Castle Hill, Filleigh

Castle Hill in the parish of Filleigh in North Devon, is an early Neo-Palladian country house situated 3 miles (5 kilometres) north-west of South Molton and 8 mi (13 km) south-east of Barnstaple.

Hugh Fortescue (1696–1751), who in 1721 inherited the title 14th Baron Clinton, via his mother, consulted Lord Burlington (1694–1753), the pioneer and arbiter of Palladianism in England, on the design of his proposed new mansion.

In 1841 the architect Edward Blore (1787–1879) added a porte-cochere on the north side of the main range, now demolished and replaced in 1974 by an entrance porch to the design of Raymond Erith.

Adjoining it on its east end and extending backwards to give the ensemble an L-shape, is Blore's stable block.

This has small circular windows with portrait busts, and is pierced on its long eastern face by the imposing full height main entrance arch, through which vehicles pass and continue past the front of the service wing and through decorative inner gates into the courtyard situated between the north facade of the main range and the steep and rocky hillside.

The 5th Earl had recently installed a central heating system, the boiler of which, situated underneath the library floor, had malfunctioned.

After the fire, the house was restored to the 18th-century style by Lord Gerald Wellesley (1885–1972), soldier, diplomat and architect, with Trenwith Wills.

The building was later converted into a dwelling house, originally intended for a couple to tend the tame pheasants, and later lived in by the huntsman of the Fortescue Harriers, Abraham Moggeridge.

The original Triumphal Arch, situated on top of the hill 1⁄2 mile (800 metres) opposite the south front of the house and on the same axis as the sham castle behind, was built by Lord Clinton in 1730.

Due to his loss, on the death of his father the 5th Earl in 1958, the family titles passed by law to the latter's younger brother, but in the absence of an entail, the Castle Hill and Weare Giffard estates he was free to bequeath to his two daughters.

It was designed by Hal Moggridge who had organised much of the reparatory landscaping work following the great storm of 1990, and was built by Graham Davey.

However the 5th Earl bequeathed Castle Hill, his principal seat, to his elder surviving daughter, Lady Margaret Fortescue (born 1923).

Castle Hill, Filleigh, Devon, as built by Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Clinton, whose arms, quartering Clinton, are shown at top right
Castle Hill in 2014. The architectural "sham castle" is on the hill behind
Engraving of Castle-Hill, 1830
Castle Hill in 1880, south facade, published in Morris's "Country Seats"
Arms of Fortescue: Azure, a bend engrailed argent plain cotised or . Latin canting motto : Forte Scutum Salus Ducum ("A Strong Shield is the Salvation of Leaders"). [ 1 ]
Castle Hill, main range, viewed from SW
Service wing to east side of house, 1861, to design of Blore, with clock tower above. Viewed from south
The stable block, viewed from the east. The main vehicular entrance to the house is through the large arch along a road which passes directly in front of the service block, the clock tower of which can be seen behind. The main range is visible to the left (south).
Castle Hill, panoramic view of west side, seen from Oxford Down Hill looking eastwards. A large "Peace Clump" of Scots Pine trees was planted on Oxford Down by the 4th Earl in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I. [ 6 ]
Architectural "Sham Castle" on top of hill to immediate north of house, with decorative cannon aimed southward, viewed from SW
Triumphal Arch on top of hill opposite south front of house, here viewed from the Sham Castle
Arms of Gore family, Earls of Arran: Gules, a fesse between three crosses fitchée or