History
Shute Barton is a rare example of a non fortified medieval manor house
© National Trust
A gothic masterpiece
This rare medieval manor house has a past intertwined with some of the most famous events and people in British history.
As grand as it seems, the manor is in fact only the servant’s wing of an even larger house originally built in the mid 15th century by the Bonville family. What is now the farm yard was made up of staff quarters, barns and stables.
The rest of the house was probably a victim to the wealth and fashion conscious owner Sir John Williams. By 1787 Shute was far too antiquated for a gentleman whose friends included the Prince Regent and a more modern home would have been needed to entertain royal guests.
The majority of the manor was demolished and rebuilt a quarter of a mile away as the new Shute House. What remains of the original house was renamed Shute Barton (Barton meaning farmhouse) to distinguish the two.
Wars of the Roses
The Bonvilles like many noble families lost much during these wars
© http://talesofcuriosity.com/v/Tudors/
The Wars of the Roses was a time of chaos for the Bonvilles. After fighting for the Yorkists, Sir William Bonville was beheaded after being defeated in the second battle of St Albans in 1461. The land at Shute was seized by the crown only to be restored the same year by Edward IV after the Yorkists were victorious at Towton.
Tragedy and treason
Shute Barton is linked to the ‘Nine Day Queen’ Lady Jane Grey
Cicely Bonville was married to Sir Thomas Grey whose descendents famously attempted to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne in 1553. Legend has it that Lady Jane and her father stayed at Shute before their execution for treason. Shute was then confiscated from the Greys and given to Sir William Petre who founded Wadham College, Oxford.
War and the New World
The Poles sided with the King during the Civil War
© Dave Wood
Shute was later brought by the Pole family, descendents of the Bonvilles. The Poles suffered in the English Civil War and parliamentarians may have attempted to burn Shute to the ground. In the 17th century Elizabeth and William Pole were amongst the first to travel to America founding Raynham and Berkeley in Massachusetts.
You can see an engraving of the party opposite the kitchen fireplace
© East Devon rangers
A party to remember
The kitchen contains what is believed to be the largest fireplace in England. This was used to roast two oxen together at the extravagant coming of age party for Sir John Reeve de la Pole. The celebrations went on for three days and included over 2,000 guests.