panalled sides and moulded caps. The 1684 central block is basically rectangular but breaks forward at each end at the front and the back forming a shallow H-shape plan. In circa 1730 it was remodelled and flanking wings were added, set back, and terminating in square pavilions in the Palladian manner. The central block contained a full height saloon on the south garden front and a stair hall on the north entrance front. In 1841 and 1862 Edward Blore enlarged the house with a mansard roof and cupola over the centre block and added the near left-hand wing and service block enclosing a courtyard. After a fire in 1934, which gutted the centre block, the house was externally reinstated to its 1730 form but the internal plan was altered and the saloon was floored.
See listing description for full details.
Date first listed: 20th February 1967. Date of most recent amendment: 13th May 1987

Unknown, DRO1262M/E22/2+5 (Record Office Collection). SDV366227.

Plans of Castle Hill and the grounds in 1792 and in the late 18th century/early 19th century.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV17562Monograph: Hoskins, W. G.. 1954. A New Survey of England: Devon. A New Survey of England: Devon. A5 Hardback. 398-399.
SDV320155List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest: Ministry of Housing and Local Government. 1964. South Molton Rural District. Historic Houses Register. Unknown. 29.
SDV336196Monograph: Pevsner, N.. 1952. The Buildings of England: North Devon. The Buildings of England: North Devon. Paperback Volume. 67-68.
SDV341166Monograph: Swete, J. (ed. Gray T. + Rowe, M.). 1997. Travels in Georgian Devon. The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Swete. Vol. 1. Travels in Georgian Devon. The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Sw. 1. Hardback Volume. 45.
SDV357601Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2015. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #110236 ]
SDV362928Report - Assessment: Walls, S. + Wapshott, E. + Balmond, F.. 2018. Land Adjacent to Filleigh Village Hall, Filleigh, North Devon, Devon. Results of a Historical Visual Impact Assessment. South West Archaeology. 180712. Digital. 29.
SDV365835National Heritage List for England: Historic England. 2024. National Heritage List for England. Website. 1107537.
SDV366227Record Office Collection: Unknown. DRO1262M/E22/2+5. DRO1262M/E22/2+5. Plan.
SDV76556Article in Serial: Fortescue, Earl. 1956. Address by the President. Some notes on the family of Fortescue. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 88. A5 Hardback. 4, 6.
SDV78211Article in Serial: Andrews, J. H. B.. 1960. The Parish of Satterleigh and Warkleigh. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 92. 40.
SDV84660Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1978. SS62NE2. OSAD Card. Card Index + Digital.
SDV84663Article in Serial: 1900-1901. Tour in North Devon by Rev. John Swete. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries. 1.1. Unknown. 206.
SDV89818List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest: Department of Environment. 1987. Filleigh. Historic Houses Register. A4 Comb Bound. 32-33.

Associated Monuments

MDV12024Related to: Castle Hill Deer Park, Filleigh (Monument)
MDV20701Related to: Castle Hill Icehouse (Monument)
MDV32500Related to: Castle Hill Park, Filleigh (Monument)
MDV31929Related to: Garden structures in front of Castle Hill House, Filleigh (Monument)
MDV16900Related to: Stables at Castle Hill, Filleigh (Building)
MDV18812Related to: Tudor manor house at Castle Hill, Filleigh (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV9142 - Historical visual impact assessment of a proposed development on land adjacent to Filleigh Village Hall, Filleigh

Date Last Edited:Nov 13 2024 12:16PM