Hall, Bishop's Tawton

It was for several centuries the seat of a younger branch of the prominent and ancient North Devon family of Chichester of Raleigh, near Barnstaple.

The house and about 2,500 acres[1] of surrounding land continues today to be owned and occupied by descendants, via a female line, of the Chichester family.

[3] Near the house to the south at the crossroads of Herner the Chichester family erected in the 1880s a private chapel of ease which contains mediaeval woodwork saved from the demolished Old Guildhall in Barnstaple.

As part of the marriage settlement her father had settled on her his estate of Hall, and thus the estate became the possession of this junior branch of the Chichester family of North Devon, known as "Chichester of Hall" to differentiate it from several other prominent branches of the same family seated in Devon, namely at Raleigh, Youlston, Eggesford and Arlington.

William son of Sir John Chichester of Hall, Knight and the Lady Ursula his wife died the 19th of April 1664 aged 30".

The formula Worshipful is also used on the ledger stone of her father Sir Arthur Basset in Atherington Church, possibly moved from the Umberleigh Chapel.

Westcote was one of three Domesday Book manors within the present parish of Marwood in the hundred of Braunton, and was one of the 27 Devon holdings of Theobald FitzBerner, whose tenant there was Oliver.

[10] It was recorded later in the Book of Fees as Westecoth held by Eustace de Marwood from the feudal barony of Great Torrington.

Another ancient estate called "Westacott" exists today immediately to the north-west of Hall, in the parish of Bishop's Tawton.

The Inscription is as follows: "To the memorie of Elizabeth the wife of Richard Delbridge of Barnstaple, merchant, & daughter to the worthy John Chichester Esq.r of Hall, together with her child of which she died in childbirth December 18, 1628".

On top of the monument is an escutcheon with the arms of Delbridge (Sable, a chevron argent between three swan's heads and necks couped proper) impaling Chichester.

Hic jacet vir admodum venerabilis D(ominus) Jo(h)annes Chichester de Hall, Eques, qui (dum in vivis) fuit erga deum pius, regi suo fidelis, patriae dux publicus dilectus, ecclesiae filius, pacis amator, pauperum patronus, omnibusq(ue) tum justitiae necnon reliquarum virtutum exemplar.

Maerens posuit Jo(h)annes Chichester, Armiger, defuncti filius natu maximus ("Sacred to the Memory.

Here lies a man altogether venerable, Sir John Chichester, Knight, who (whilst amongst the living) was towards God pious, to his king faithful, to his country a beloved public leader, to the Church a son, to peace a lover, to the poor a patron and in everything as to justice, and certainly of the rest of the virtues, an example.

At the top within an elaborate gilded frame within a broken pediment is a lozenge showing the arms of Strode: Argent, a chevron between three conies courant sable.

John Chichester (1626-1684), (eldest son by Ursula Strode), who died childless and was buried at Bath Abbey, where exists a monument to his memory.

He was the eldest son and heir of Arthur Chichester (d.1682) of Stowford (whose monument exists in Swimbridge Church) by his wife "Mary".

Hall, Bishop's Tawton, Devon, south (main) front. The Victorian baronial hall is situated at the west (left) end
Location of historic manors of the Chichester family of North Devon: Raleigh in the parish of Pilton ; Youlston in the parish of Shirwell ; Arlington ; Hall in the parish of Bishops Tawton ; Eggesford
Stone barn, an old threshing barn next to Hall mansion house, which is situated directly behind
Stables or Clock-House, one of the many outbuildings surrounding the house on the north and west
The granary at Hall
Arms of Chichester: Chequy or and gules, a chief vair
Heraldic achievement of Chichester family of Hall. Mosaic with inlaid stone on mural monument in Bishop's Tawton Church to Lt. Lionel Chichester (1873-1902), killed in action in the Boer War aged 29. The crest is a heron (or stork) with an eel (or snake) in its beak, the motto in ancient French is: Ferme en foy ("Firm in faith")
Mural monument to Elizabeth Chichester (d.1628), a daughter of John Chichester (d.1608) of Hall and wife of the Barnstaple merchant Richard Delbridge. St Peter's Church , Barnstaple
Sir John Chichester (1598-1669) of Hall, dressed in Civil War armour. English School c.1650, National Trust , Arlington Court collection, Devon, ref:987416. Bequeathed by Miss Rosalie Chichester of Arlington Court, 1949
Arms of Strode: Argent, a chevron between three conies courant sable , detail from mural monument to Ursula Strode (d.1635), 1st wife of Sir John Chichester (d.1669) of Hall. Bishop's Tawton Church
Mural monument to Sir John Chichester (d.1669), Bishop's Tawton Church , north wall of chancel
Heraldic cartouche of 20 quarterings on mural monument to Sir John Chichester (d.1669) of Hall
Mural monument to Ursula Strode (d.1635), 1st wife of Sir John Chichester (d.1669) of Hall. South wall of chancel, Bishop's Tawton Church
Anne Chichester (1721-1781), a daughter of Arthur Chichester (1670-1737/8) of Hall and wife of Denys Rolle (1725-1797) of Stevenstone . Portrait by Thomas Hudson (1701-79); Collection of Great Torrington Almshouse, Town Lands and Poors Charities, formerly the property of Hon. Mark Rolle (d. 1907) of Stevenstone and donated by his heir Lord Clinton [ 22 ]