Kerswell Priory

[citation needed] The priory was valued at £2 1s 8d in the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of 1291–1292[6] when it held land in Kerswell, Monk Culm and Sampford Peverell(property which is now in the Parish of Holcombe Rogus).

He married Mary the only daughter of John Seaward of Clist St George in this County, elder brother of Sr Edward Seaward of Exon Kt a Member of Parliament for that City, by whom he had one son Edward who died 17th July [sic, year omitted, lived (1700–1730)[12]] unmarried and four daughters.

Mary who erected this monument to his memory, Grace the wife of Humphrey Sydenham of Combe in the Parish of Dulverton Esq.

[20] His financial situation was restored by a large inheritance from his great-great-uncle Sir John St Barbe, 1st Baronet (died 1723), MP, of Broadlands in Hampshire.

In the chancel of Ashington Church, Somerset, is a monument of grey and white marble, inscribed:[21] Here lies Sir John St. Barbe, Bart.

His own mural monument in Dulverton church is inscribed as follows: Near this lies interred Humphry Sydenham Esqr., whose least honour was his descent from an ancient & worthy family, whose true glory was his uniform character in publick & private life.

Just, humane, beneficent in all relations, the steady patriot, the faithful husband, the affectionate father, the kind master, the generous friend; zealous without faction, pious without moroseness, chearful with innocence, possessed of the esteem of good men who knew him, and careless of the applause or censure of bad ones.

[25] He married his cousin Ellery Williams (1727–1794), eldest daughter of Sydenham Williams of Herringston House[26][27] in the parish of Winterborne Herringston in Dorset, whose mural monument survives in Broadhembury Church, inscribed as follows: In Memory of Ellery, Wife of St Barb Sydenham Esq of Coombe in the County of Somerset, eldest daughter of Sydenham Williams Esqr of Herringstone in the County of Dorset, who died March 26th 1794 aged 67.

Today a grade II* listed house occupies the probable site of the north, west and east ranges of the Priory.

Although now a roofless ruin, it is a grade II listed building, mainly due its archaeological interest as part of the Priory complex.