Lympstone Manor, Exmouth

Lympstone Manor (formerly Courtlands House) in Exmouth, England, is a building of historical significance and is Grade II listed on the English Heritage Register.

""A freehold estate consisting of a mansion house of handsome elevation called Courtlands with lawn, pleasure ground, garden, shrubberies and stables, coach house, graperies, hothouses, greenhouse and all other suitable offices and buildings.

"[4] The next owner was William Francis Spicer (1763-1853),[5] who previously owned Weare House.

The 1861 Census records John Wood, a landed proprietor and his wife Harriet as the occupants.

His brother was Hablot Knight Browne who became famous for his illustrations of Charles Dickens novels.

She painted a portrait of him which is shown here He sold his house in Melbourne and returned to England in 1854.

His father died when he was young and the family were forced to leave their farm which was called Wood House in Exeter.

One of his University friends asked him to join his family business W. H. Smith which was the enormous newspaper and bookselling firm.

[11] Mary Bridget Johnston (1840-1908) was the widow of Thomas Johnson of Broomsleigh, Kent.

When she died in 1908 Courtlands House was inherited by her cousin General Sir George Luck.

After them Commander Henry William Allen Adams (1884-1862) and his new bride Charlotte were the residents of Courtland House.

The couple remained at Courtlands until about 1923 when Sir Thomas Garbutt Knott became the owner.

His father was Sir James Knott the famous shipping magnate who set up the Prince Line in 1895.

[16] Thomas married in 1907 an American divorcee Sarah Elizabeth Fowler but marriage did not last and they were divorced in 1924.