Knowstone

An elaborate mural monument erected by Sir John in 1684 to the memory of his parents survives in Molland Church.

[10] In the parish church of Landkey there exist three stone effigies of the Beupel family who held that manor also from the See of Exeter.

[2] One of these estates was acquired together with the neighbouring manor of Molland by William de Bottreaux, who gave both churches to Hartland Abbey in 1160.

The estate of Beaple was inherited from his wife Margaret de Beaupel by Sir Nele Loring, KG (c.1320–1386) one of the founding members and 20th Knight of the Order of the Garter, established by King Edward III in 1348.

They had the following progeny, two daughters and co-heiresses: On the division of Loring's lands between his co-heiresses Beaple fell to the lot of Lord Harrington, whose heiress brought it to the family of Bonville, whose heiress brought it to the Grey family, which forfeited all its lands to the crown on the execution of the Duke of Suffolk and his daughter Lady Jane Grey.

According to Risdon, Robert Pollard made it his family's home for many generations"[9] but certainly by 1653 it had passed to the ownership of the Courtenay family of Molland, as a deed of that date includes the manor of "Knowstone Beaples" in a long list of properties transferred into trust by John Courtenay and his wife Margaret.

[13] He had the following children by his wife Urith Sotherin: According to Hoskins the last of the Shapcotts died at Exeter in about 1770 when the estate was sold out of the family.

Lynn Esq.r of Southwicke in Northha.ton.re who to ye lasting memory of her Lord did this too slender monument afford, for in her judgement she could scarce approve so mean an offering for so great a love.

interr(ed) in ye same grave with him according to his passionate desires & her pro(mise) to him in testimony of their mutual love.

"[26] The church tower is said to have been built by Elizabeth Lynn (d.1700), the wife of Philip Shapcott Esq., one of Their Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Devon.

Generosum Culmorum stemma ex quo oriundus erat dum vixerit adornavit qui non longum asperimum, vero emensus iter inter vola preces.

Gemitus monita et suspiria sancta beatissimam Eucharistiam illibatam fidem et spem extaticam piam animam exhalavit Nov. 26 A.D. 1691.

Whilst he lived he adorned the noble stock of the Culmes from which he arose; Who not a long harsh groan did he exhale, in truth freed from errors, prayers, warnings and sighs towards the most blessed Eucharist.....He breathed forth undiminished faith and hope his pious spirit....on Nov. 26 A.D. 1691)Monument to the 6-month-old infant Philip Shapcote (jnr) (d.1690), erected by his step-grandmother Elizabeth Lynn (d.1700): “This monument was erected by Elizabeth the wife of Philip Shapcote Esq.r To the memory of her beloved grandson Philip the son of Thomas Shapcote Esq.r and Elizabeth his wife who dyed the 30th day of Jan. 1690 He tasted life and lik't it not but chose Mary's good parl which he shall never lose Six months he liv'd then went to Heaven blest To see the Father and with him to rest"51°00′N 3°40′W / 51.000°N 3.667°W / 51.000; -3.667

St Peter's Church, Knowstone
Arms of Beaupel of Landkey and Knowstone: Gules, a chevron vair between six escallops argent [ 8 ]
"Sr Neel Loringe": Sir Nele Loring, KG, shown wearing his garter robes over his tunic showing the arms: Quarterly argent and gules, a bendlet engrailed sable . Illustration from the 1430 " Bruges Garter Book " made by William Bruges (1375–1450), first Garter King of Arms
Ancient standing stone on Beaple's Moor, Knowstone, showing vehicles on the North Devon Link Road behind
Shapcott Barton, Knowstone. The present farmhouse is mainly Elizabethan but retains mediaeval parts [ 12 ]
Mural monument in Meshaw Church to James Courtenay (d.1683) of Meshaw House
The heraldic achievement of James Courtenay (d.1683), Meshaw Church. A triple impalement : centre: Or, 3 torteaux a label of 3 points azure each point charged with 3 roundels in pale, differenced by a crescent azure (Courtenay of Molland, differenced for a second son); Dexter : Azure, 3 bars wavy argent (Sandford); Sinister : Or, a demi-lion rampant gules [ 16 ] (Lynn). Crest: Out of a ducal coronet or, a plume of 7 ostrich feathers 4 and 3 argent (Courtenay) [ 17 ]
Arms of Mrs Elizabeth Shapcote (d.1700) in Molland Church. Born Elizabeth Lynn of Southwick Hall, Peterborough, she married as her second husband James Courtenay of Meshaw and thirdly Philip Shapcote, Esq, of Knowstone. The arms are Sable, three dovecots argent (Shapcote) impaling argent, a demi-lion gules within a bordure bezantee (Lynn)
Mural monument to Rev. John Culme (d.1691), St Peter's Church, Knowstone. The armorials above are Azure, a chevron ermine between 3 pelicans vulning their breasts or (Culme) impaling ermine, a chevron sable (arms of his wife's family, unknown)
Arms of Culme: Azure, a chevron ermine between 3 pelicans vulning their breasts or
Mural monument to the infant Philip Shapcote (d.1690), St Peter's Church, Knowstone. The Shapcote arms are shown above: Sable, three dovecotes argent