John Kirkham (1472–1529)

[4] The Kirkham family is earliest recorded as seated at Ashcombe in Devon, about 12 miles north of Blagdon.

The Kirkham arms survive sculpted on bench-ends in St Nectan's Church, Ashcombe.

[5][6] During the reign of King Edward I (1272–1307) Sir Nicholas Kirkham, Sheriff of Devon in 1308/9,[7] of Ashcombe, married Agatha Dennis, sister and heiress of Sir Robert Dennis (d.pre-1307) of Blagdon, and following the death of Sir Robert Dennis the manor of Blagdon and others including nearby Coleton Clavill[8] (now Collaton St Mary[9]), passed to the Kirkham family, which shortly thereafter moved their seat to Blagdon (but retained ownership of Ashcombe until after the time of Risdon (d.1640)).

The Devonshire biographer Prince (1643–1723) stated:[11] "What other acts of piety or charity he did, or what brave exploits he performed, or exemplary vertues he was eminent for, I no where find; whatever they were, they are all now swallowed up of oblivion".

On 20 July 1524, together with Elizaeus Harding, a priest, he made a "large and noble" benefaction to the town of Honiton in Devon, about 34 miles north-east of Blagdon.