Furse is a Devon surname as well as one of several names for the evergreen shrub more widely known as gorse.
The name is believed to be derived from Old English: fyrse (meaning "gorse").
[3] Various records held by the North Devon Record Office show the expansion of the estate, including title deeds for land at Alverdiscott, Ashreigny, Beaford, Bideford, Dolton, Fremington, Great Torrington, Hartland, High Bickington, Poughill, St Giles in the Wood, Weare Giffard, Winkleigh and Yarnscombe.
[citation needed] The house became owned by Charlie Watts, drummer of the Rolling Stones, whose wife Shirley bred Arabian horses on nearby land that was part of the estate throughout its history.
[9] The farms owned by the estate were sold to their tenants and remaining woodland donated to the Devon Wildlife Trust (Halsdon Nature Reserve).