Widworthy
History
The Domesday Book of 1086 lists Widworthy among the 27 Devonshire holdings of Theobald FitzBerner, one of the tenants-in-chief in Devon of King William the Conqueror. His tenant was a certain Oliver. His lands later formed part of the feudal barony of Great Torrington. At some time in the 13th century, John de Humfraville held the feudal barony, and had his own tenant at Widworthy. The earliest lord of the manor recorded by the Devon historian Sir William Pole (died 1635) was Sir William de Widworthy.
The manor was later inherited by the Wotton family. The last in the male line was John Wotton who left a daughter and heiress Alice Wotton, who married Sir John Chichester (1385-1437), lord of the manor of Raleigh. The manor was still in the Chichester family in the early 17th century, being then held by Hugh, according to Pole.
References
- ^ "Facts and Figures". (link to Devon Parishes map). Devon County Council. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus & Cherry, Bridget, The Buildings of England: Devon, London, 2004, p.910
- ^ Pevsner, p.911
- ^ Thorn, Caroline & Frank, (eds.) Domesday Book, (Morris, John, gen.ed.) Vol. 9, Devon, Parts 1 & 2, Phillimore Press, Chichester, 1985, part 2 (notes), Chapter 36
- ^ Thorn, Part 2 (notes), 36:26
- ^ Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, pp.144–5
- ^ Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.172