Mamhead is a rural village and civil parish near Dawlish and Kenton in Devon, South West England, in the Teignbridge local authority area.

According to Daniel and Samuel Lysons, in their Magna Britannia:[4] It seems most probable that Mamhead House was the royal garrison spoken of by Whitelock as having been abandoned, on the approach of Sir Thomas Fairfax with his army, in the month of January, 1646.

An obelisk of Portland stone, 100 feet high, erected about 1742, by T. Balle, Esq., crowns the summit of a wooded height on the Mamhead grounds.

[3] The Mamhead estate is known from as early as the Domesday book, when it was held by Ralph de Pomeroy and later by Sir Hugh Peverell.

His grandson Thomas Ball (1671–1749), a merchant, planted many exotic trees brought back from his continental travels.

Britton & Brayley said of Mamhead's grounds The Beauties of England and Wales (1803):[7] Between 1742 and 1745, Ball built an obelisk on the hill above the house "out of a regard to the safety of such as might use to sail out of the Port of Exon or any others who might be driven on the coast".

[10] In 1823, Mamhead was bought by Robert William Newman (1776–1848), who completely rebuilt the house on a new site in 1827–1833, to the designs of Anthony Salvin.

The offer of sale included the Grade II listed Mamhead Castle (originally used as a stable and a brewery) which had been converted into six office suites.

[18] A Country Life article made this comment in June 2019:[19] It will take a buyer with cash, courage and extraordinary vision to take on this remarkable house and realise its full potential.

With its grand reception rooms, wonderful fan-vaulted staircase, vast galleried halls, landings and corridors, extensive domestic offices, 16 main bedrooms, eight bathrooms, 11 attic rooms and romantic camellia house, Mamhead House represents a considerable challenge for any investor, but also an opportunity to preserve and enhance a unique estate that has remained, quite magnificently, untouched by time.As of June 2019, the house was still available for occasional rental according to another publication which added that the offices in the castle were not being occupied.

Temple was a water-drinker, and under his influence Boswell made a vow (not kept) under the branches of the great churchyard yew at Mamhead (which can still be seen) never to get drunk again.

[8][21] William Plenderleath (1831–1906) was Rector of Mamhead from 1891 until 1905, and kept notes of the parish, described as "census details (official and unofficial), offertory accounts, list of communions, collections in aid of voluntary church rate, and confirmations.