Moreton House, Bideford

It has in recent years become increasingly surrounded by the suburbs of Bideford, and in 2014 only 5 acres of the former parkland remain attached to the house.

The estate is said anciently to have been the property of the famous Grenville family, lords of the Manor of Bideford, and of Stowe, Kilkhampton in Cornwall.

The now "Stucley" family, which had inherited other substantial residences at Hartland Abbey, Affeton and North Molton, sold Moreton House in 1956, after which it was occupied by Grenville College, a private school, which vacated the site in 2009.

The house is a fine example of Georgian architecture and had at one time ornate gardens with two lakes, fountains, waterfalls and formal herbaceous borders.

From their profits they acquired much land near Bideford and eventually by the end of the 18th century their estates almost surrounded the north side of the town from Westleigh to Northam.

Moreton House, Bideford, east front
Moreton House, south front
Moreton House, north front
Moreton House, stable block
Canting arms of Buck of Daddon (Moreton), Bideford: Per fess embattled argent and sable, three buck's attires each fixed to the scalp counterchanged [ 4 ]
George Stucley Buck (1755–1791), of Daddon House (later called Morton House) and Affeton , Devon, dressed in military uniform. Portrait by a follower of George Romney (1734–1802), collection of Bideford Town Council, displayed at Bideford Town Hall
Arms of Stucley: Azure, three pears pendant or [ 14 ]
Motto: Bellement et Hardiment ("beautifully and bravely")