Spurway, Oakford

Ruins of farmbuildings at Spurway Barton in 2003
Canting arms of Spurway of Spurway: Argent, on a bend azure a spur-rowel or between two garbs of the first[1]

Spurway is an historic manor in the parish of Oakford in Devon. It was the seat of the de Spurway (later Spurway) family from before 1244 until shortly before 1959.[2] The derelict buildings of Spurway Barton are situated in a remote location above a wooded combe.[3]

Descent

Spurway was for several centuries two separate manors, East Spurway and West Spurway.

East Spurway

Domesday Book

SPREWE is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the 74th of the 99 Devonshire holdings of Geoffrey de Montbray (d.1093), Bishop of Coutances,[4] one of the Devon Domesday Book tenants-in-chief of King William the Conqueror. Before the Norman Conquest of 1066 it was held by an Anglo-Saxon named Algar.[5]

Feudal barony of Barnstaple

In the Book of Fees of 1302 Spreweye is recorded as a possession of the feudal barony of Barnstaple.[6] In the record of Feudal Aids between 1284-1431[7] it is listed as Estsprewey, i.e. "East Spurway", held from Geoffrey de Camville (died 1308), feudal baron of Barnstaple, with member estates within the manor listed as Challewille (probably today's "Chawlmoor" Wood and copse) and Falwarigge (today's "Valeridge".[8]

West Spurway

Domesday Book

ESPREWEI is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the 14th of the 27 Devonshire holdings of Walter of Douai (c.1046-c.1107)[9] (alias "Walscin") one of the Devon Domesday Book tenants-in-chief of King William the Conqueror. His tenant was Hermer. Before the Norman Conquest of 1066 it was held by an Anglo-Saxon named Wulfric.[10]

de Servinton / de Mandeville

In the Book of Fees of 1302 Spreweye is recorded as held by Ivo de Servinton. This estate is listed in the record of Feudal Aids between 1284-1431[11] as Westsprewey, i.e. West Spurway, held from John de Mandeville of Coker in Somerset.[12]

de Spurway

At some time before 1244[13] the manor, or perhaps one of the two parts, came into the possession of the de Spurway (later Spurway) family, which as was usual[14] had taken their surname from their seat. Richard Spurway (fl. 1619) of nearby Tiverton, a younger son,[15] purchased the manor of Oakford from Sir Hugh Pollard of King's Nympton in Devon, father of Sir Lewis Pollard, 1st Baronet (fl.1627)[16] and great-grandson of the judge Sir Lewis Pollard (d.1526) of King's Nympton.[17] The Spurway family remained seated at Spurway until shortly before 1959.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.724; Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.502
  2. ↑ Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954), p.446
  3. ↑ Hoskins, p.446
  4. ↑ Thorn, Caroline & Frank, (eds.) Domesday Book, (Morris, John, gen.ed.) Vol. 9, Devon, Parts 1 & 2, Phillimore Press, Chichester, 1985, Part 2 (Notes), Chapter 3:74
  5. ↑ Thorne & Thorne, 3:74
  6. ↑ Thorne & Thorne, Part 2 (Notes), 3:74
  7. ↑ Inquisitions and Assessments Relating to Feudal Aids with other Analogous Documents Preserved in the Public Records Office AD 1284-1431, HMSO, 1899-1920, 6 Vols.
  8. ↑ Thorne & Thorne, Part 2 (Notes), 3:74
  9. ↑ Thorn, Caroline & Frank, (eds.) Domesday Book, (Morris, John, gen.ed.) Vol. 9, Devon, Parts 1 & 2, Phillimore Press, Chichester, 1985, Part 2 (Notes), Chapter 23:14
  10. ↑ Thorne & Thorne, 23:14
  11. ↑ Inquisitions and Assessments Relating to Feudal Aids with other Analogous Documents Preserved in the Public Records Office AD 1284-1431, HMSO, 1899-1920, 6 Vols.
  12. ↑ Thorne & Thorne, Part 2 (Notes), 23:14
  13. ↑ Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954), p.446
  14. ↑ For an explanation of how during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307) "men were commanded to assume unto themselves local names", see Risdon, Tristram (d.1640), Survey of Devon, 1811 edition, London, 1811, with 1810 Additions, p.249 re the Speccot family of Speccot in Devon
  15. ↑ Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.724, pedigree of Spurway of Spurway
  16. ↑ Vivian, p.598, pedigree of Pollard
  17. ↑ Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.444
  18. ↑ Hoskins, 1959, p.446
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