Netherton, Farway

Canonsleigh Abbey

The estate of Netherton was a possession of Canonsleigh Abbey, Devon.

Drake

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was sold by the crown to Sir Bernard Drake(c. 1537 – 1586) of Ash, Musbury, in Devon, who granted the grange to Mr Loman.

Prideaux

The Prideaux family is believed to be of Norman origin and to have first settled in England at some time after the Norman Conquest of 1066 at Prideaux Castle, near Fowey, in Cornwall. It abandoned that seat and moved to Devon, where it spread out in various branches, most notably at Orcharton, Modbury; Adeston, Holbeton; Thuborough, Sutcombe; Solden, Holsworthy; Netherton, Farway; Ashburton; Nutwell, Woodbury and Ford Abbey, Thorncombe. Another branch built Prideaux Place in Cornwall in 1592, where it survives today. It was one of the most widespread and successful of all the gentry families of Devon, and as remarked upon by Swete (died 1821), exceptionally most of the expansion was performed by younger sons, who by the custom of primogeniture were expected to make their own fortunes.

Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet (died 1628)

Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet (died 1628), who purchased Netherton. He was a Councellor at Law and double reader of the Inner Temple and was created a baronet on 17 July 1622. He was the second son of Roger Prideaux (died 1582) of Soldon in the parish of Holsworthy, Devon, by his wife Phillippa Yorke (died 1597), daughter of Richard (or Roger) Yorke, Serjeant-at-Law, and widow of Richard Parker. Sir Edmund Prideaux with his newly married third wife Mary Reynell (died 1631) built a new mansion on the site in 1607, which date is inscribed atop the full-height porch, much of which survives in the present building. He was buried in St Michael's Church, Farway, where survives his monument showing his semi-recumbent effigy dressed in lawyer's robes, with effigy of his son below. He married three times:

Sir Peter Prideaux, 2nd Baronet (1596–1682)

Sir Peter Prideaux, 2nd Baronet (1596–1682), eldest son and heir by his father's second wife Catherine Edgcumbe. He was MP for Honiton in 1661 and Sheriff of Devon in 1662. He married Susan Paulet (died 1673), daughter of Sir Anthony Paulet (1562–1600) of Hinton St George, Somerset, Governor of Jersey, and sister of John Poulett, 1st Baron Poulett (born c. 1585).

Sir Peter Prideaux, 3rd Baronet (1626–1705)

Sir Peter Prideaux, 3rd Baronet (1626–1705), 4th but eldest surviving son and heir. He was a Member of Parliament for Honiton, Devon, in 1661, for Liskeard, Cornwall, in 1661, and for St Mawes 22 June 1685. He married Elizabeth Grenville (died 1692), eldest daughter of Sir Bevil Grenville (1596–1643) lord of the manors of Bideford in Devon and Stowe, Kilkhampton in Cornwall and sister of John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath. He died on 22 November 1705 and was buried two days later in St Michael's Church, Farway, where survives his mural monument.

Sir Edmund Prideaux, 4th Baronet (1647–1720)

Sir Edmund Prideaux, 4th Baronet (1647–1720)

Sir Edmund Prideaux, 5th Baronet (1675–1729)

Sir Edmund Prideaux, 5th Baronet (1675–1729)

Sir John Prideaux, 6th Baronet (1695–1766)

Sir John Prideaux, 6th Baronet (1695–1766)

Sir John Wilmot Prideaux, 7th Baronet (1748–1826)

Sir John Wilmot Prideaux, 7th Baronet (1748–1826). The house was in poor repair when visited in 1795 by the Devon topographer Rev. John Swete (died 1821), who made a watercolour sketch of it (studiously omitting a "modern mean wing which presents its gable-end" which he considered ugly) and recorded in his journal:

Sir John Wilmot Prideaux, 8th Baronet (1791–1833)

Sir John Wilmot Prideaux, 8th Baronet (1791–1833)

Sir Edmund Saunderson Prideaux, 9th Baronet (1793–1875)

Sir Edmund Saunderson Prideaux, 9th Baronet (1793–1875), brother. Between 1836 and 1844 he restored and rebuilt the house, using the services of the builder W. Lee. He died without surviving male children when the baronetcy became extinct.

Tuke

Netherton Hall was the home of Samuel Tuke (1854–1937), a member of the Tuke family of York, Quaker innovators involved in establishing Rowntree's Cocoa Works, The Retreat Mental Hospital and three Quaker schools, Ackworth, Bootham, and The Mount. He was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and died at Colwell, Honiton.

Granville-Barker

In 1919 the estate was purchased by the English playwright Harley Granville-Barker (1877–1946), and received visits from many prominent literary figures including Sir George Bernard Shaw, T.E. Lawrence and Thomas Hardy.

Later owners

In 1955 the house was being used as a school. In 1968 it was the residence of Henry Hopkinson, 1st Baron Colyton of Farway (1902–1996), a diplomat and Member of Parliament for Taunton 1950-56. It was later restored and divided for multiple occupation. The main part of the house, including 4 bedrooms, 5 reception rooms, 4.35 acres of land with tennis court and swimming pool was sold in 2012 for an asking price of £1.5 million.