Copplestone

Copplestone

Copplestone Cross (centre), viewed from south-east; right: the A377 Road to Barnstaple, continuing left to Exeter; centre: the A3072 Road to Holsworthy and Launceston
Copplestone
 Copplestone shown within Devon
Population 1,253 (2011)
OS grid referenceSS7602
Civil parishCopplestone
DistrictMid Devon
Shire countyDevon
RegionSouth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town CREDITON
Postcode district EX17
Dialling code 01363
Police Devon and Cornwall
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK ParliamentTiverton and Honiton
List of places
UK
England
Devon

Coordinates: 50°48′N 3°45′W / 50.8°N 3.75°W

Copplestone (anciently Copleston, Coplestone etc.) is a village, former manor and civil parish in Mid Devon in the English county of Devon. It is not an ecclesiastical parish as it has no church of its own, which reflects its status as a relatively recent settlement which grew up around the ancient "Copleston Cross" (see below) which stands at the junction of the three ancient ecclesiastical parishes of Colebrooke, Crediton and Down St Mary.[1] According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 894,[2] increasing to 1,253 at the 2011 census.[3] It is situated right in the middle of Devon half way between Exeter and Barnstaple on the A377, nestled in a valley. Copplestone is a major part of the Yeo electoral ward whose total ward population was 3,488 at the above census.[4] The Tarka Line railway comes through the middle of the village and calls at Copplestone railway station. Copplestone is surrounded by hills and is not far from Dartmoor, visible to the east and Exmoor to the north, a little farther away. The surrounding countryside has been used for agriculture from before Roman occupation of the area.

Copplestone Cross

Copplestone Cross, south-west face, showing later niche cut into south face

In the centre of the village, standing at the junction of the three parishes of Colebrooke, Crediton and Down St Mary,[5] is the Copplestone Cross, a granite pillar, said to be either a boundary stone[6] or the surviving shaft of a decorated late Saxon cross.[7] It stands 3.2 metres high, and is 0.6 metres square, covered with intricate relief sculpted decoration. The granite for the cross must have been brought some 9 miles from Dartmoor, which suggests it had some deep cultural significance. It was mentioned as Copelan Stan[8] in a charter dated 974.[9] Putta, the second and last Bishop of Tawton (reigned 906-910), was murdered in 910 whilst travelling from his see at Bishops Tawton, on the River Taw 2 miles south of Barnstaple in North Devon, to visit the Saxon viceroy Uffa, whose residence was at Crediton.[10][11] It is believed that Copplestone Cross, situated 6 miles north-west of Crediton and 22 miles south-east of Bishops Tawton, was erected in commemoration of his murder at this spot.[12]

Manor of Copleston

Coplestone House, until 1993 in the ecclesiastical parish of Colebrooke,[13] Devon. Since 1993 in the modern civic parish of Copplestone. Built by Robert Madge circa 1787 on or near the site of the ancient manor house of the Copleston family[14]
Setting of Coplestone House, viewed from south

The Copleston Cross or Stone gave its name to the historic estate or manor of Copleston (modern: Coplestone) which was the earliest known home of the prominent historic Copleston family, one of the most ancient in Devon according to "that old saw often used among us in discourse", the traditional rhyme related by Prince (d.1723):[15]

"Crocker, Cruwys, and Coplestone,

When the Conqueror came were at home"

The Cruwys family in 2014 still resides in its ancient manor house at Cruwys Morchard where, despite the traditional rhyme, it is first recorded in the reign of King John (1199-1216), or possibly a little earlier.[16] The last male of the Crocker family of Lyneham in the parish of Yealmpton[17] in Devon was Courtenay Crocker (d.1740),[18] several times MP for Plympton.[19]

Descent

Copleston

Arms of Copleston: Argent, a chevron engrailed gules between three lion's faces azure. From monument to Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568-1648) and his wife Anne Copleston (1588-1616), Eggesford Church
Arms of Copleston, detail from 15th century Copleston Prayer Desk[20] in St Andrew's Church, Colebrooke

The Devon historian Tristram Risdon (d.1640) wrote concerning the parish of Colebrooke:[21]

"In this tything is Coplestone, which hath given name to a numerous family who for their fair possessions, their port (sic) (report?) and the respect they lived in, were intitled 'the Great Coplestones' besides dignified with the name of 'Whit Spurrs', some time a title of great note and in these western parts of much esteem. Of this name are many branches sprung who flourished in this county"

The Devon historian Sir William Pole (d.1635) stated the honour accorded to this family as "Silver Spurr", similar to Risdon's appellation, and added that it was connected to the fact that although they were a great county family which had married well, unusually no member of the family had ever been knighted. For his great revenue one member of the family, Raphe Copleston (d.1491),[22] was called 'The Great Copleston'.[23] The principal junior branches of the Copleston family were seated at the Devon manors or estates of: Bowden in the parish of Yealmpton, Instow, Upton Pyne, Kingdon in the parish of Alverdiscott, Woodland in the parish of Little Torrington, Weare Giffard, Eggesford[24] and Bicton. Copleston House was stated by Prince )d.1723) to be "all in ruines".[25] The present Copplestone House, situated about 1/2 mile south-east of Copplestone Cross, was rebuilt after 1787 in the Georgian style by Robert Madge, who had purchased the estate at that date. It is thought to be on a different site to the old mansion of the Copleston family, but does incorporate some of the older fabric.[26]

The descent of the senior family seated at Copleston was as follows:[27]

Monumental brass of Alyanora Copleston (d.1430), daughter of John Copleston and wife of John II Pollard of Way in the parish of St Giles in the Wood, Devon. She was the grandmother of Sir Lewis Pollard (c. 1465-1526), of King's Nympton, Justice of the Common Pleas. St Giles' Church, St Giles in the Wood
Richard Copleston (fl.1307/27)

Richard Copleston of Copleston, who according to Pole was party to a deed made during the reign of King Edward II (1307-1327) which was witnessed by William de Coplestona[28]

Adam/John Copleston

Adam (or John[29]) de Copleston of Copleston (son of Richard). His daughter Eleanor Copleston (d.1430) married John II Pollard of Way in the parish of St Giles in the Wood, Devon. She was the grandmother of Sir Lewis Pollard (c. 1465-1526), of King's Nympton, Justice of the Common Pleas.[30] A monumental brass exists in St Giles Church of this Alyanora Pollard (d.1430), of which only the original lower half of a female figure has survived, the top half being an accurate modern replacement, with the inscription below it:

Hic jacet Alyanora Pollard qui fuit uxor Joh(ann)is Pollard et filia Joh(ann)is Copleston qui obiit xxi die mensis Septembris Anno d(o)m(in)i Mill(ensi)mo CCCCXXX cuius animae propitietur Deus Amen.[31] (Here lies Eleanor / Alianore Pollard who was the wife of John Pollard and daughter of John Copleston who died on the 21st day of the month of September in the One thousandth four hundredth and thirtieth year of Our Lord of whose soul may God look upon with favour Amen.)
John I Copleston (d.1433)

John I Copleston of Copleston (d.1433) (son), buried in the parish church of Horwell in Devon, with a monument in Colebrooke Church. He married Catherine Grace (alias Graas), daughter and co-heiress of John Grace of Teign Grace[32] and divorced wife of John de Affeton of Affeton, Devon.

John II Copleston (d.1457)
Ledger stone of John II Copleston (d.1457) and his wife Elizabeth Hawley (d.1447),[33] Colebrooke Church

John II Copleston (d.1457) (son) of Copleston, thrice MP for Devon, Escheator of Devon and Cornwall and joint-steward (with Nicholas Radford) of the lands of the infant Earl of Devon.[34][35] He married Elizabeth Hawley (d.1447),[36] daughter and eventual heiress of John Hawley (called the younger) of Dartmouth (son of John Hawley (called the elder), MP) a wealthy ship owner and 12 times MP for Dartmouth, by his wife Emma Tresilian, daughter of Sir Robert Tresilian (d.1388), Lord Chief Justice. Tresilian's lands had been purchased by John Hawley the elder following his execution for treason in 1388, and in 1402 he acquired the wardship and marriage of Sir Robert Tresilian's daughter, called variously Emmeline, Elizabeth or Margaret.[37] In his will dated 18 October 1458[38] he requested to be buried in "St. Katherine’s Aisle" in Colebrook Church, and ordered the graves of himself and his wife to be covered with a marble slab, which much worn ledger stone survives in the north aisle of St Andrew's Church, Colebrooke. He instructed his executors to rebuild "St. Katherine’s Aisle" to match the other and to be furnished with service books, plate and vestments. At the east end of this north aisle is located the "Copleston Chapel", sectioned off by an ancient pierced oak screen, and restored after 1958 by the widow of Commander William Pope (1901-1958), Royal Navy, DSO, JP, of Coplestone House.[39]

Philip Copleston (fl.1472)

Philip Copleston (son) of Copleston, Sheriff of Devon in 1471/2.[40] In accordance with the will of his father he rebuilt the north aisle with the Copleston Chantry or Chapel at its east end.[41] He married Anne Bonville, daughter and heiress of John Bonville (1417-1494)[42] of Shute, nephew of the great William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville (1392–1461) of Shute. As Pole stated: "By this match of Bonvile's daughter the estate of Copleston was greatly augmented"[43] Anne Bonville was heiress, from her maternal grandmother Leva Gorges, to the manor of Tamerton Foliot[44] and her father John Bonville was, through his mother, the grandson and heir of Martin Ferrers.[45]

Raphe Copleston (d.1491)

Raphe Copleston (d.1491) (son), according to Vivian (1895) called "The Great Copleston",[46] on account of his great revenues.[47] He married Ellen Arundell, daughter of Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, St. Mawgan-in-Pyder, Cornwall, from a leading Cornish family. In the Subsidy of 1434 his estate was assessed at £100 and he served in the honourable position of Justice of the Peace in 1451.[48]

John III Copleston (1475-1550)

John III Copleston (1475-1550) (son) of Copleston, "The Great Copleston" according to Prince (d.1723).[49] He was co-heir of his great-grandfather John Bonville.[50] His monument survives in Colebrooke Church. He married twice, firstly to Margaret St Ledger, daughter and co-heiress of Bartholomew St Ledger, which marriage was childless; secondly he married Katherine Bridges, daughter of Raphe Bridges.

Christopher Copleston (1524-1586)

Christopher Copleston (1524-1586) (son by his father's 2nd marriage) of Copleston, Sheriff of Devon in 1560.[51] He married twice: firstly to Mary Courtenay, daughter of George Courtenay (who predeceased his father Sir William III Courtenay (1477–1535) "The Great"[52] of Powderham), which marriage was childless; secondly he married Jone Paulet, daughter of Sir Hugh Paulet (pre-1510-1573) of Hinton St George, Somerset, Governor of Jersey.

John IV Copleston (1546/9-1608)
Monument to John Copleston(d.1608) and Susanna Pollard his wife. St Mary's Church, Tamerton Foliot, north wall of chancel

John IV Copleston (1546/9-1608) (2nd son and heir, by father's 2nd marriage) of Copleston, who married Susan Pollard, a daughter of Lewis II Pollard (d.pre-1569) of King's Nympton, Recorder of Exeter and Sergeant-at-Law, grandson of Sir Lewis I Pollard (c. 1465-1526), Justice of the Common Pleas.[53] The couple's monument, erected in 1617 and repaired in 1894, survives in St Mary's Church, Tamerton Foliot,[54] inscribed in Latin as follows:

Johanni Coplestono Armigero huius manerie domino viro cum generis antiqui tum verae virtutis laude nobilitato: qui postquam aetatis suae annum LIX attigisset Warleiae suaviter in Christo obdormirvit, November 9 1608. Susanna uxor amantissima quae quinque filios et totidem filias peperit in spe resurrectionis bene merenti pie posuit, September 4, 1617 ("To John Copleston, Esquire, lord of this manor, a man famed as greatly for true virtue as noble descent, who after he had reached his 59th year went to sleep gently in Christ at Warleigh, November 9, 1608. Susanna his most beloved wife who brought forth five sons and as many daughters placed this piously in well deserved hope of resurrection, September 4, 1617")
Murder of godson

As related by Prince, John IV Copleston murdered his godson, possibly an illegitimate son, which "most unfortunate occurrence in this place of Tamerton...in all probability hastened the extinction of the name and family here and at Copleston also".[55] The godson had been sent abroad for his education and when he returned home to England overheard his godfather's private conversation and reported it amongst his circle of friends, which action soon found its way by gossip back to his godfather, whose indignation was "exceedingly enkindled" and who exclaimed: "Must boys observe and discant on the actions of men and of their betters?", and thenceforth resolved and sought all opportunities to be revenged upon him. The two next met at Tamerton Foliot church during the Sunday service, and the youth fled before the end of the service, having noticed his godfather's angry look. Having received a message from his godfather that his anger was over and that he could return to church, the youth appeared at church the next week at the usual time. However Copleston's rage was not over, and although the youth had again fled before the end of the service, Copleston followed him and threw a dagger into his back, which killed him instantly. Copleston fled, and implored all his influential friends at the royal court to procure him a pardon from Queen Elizabeth, which eventually he received, but not without having had to pay a large fine which necessitated the sale of thirteen of his manors in Cornwall. This story is related by Prince, who heard it from a gentleman who was a neighbour of the Coplestons.[56]

Amias Copleston (1581/2-1621)

Amias Copleston (1581/2-1621) (son) of Copleston. He was buried at Tamerton Foliot, the manor his ancestors had inherited by marriage to Anne Bonville. He resided at the former Gorges seat of Warleigh within that manor, and thus possibly had abandoned ancient Copleston as the family's principal seat. He married Gertrude Chichester (d.1621), 2nd daughter of Sir John Chichester (d.1586), Sheriff of Devon in 1576[57] son and heir of Sir John Chichester (1519/20-1569) of Raleigh,[58] from a leading family in North Devon.

John V Copleston (1609-1632)

John V Copleston (1609-1632) (son), who died aged 23 without progeny and was buried at Tamerton Foliot. He was the last of the family of Copleston of Copleston and Risdon wrote of him: "The heir male of this house was a hopeful young gentleman, lately dying issueless, who left his lands unto his two sisters, married into the families of Bampfield and Elford".[59] By these heirs the manor of Copleston was sold in 1659.[60] His two sisters and co-heiresses were:

The manor of Copleston descended into the families of Wollocombe and Fortescue.[64]

References

  1. ↑ Pevsner, p.276
  2. ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Mid Devon Retrieved 27 January 2010
  3. ↑ "Parish Population 2011.Retrieved 23 Feb 2015".
  4. ↑ "Yeo ward 2011.Retrieved 23 Feb 2015".
  5. ↑ Pevsner, p.276
  6. ↑ Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954), p.372
  7. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolaus & Cherry, Bridget, The Buildings of England: Devon, London, 2004, p.276
  8. ↑ Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954), p.372
  9. ↑ Baring-Gould, Sabine (1834-1924), A Book of the West, Being an Introduction to Devon & Cornwall, Vol. I, Devon, London, 1900, p.98
  10. ↑ Chattaway, Joseph, An Historical Sketch of the Danmonii: Or Ancient Inhabitants of Devonshire, 1830, p.79
  11. ↑ Pole: "Putta was next Bishop of Tawton & was slayne in his journey towards Crediton to visitt the Kinge", as recorded by John Hooker (d.1601) (Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.27)
  12. ↑ http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-443618-copplestone-cross-copplestone-devon
  13. ↑ Church guide booklet, St Andrew's Church, Colebrooke, 2002, inside front cover
  14. ↑ Pevsner, p.277
  15. ↑ Prince, John, (1643–1723) The Worthies of Devon, 1810 edition, p.274
  16. ↑ Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959 (first published 1954), p.380
  17. ↑ Pevsner, p.553
  18. ↑ Lysons, Daniel & Samuel, Magna Britannia, Volume 6, Devonshire (1822), Families removed since 1620, pp.173-225
  19. ↑ Prince, p.273
  20. ↑ Pevsner, p.276
  21. ↑ Risdon, Tristram (d.1640), Survey of Devon, 1811 edition, London, 1811, with 1810 Additions, p.97
  22. ↑ Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.224, pedigree of Copleston of Copleston
  23. ↑ Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.225
  24. ↑ Pedigrees of foregoing branches given in Vivian, 1895, pp.226-233
  25. ↑ Prince, p.237
  26. ↑ Pevsner, p.277
  27. ↑ Richard I Copleston per Pole, p.225, pedigree post Adam Copleston per Vivian, 1895, pp.224-5
  28. ↑ Pole, p.225, clarified by Prince, p.235
  29. ↑ according to the inscription on the monumental brass of his daughter Eleanor Pollard (d.1430) in the church of St Giles in the Wood, Devon
  30. ↑ Vivian, 1895, pp.597-8, pedigree of Pollard
  31. ↑ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ukdevon/StGilesInsideMIs.htm
  32. ↑ Thus the manor of Teign Grace came to the Coplestons (Risdon, p.135)
  33. ↑ Hope, pp.8;17. The last inscription on the ledger stone is (M)"CCCCxlvii"
  34. ↑ http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/copplestone-john-1458
  35. ↑ Hope, Rev. Vyvyan, St Andrew's Church, Colebrooke (church booklet), 1952, revised 2002, pp.8, 17; Vivian, p.224
  36. ↑ Hope, pp.8;17. The last inscription on the ledger stone is (M)"CCCCxlvii"
  37. ↑ http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/hawley-john-i-1408
  38. ↑ Date of will per Woodger; Date of death per Vivian, p.224: 1457
  39. ↑ Wooden tablet on north wall of Coplestone Chapel
  40. ↑ Vivian, p.224; Stabb, J., Some Old Devon Churches, London, 1908-16, p.65
  41. ↑ Stabb
  42. ↑ Vivian, 1895, p.102, pedigree of Bonville of Shute
  43. ↑ Pole, p.335
  44. ↑ Pole, p.335; Vivian, p.102
  45. ↑ Vivian, p.102
  46. ↑ Vivian, p.224
  47. ↑ Pole, p.225
  48. ↑ Prince, p.236
  49. ↑ Prince, p.235
  50. ↑ Vivian, p.224
  51. ↑ Prince, p.236
  52. ↑ Visitation of Devon, 1895 ed., p.246
  53. ↑ Vivian, p.598, pedigree of Pollard
  54. ↑ Pevsner, p.679
  55. ↑ Prince, p.237
  56. ↑ Prince, p.237
  57. ↑ Risdon, list of Sheriffs
  58. ↑ Vivian, p.174
  59. ↑ Risdon, p.97
  60. ↑ Hoskins, p.372
  61. ↑ Pevsner, p.725
  62. ↑ Vivian, p.329, pedigree of Elford of Sheepstor; Prince, p.238
  63. ↑ Vivian, p.355, pedigree of Fortescue
  64. ↑ Prince, p.238
  65. ↑ Risdon, p.402
  66. ↑ Burke's History of the Commoners, vol.2, p.28
  67. ↑ Vivian, p.40, pedigree of Bamfield of Poltimore
  68. ↑ Wotton, Thomas, The English Baronetage, Vol 2, London, 1741, p.195, Bampfylde of Poltimore

External links

Media related to Copplestone at Wikimedia Commons