Downes, Crediton

[3] Nearby is the site of a Roman villa, revealed by crop-marks as a rectangular enclosure containing a winged-corridor structure.

[5] The estate of Downes was purchased in 1692 by Moses Gould (1668–1703),[2] eldest son and heir of William Gould (1640–1671) of Hayes (i.e. Floyer Hayes in the parish of St Thomas, Exeter) and Dunscombe, MP for Dartmouth in 1671.

The Gould family was descended from a certain John Gold, a crusader present at the siege of Damietta in 1217 who for his valour was granted in 1220 by Ralph de Vallibus an estate at Seaborough in Somerset.

William and Elizabeth left no sons, only two daughters as co-heiresses (a third daughter Frances Gould (1720–1720) having died an infant): The ancient family of Buller is descended from Ralph Buller of Word in Somerset, sixth in descent from whom was Richard Buller who settled in Cornwall and married the heiress of Tregarrick.

[8] The estate of Morval was inherited by John Buller (1632–1716), MP, of Shillingham near Saltash, in Cornwall, from his wife Anne Coode, the daughter and sole heiress of John Coode of Morval.

Downes House, near Crediton, detail from drawing & engraving by T Bonner, published by Richard Polwhele (1760–1838)
Arms of Gould: Per saltire azure and or a lion rampant counterchanged [ 6 ]
Arms of Buller: Sable, on a cross argent quarter pierced of the field four eagles displayed of the first [ 10 ]
"Downes, seat of James Buller Esq" , watercolour by Rev. John Swete (1752–1821) dated 1797
Arms of Parker, Earls of Macclesfield: Gules, a chevron between three leopard's faces or