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Summary

The manor was granted by Edward the Confessor to the canons of St Mary of Rouen in 1061. It was bought by the Bishop of Exeter in 1335 and subsequently given to the canons of the Collegiate Church of Ottery St Mary, which he founded. In 1545 the manor was granted to Edward Seymour, later Duke of Somerset. On his attainder for high treason the manor reverted to the crown until it was sold early in the reign of Charles I. The Ledgingham family were lords of the manor during the Stuart period. It was conveyed to Sir John Kennaway, of Escot, in 1822 and the family continued as lords of the manor until recent times.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 897234
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY09NE/19/1

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MANOR (First mentioned, XI - 1061 AD to 1061 AD)

Full description

Worth, R. N., 1893, The Identifications of the Domesday Manors of Devon, 333 (Article in Serial). SDV21436.

The Manor of Ottery was recorded as Otrei in the Domesday Survey.

Veritas, 1914-1915, A manor book of Ottery St Mary, 61-64 (Article in Serial). SDV98723.

A new book on Ottery Manor is reviewed and many inaccuracies pointed out.

Rose-Troup, F., 1934, Medieval customs and tenures in the Manor of Ottery St Mary, 211-233 (Article in Serial). SDV122316.

An account is given of the customs and tenures that obtained in the Manor of Ottery St Mary from pre-conquest days to the dissolution. In 1061 the manor was granted by Edward the Confessor to the canons of St Mary of Rouen. The extent of the manor, and its population of villeins, bordars, serfs and swineherds in 1086 are given. There were three mills, and a salt-work at Sidmouth. During the wars with France the manor was taken into crown possession for long periods. In 1335 the manor was bought by the Bishop of Exeter, to be handed over two years later to the canons of the Collegiate Church of Ottery St Mary. In 1545 the manor was granted to Edward Seymour, later Duke of Somerset. In the main the laws, customs and tenures of the manor changed little throughout the period.

Rose-Troup, F., 1939, The Anglo-Saxon Charter of Ottery St Mary, 201-220 (Article in Serial). SDV99025.

The boundaries of the manor are coterminous with those of the parish and hundred of Ottery St Mary. These are described as recorded in a charter of 1061 when Edward the Confessor granted the manor to the Church of St Mary at Rouen.

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 448 (Monograph). SDV17562.

Weddell, P. J., 1987, Devon Religious Houses Survey: Ottery St Mary, 5-7 (Report - Survey). SDV366679.

The manor of Ottery is recorded in Domesday Book as being held by St Mary’s Church, Rouen. It was purchased by Grandisson, Bishop of Exeter in 1334-5, who then founded a Collegiate Church there. The manor of Ottery was granted as part of the foundation, to be the major financial support for the college. The college was surrendered to the King in 1545 and the greater part of the estate, including the manor of Ottery and most of the later endowments, was granted to Edward Earl of Hereford (later Duke, then Protector of Somerset). However, he had to pay the pensions of the college staff and could not appropriate the income of the churches until the death of the then rectors. In 1547 he exchanged the rectories and the great tithes of Ottery St Mary for others with the Dean and Canons of Windsor. His property was later forfeited on his attainder for high treason in 1552.

Archaeology and Planning Solutions, 2008, Ottery Town Mill, Ottery St Mary, Devon. Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, 11 (Report - Assessment). SDV346685.

National Monuments Record, 2011, 897234 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV346697.

Medieval town probably founded initially between 1334 and 1337 as a college of secular priests. The town's prosperity in the medieval period was based on the wool trade. Other details: SY090NE36. Record last updated:1999.

Witham, J. A., Unknown, The Manor of Ottery (Un-published). SDV366680.

The first reference to the manor is in 1061 when Edward the Confessor granted it to the Canons of the Cathedral Church of St Mary at Rouen. The Manor Hall was possibly first built in the late 12th century. The manor was purchased by Bishop Grandisson in 1335 who granted it with the Manor Hall to the Collegiate Church which he founded. It was here that the manorial courts were held and 'all the secular business of the estate' conducted. At the dissolution in 1545 the manor was granted by Henry VIII to Edward Seymour. On his attainder for high treason the manor reverted to the crown until it was sold early in the reign of Charles I. The Ledgingham family were lords of the manor during the Stuart period. It was conveyed to Sir John Kennaway, of Escot, in 1822 and the family continued as lords of the manor until recent times. The manor house was subsequently bought by the Coleridge family. The poet William Wordsworth visited in 1841.
The medieval manor hall where the manorial courts had been held since at least 1378-9 was demolished in 1860 but the courts continued to be held until 1926. The existing Manor House still though retains evidence of the original building.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6081 - Monitoring at The Manor House, North Street, Ottery St Mary (Ref: C1/WBF/11/POM)
• EDV2416 - Devon Religious Houses Survey

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