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Summary

Formal gardens and parkland of Bicton dating from the 18th century. Includes greenhouses, arboretum and 19th century structures and ornaments.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1097552: THE SEVEN STONES
• Listed Building (II*) 1334023: BICTON HOUSE, DEVON SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE
• Registered Park or Garden (I) 1000338: BICTON
• Listed Building (II) 1097553: LYCH GATE APPROXIMATELY 12 METRES SOUTH WEST OF CHURCH OF ST MARY
• Listed Building (II) 1334024: GATE PIERS AND RAILINGS ADJOINING TO SOUTH OF NEW LODGE
• Listed Building (I) 1203804: ROLLE MAUSOLEUM INCLUDING THE RUINS OF THE OLD CHURCH, ADJOINING TO WEST, THE WHOLE BEING APPROXIMATELY 12 METRES WEST OF THE CHURCH OF ST MARY
• Listed Building (II) 1097554: CROSS BASE APPROXIMATELY 2 METRES SOUTH WEST OF ROLLE MAUSOLEUM
• Listed Building (II) 1334025: HELMAN HEADSTONE APPROXIMATELY 4 METRES SOUTH OF ROLLE MAUSOLEUM
• Listed Building (I) 1097548: PALM HOUSE INCLUDING GREENHOUSE TO SOUTH EAST AND TERRACE WALLS TO SOUTH WEST
• Listed Building (II) 1203843: SANDYCROSS LODGE INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATES TO SOUTH
• Listed Building (II) 1097555: WALL AND RAILINGS APPROXIMATELY 15 METRES EAST OF SIDMOUTH LODGE
• Listed Building (II) 1334026: ROLLE OBELISK INCLUDING SURROUNDING AREA RAILINGS
• Listed Building (II) 1097551: SHELL HOUSE INCLUDING ROCKERY TO SOUTH WEST
• Listed Building (II*) 1281498: SIDMOUTH LODGE AND ADJOINING BOUNDARY WALLS
• Registered Park or Garden (I) 1000338: BICTON
• Scheduled Monument 1002554: Old church (remains of)
• Listed Building (II*) 1097549: ORANGERY INCLUDING HOT HOUSES ADJOINING TO NORTH WEST AND SOUTH EAST
• Listed Building (II) 1281458: THE BELVEDERE INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALLS
• Listed Building (II*) 1097547: THE HERMITAGE INCLUDING POND, ROCKERIES AND WATERFALLS TO THE SOUTH
• Listed Building (II) 1203816: LE MARCHANT CHEST TOMB APPROXIMATELY 4 METRES SOUTH EAST OF ROLLE MAUSOLEUM
• Listed Building (II*) 1097550: GARDEN ORNAMENTS AND FURNITURE IN THE ITALIANATE GARDENS
• Listed Building (II) 1281469: FORGE APPROXIMATELY 50 METRES NORTH EAST OF BICTON HOUSE
• SHINE: Rolle Estate's Home Farm, built 1863, Bicton Home Farm

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08NE/13/9
• Old Registered Parks and Gardens Ref (I)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PARK (XVIII to XXI - 1701 AD to 2009 AD (Between))

Full description

NMR, SY08NE 48, 53 & 54, 48, 53 & 54 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV115841.

Untitled Source, 51-2 (Migrated Record). SDV15340.

Green, C, 03/2013, The Glasshouses, Bicton College, East Budleigh, Colaton Raleigh (Draft) (Report - Survey). SDV351152.

Historic building evaluation carried out on glasshouses located within the walled garden at Bicton to assess their historic significance.
The glasshouses date between 1842 and 1889 and are situated within the norther side of an earlier Grade I Listed walled garden. The evidence reveals the existance of three separate glasshouse structures as opposed to one long structure as previously believed.
The glasshouses are in a poor state of repair and have deteriorated rapidly in the last four years. While it is possible they are beyond saving, there are several features of historical importance that should be retained. Also, the significance of the historical roof and the possible vine arch in glasshouse B, should be established.

Unknown, 1903, Untitled Source, 854-62 (Article in Serial). SDV115834.

James, N. D. G., 1969, Untitled Source (Monograph). SDV115836.

Jones, P., 1974, Follies and Grottoes, 311-2 (Monograph). SDV76754.

Synge, R. M., 1977, Untitled Source, 23-9 (Monograph). SDV115839.

Impett, R. M., 1984, Bicton Gardens (Ground Photograph). SDV339316.

Gallant, L., 1986, Deer Parks and Paddocks of England (Un-published). SDV656.

Elliott, B., 1986, Untitled Source, 35-7 (Monograph). SDV115835.

English Heritage, 1987, Tapeley Park, Devon (Register of Parks and Gardens in England). SDV323752.

Formal gardens and parkland of Bicton date from the 18C. Extensively developed with planting of trees in 19C, at most extensive c150ha, and in divided use and ownership since 1957. Walled kitchen garden 150m to north of house. Conservatories 1/2km to south east. Late 18C orangery - the temple - with curving wings, facing formal gardens to southsouthwest. Domed glasshouse. Lake of c5ha, with two islands. Park and garden activity is uncertain before c1735. Henry Rolle had the formal garden - the Italian garden laid out 600m to southeast of the house. In 1839 the monkey puzzle avenue was laid out (with a mound for each tree). Later 20C development includes 1 1/2km railway through grounds. The property has been divided into three distinct freeholdings since 1957 (1) Bicton College of Agriculture with Aldergrove Lodge and monkey puzzle avenue of trees and Sidmouth Lodge (2) Bicton Park Trust Company, centred on the orangery and Italian garden (3) Bicton Arena to the southwest of Bicton College.

Fisher, J., 1999, East Devon Conservation Area Appraisals: East Budleigh, 9 (Report - non-specific). SDV346582.

Of further note in the locality are Bicton Gardens (one mile north), designed by Andre Le Notre, who also planned the gardens at Versailles.

English Heritage, 2003, Bicton House, Devon (Register of Parks and Gardens in England). SDV323703.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1994 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Bicton House. Late 18th century mansion with extensive wings and outbuildings. Original mansion and park built 16th century on site of County prison. Now agricultural college. Listed Grade II*. 16th century deerpark Listed Grade 1. Features of interest (many with Listed Building status) within the extensive grounds include summerhouse, lodge gateposts, Palm House, Orangery, formal gardens and parkland, grotto, 19th century stone circle, forge, icehouse, ponds.
SMR.

Clinton Devon Estates, 2005, Site Plan and Environmental Masterplan (Plan - measured). SDV323757.

Plans showing changes to be made in 2005 to Bicton Arena in the southwest corner of Bicton Park including tree planting along the boundary between Bicton & Colaton Raleigh parishes running from SY05948611 to SY06308621 & replacing the modern buildings at SY06408597. Other details: ARCS No 9708.

Auston, K., 2011, Mr. Gilpin's Wiggles. The Nineteenth Century Parkland at Bicton, 22-25 (Article in Serial). SDV347393.

The Western Outer Park, in which Bicton Arena is situated, is first recorded on a plan of 1825. It was probably created from farmland by Lord John Rolle (1756-1842). New planting laid out by William Gilpin (1761/2-1843) included his trademark irregularly shaped tree clumps. These tree clumps together with an irregularly shaped lake are shown on the Tithe Map of 1844 and the 1889 Ordnance Survey Map.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6141 - An Historic Building Evaluation, The Glasshouses, Bicton College, East Budleigh, Colaton Raleigh (Ref: COAS/SBR/13/GBD)
• EDV6991 - Historic Building Recording of the Glasshouses at Bicton College

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