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The former historic Annery estate in Monkleigh, Devon was a Georgian mansion house that stood in a "fine timbered park" dating back to the 13th century or before. The first known owner is Osbert of Annery. By 1260 the house was owned by the Stapeldons; Walter de Stapeldon was born in the Annery that year and became the Bishop of Exeter from 1307 to 1326 and Edward II's Lord High Treasurer. After the Stapeldons, it was owned by Sir William Hankford. The Annery fell into decay and was modernised and refurbished in 1800. It was demolished in 1958.

Descent

According to Tristram Risdon, the earliest recorded holder of the estate was Osbert de Annery.

Stapledon

By 1260 the house was owned by the Stapeldons; Walter de Stapeldon was born in the Annery that year and became the Bishop of Exeter from 1307 to 1326 and Edward II's Lord High Treasurer. The family originated at the estate of Stapledon in the parish of Cookbury, near Holsworthy, Devon. His monument and effigy exist in Exeter Cathedral. The the male line of the Stapledons left as his sole heiress a daughter named Thomasin Stapledon, who married Sir Richard Hankford.

Hankford

Although his parentage is unknown, Sir William Hankford (died 1422) KB, Lord Chief Justice of England inherited the Annery estate from the Hankford family line that started with Richard and Thomasin Stapledon Hankford. Since his son died before him, Hankford's heir was his grandson, Sir Richard Hankford, who first married an heiress to the Fitz-Warren estate. Handford's second wife was Lord Nevill's daughter, Anne. Their daughter, Anne Hankford (c. 1431 – 1485), was sole heiress to Richard Hankford's estate, including the Annery estate. She married Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond.

Butler

Anne Hankford and Thomas Butler (also Boteler) had two daughters, Margaret Butler (c. 1454 – 1539) and Anne Butler (born c. 1455). Anne married Sir James St. Leger.

St Ledger

Annery passed through the lines of Anne and her husband Sir James St. Leger to their son Sir George St. Leger, then his son Sir John St. Leger (died 1596). Annery was sold to Tristram Arscott, Esquire by John St. Leger. Arscott married the St. Leger's daughter.

Arscott

Tristram Arscott (died 1621) of Launcells, Cornwall, purchased Annery from his father-in-law, Sir John St Leger. It was inherited by Arscott and his wife's son, John Arscott, Esquire.

Prust

It appears that Annery was purchased from the Arscotts by Hugh Prust (died 1666), who was buried at Monkleigh. He married in 1625/8, as her second husband, Elizabeth Hurding (died 1668), whose first husband had been John Coffin (1593–1622) of Portledge, lord of the manor of Monkleigh.

• Lt.Col. Joseph Prust (1620–1677) of Annery, was the second son of Hugh Prust. His ledger stone survives in the floor of the Annery Chapel in Monkleigh Church. Its inscription reveals that he was a Lt.Col. in Sir Thomas Stucley's Regiment of Horse and that he lost a hand during combat in the Civil War at Plymouth. He married Anne Keynes (1630–1660), by whom he had three sons, the youngest of whom was Capt. John Prust (1660–1695), of Annery.
• Capt. John Prust (1660–1695), of Annery. He married Mary Leigh (1672–1711), by whom he had three sons who died young and a daughter and heiress Anne Prust (1694–1741), who married in 1715 Richard Annesley, 6th Earl of Anglesey (c. 1693 – 1761), an Irish peer and governor of Wexford. Her husband deserted her almost immediately and entered into a further bigamous marriage. Anne Prust died without issue and was buried in August 1741 as Countess of Anglesey.

Tardrew

The descent of Annery is unclear between about 1741 and 1800. The 1810 edition of Tristram Risdon's Survey of Devon states that "The estate of Annery has of late years passed through several hands and now belongs to Mr Tardrew of Bideford".

• William Tardrew (1772–1853), JP, DL, a ship-owner and builder from Bideford. He operated a ship yard from an inlet of the River Torridge next to Annery kiln, but moved it to the canal sea-lock after the latter's construction. He appears to have been in the business of importing coal from Wales. His brother was Henry Tardrew who ran an iron-foundry and bar-iron warehouse in Bideford. In 1829 he renovated the Annery Chapel in Monkleigh Church as is recorded on a stone tablet in the Chapel, where he was buried. He sold part of the estate on the left bank of the River Torridge to Lord Rolle for the building of the Rolle Canal. The Annery land included Beacon Down Marsh in the parishes of Landcross, Monkleigh and Weare Giffard, in which was built the sea-lock, the start of the canal, for which he provided ships. He was one of the investors who in 1835 built "Half-Penny Bridge", a toll-bridge over the River Torridge at Annery Kiln linking Monkleigh and Weare Giffard parishes. In 1836 Lord Rolle leased his Rolle Canal to a partnership of four men, one of whom was William Tardrew of Annery, who held 6 of the 14 shares, representing an interest of 43%. In 1846 a new partnership was formed comprising William Tardrew and George Bragington, an original investor and Lord Rolle's former canal agent. Tardrew is said not to have contributed his agreed share of new capital to the business, and soon the business failed. He spent a considerable sum on improving the house, and was possibly the builder of the Georgian house which survived until 1958. He was a Justice of the Peace for Devon and a Deputy Lieutenant and a major in the North Devon Yeomanry Cavalry. His wife was Louisa (1779–1871), who survived him but expended much of her fortune on pursuing debts due to her from the Rolle Canal Company. The Annery Estate comprising 243 acres was sold at auction in 1872.

Somes

Annery was purchased by Joseph Somes (died 1845) of Blackwall, MP for Dartmouth, a large ship owner and former Governor of the New Zealand Company. Queen Victoria's sovereignty over New Zealand was declared from his ship The Tory. His widow Maria Somes (1816–1912) remained at Annery for many years, and the estate was sold after her death in 1912 to Mr Bayly.

Bayly

Mr Bayly was a famous polo player. He and his wife modernised the house and installed an electricity generation plant. He died of meningitis soon after moving in, and his widow sold off parts of the estate piecemeal to the occupying tenants, retaining only the lodges and home farm.

Fleming

Miss Lilias Fleming (1855–1941) was the purchaser of Annery, where she lived with her adopted daughter Crystal Frazer. The house quickly became dilapidated after her death.

Notes

1. Worthy, who provided a biography of Stapledon's life, questions whether he was born at the Annery or at the estate in Cooksbury.

References

1. ^ "Monkleigh". Devon County Council. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
2. ^ Rosemary Lauder. (2005). Vanished Houses of North Devon. Tiverton. p. 20
3. ^ Tristram Risdon (1811). The chorographical description or survey of the county of Devon: Printed from a genuine copy of the original manuscript, with considerable additions. Printed for Rees and Curtis, Plymouth. pp. 276–277. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
4. Peter Fabyan Sparke Amery; John S. Amery; Joshua Brooking Rowe (1903). Devon Notes and Queries. J. G. Commin. p. 161. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
5. ^ Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art (1876). Report & Transactions. p. 442. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
6. Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art (1876). Report & Transactions. p. 450-52. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
7. Tristram Risdon's Notebook
8. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.365 (Viscounts Doneraile)
9. Vivian, Heralds' Visitations of Devon, 1895, p.629
10. Tristram Risdon (1811). The chorographical description or survey of the county of Devon: Printed from a genuine copy of the original manuscript, with considerable additions. Printed for Rees and Curtis, Plymouth. p. 422. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
11. Obituary, North Devon Journal 30 June 1853, quoted in Scrutton, p.87
12. Scrutton, p.22
13. "Tardrew ships for coal" are mentioned in a poem composed in honour of the 21st birthday of Hon Mark Rolle, quoted in Scrutton, p.81
14. Scrutton, p.19
15. Scrutton, Susan, Lord Rolle's Canal, Great Torrington, 2006, p.87
16. Scrutton, p.22
17. Scrutton, pp.69-71
18. Lauder, p.23

Sources

• Pevsner, Nikolaus & Cherry, Bridget, The Buildings of England: Devon, London, 2004
• Lauder, Rosemary, Vanished Houses of North Devon, Tiverton, 2005
• Prince, John, The Worthies of Devon, 1810 edition
• Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954)
• Polwhele, History of Devon (1797)

Further reading

• Gray, Todd, Devon Country Houses and Gardens Engraved, 2000.

• Houses in Devon