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| Bellew of Stockleigh Court |
Thomas' death saw the estate pass to his uncle, Capt. Henry Bellew (c.1728-91), a retired captain in the Royal Navy, who was a younger son of Henry Bellew (d. 1752) and had married an American widow on his travels. Although Capt. Bellew lived long enough to erect the handsome monument to his nephew, quoted above, he died soon afterwards and was succeeded by his younger brother, John Bellew (1739-1821), a surgeon in Barnstaple. John's long life meant that he outlived both his two elder sons, and was succeeded by his youngest son, William Bellew (1771-1826) who, like his grandfather, was an officer in the Royal Navy. Although commonly referred to as 'Captain Bellew' he actually appears never to have risen above the rank of Lieutenant. Soon after he came into possession of the Stockleigh estate, he built the present house there, no doubt intending that it should be the seat of his descendants for many generations to come. William and his wife had three sons and three daughters. Unfortunately his eldest son died as a teenager, so William's heir was John Prestwood Bellew (1803-62); his third son, Henry Bellew (1808-94), purchased Oakhampton Manor, a Georgian house at Wiveliscombe (Somerset) in 1848. Much the most remarkable person whose life is documented below was, however, their youngest sister, the 'vain and affected' Caroline Bellew (1807-65), who courted publicity with an assiduity rarely seen before the 20th century rise of celebrity culture, and who acquired - or pretended to have acquired - a foreign title of nobility, becoming known as the Countess Bellew; her life would make a splendid costume drama!
On the death of John Prestwood Bellew in 1862 the Stockleigh estate passed to his elder son, John Froude Bellew (1829-91), an archetypal hunting squire. He also inherited Rhyll Manor at East Anstey (Devon) from his great-uncle, the equally hunting-obsessed Rev. John Froude (1777-1852), and he chose to make his home at East Anstey, with Stockleigh Court being let as a farmhouse. When John Froude Bellew died in 1891, leaving a daughter but no son, the Stockleigh estate passed to his younger brother, William Legassick Bellew (1841-1901), who sold it in 1894, bring to an end more than 300 years of family ownership. The family's other seat, Oakhampton Manor, passed from Henry Bellew (1808-94) to his son, Henry Bawden Bellew (1854-1904), whose widow settled it on their daughter, Mary Froude Llewellin Bellew (1886-1962) and her husband, Lt-Col. Harry Egerton Norton (1876-1950), who sold it in 1920. The Nortons were presumably favoured over Mary's brother, Col. Froude Dillon Bellew (later Trollope-Bellew) (1888-1959), as he had married the Hon. Dorothy Nesta Trollope (1888-1975), sister of the last Lord Kesteven, who inherited Casewick Hall (Lincs) from her brother after he was killed in the First World War. The Trollope-Bellews' surviving son, Thomas Fleming Trollope-Bellew (1920-93) inherited Crowcombe Court (Somerset) and sold Casewick after his mother died in 1975. The fine house at Crowcombe was let and later sold, but Thomas lived on the estate, as did his son, Anthony Trollope-Bellew (1953-2022), until his recent death in a tragic accident. Accounts of Crowcombe, Casewick, and other properties on these estates are reserved for future posts on the Trollope and Carew families.
The new house had four reception rooms on the ground floor (drawing and dining room at the front, and a library and breakfast room behind) and four principal bedrooms on the first floor. Little has changed since, except that the main entrance was moved from the east front to the west side and a new outer hall has been added. The interior retains much original joinery and plasterwork, and most of the original chimneypieces and decorative cast iron basket grates. Richard Moore, who bought the estate in 1894, divided the accommodation into two parts, to accommodate a tenant, an arrangement which seems to have lasted until 1983. In 1984 the property was sold to property developers and the following year to the senior partner in an Exeter estate agency, who added the curved steps up to the new front door.
A fairly plain but rather appealing early Georgian house, said to have been built for David Yea (d. 1751) in 1734, which had a nine-bay main front of two storeys below a cornice with another full storey above it. This seems to mask a rather more complex architectural story, however, for at the rear there were surviving elements of an earlier gabled house. The new block of 1734 seems to have been added to the south side of this, and was just a single room deep. Curiously, the new range never seems to have had a central doorcase, so the entrance must have remained through the older part of the building on the north side.
Stockleigh Court, Stockleigh English, Devon
The present house is a severely plain three-storey, five-bay building of rendered rubble with small single-storey hipped-roofed wings on either side of the main block, which have eared parapets. It was built in the early 1820s for Capt. William Bellew (1771-1826), although unfortunately the name of his architect is not recorded. Stockleigh had been the seat of a branch of the Bellew family from the late 16th century, and their previous house is thought to have been a thatched manor house on the side of the later stable block, which retains a two-light moulded oak window frame at its north end.
Descent: Henry Bellew (d. 1597); to son, Philip Bellew (c.1585-1662); to son, Henry Bellew (1614-96); to brother, William Bellew (1622-1700); to son, William Bellew (1660-1724?); to son, Henry Bellew (c.1697-1752); to son, William Bellew (1727-72); to son, Thomas Bellew (1756-89); to uncle, Capt. Henry Bellew (c.1728-91); to brother, John Bellew (1739-1821); to son, Capt. William Bellew (1771-1826); to son, John Prestwood Bellew (1803-62); to son, John Froude Bellew (1829-91); to brother, William Legassick Bellew (1841-1901), who sold 1894 to Richard Moore (d. 1952); to daughters; sold 1984 to property developers; sold 1985 to Martin Anthony Bruce Lamb (b. 1950).
Oakhampton Manor, Wiveliscombe, Somerset
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| Oakhampton Manor: rear elevation in 1945, showing the remains of an earlier gabled house. Image: Historic England AA53/846 |
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| Oakhampton Manor: the main front in 1945. Image: Historic England AA53/842. |
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| Oakhampton Manor: a late 18th century view, probably showing the intended effect of improvements to the house and landscape. Image: Janette Ray. |
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| Oakhampton Manor: a second late 18th century view, probably showing the intended effect of improvements to the house and landscape. Image: Janette Ray. |
In the late 18th century, two views of the house in a landscape setting were painted by an unknown artist. These show a seven bay block with return elevations of three bays to the east and west. I think the pictures are best interpreted as showing the intended effect of a remodelling of the house and grounds which would have given the house a more fashionable profile and setting.
Some elements of this scheme seem to have been adopted, for the house later had a three-bay elevation with entrance on the east, where the window details were different to, and later than, those of the sash windows on the south side. However, the proposed reduction from nine to seven bays was not carried out, and nor was the building of a three-bay return on the west side. In the park, the drives seem to follow the routes proposed in the paintings, but there is little evidence that the linear lake in the valley below was ever created.
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| Oakhampton Manor: the east end elevation in 1945. Image: Historic England AA53/845 |
In 1848, Oakhampton had four reception rooms (drawing room, dining room, breakfast room or library, and study) and sixteen bedrooms on the upper two floors, and sale particulars of 1920 reveal much the same accommodation. After being sold in 1951 to a neighbouring farmer who was interested in the 400 acres attached to the house, it stood empty and decaying until it was destroyed by a fire on 1 April 1956, which left only the external walls standing, and the ruins were demolished soon afterwards. The stable block (later remodelled as a house) and kitchen garden remain.
Descent: David Yea (c.1700-51); to son, David Yea (1721-72); to brother, Sir William Yea (1727-1806), 1st bt.; sold to George Scott; sold 1812 to Jonathan Elford (1752-1832) of Plymouth; sold 1832... sold 1848 to Henry Bellew (1808-94); to son, Harry Bawden Bellew (1854-1904); to widow, Ada Jane Bellew (1847-1933), who settled it on her daughter, Mary Froude Llewellin Bellew (1886-1962), wife of Lt-Col. Harry Egerton Norton (1876-1950), who sold 1920 to Capt. Augustus Charles Hubert Wight-Boycott (1882-1959); sold 1951 to F.J. Elliot of Oakhampton Farm, who abandoned it; burnt 1956 and demolished soon afterwards.
Bellew (later Trollope-Bellew) family of Stockleigh Court and Oakhampton Manor
Bellew, Henry (d. 1597). Second son of William Bellew of Alverdiscott (Devon) and his wife Anne, daughter of Sir Hugh Stucley of Affeton House (Devon). He married Elizabeth, daughter of Amyas Chichester of Arlington (Devon), and had issue, probably among others:
(1) Henry Bellew (b. c.1580), of Huntsham (Devon);(2) Philip Bellew (c.1585-1662) (q.v.);(3) James Bellew; married [forename unknown] Daws and had issue one son;(4) George Bellew (b. c.1596);(5) Anne Bellew; married William Phillips of Alverdiscott (Devon);(6) Mary Bellew; died unmarried, aged 30.
He acquired Stockleigh Court.
He was buried at Stockleigh English in October 1597. His wife's date of death is unknown.
Bellew, Philip (c.1585-1662). Second son of Henry Bellew (d. 1597) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Amyas Chichester of Arlington (Devon), born about 1585. He married, 12 May 1610 at Stockleigh English, Joan (d. 1644), daughter of John Quicke of Stockleigh Pomeroy (Devon), and had issue:
(1) Elizabeth Bellew (b. 1611), baptised at Stockleigh English, 21 July 1611; married, 27 June 1639 at Stockleigh English, John Furse;(2) Henry Bellew (1614-96) (q.v.);(3) Gertrude Bellew (b. 1616), baptised at Stockleigh English, 12 May 1616;(4) Philip Bellew (b. 1620), baptised at Stockleigh English, 20 July 1620; died before 1696;(5) William Bellew (1622-1700) (q.v.);(6) Mary Bellew (1625-61?), baptised at Stockleigh English, 15 May 1625; possibly the woman of this name buried at Stockleigh English, 14 March 1660/1;(7) Joan Bellew (1627-76?), baptised at Stockleigh English, 26 July 1627; possibly the woman of this name buried at Yarnscombe, 27 December 1676.
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father in 1597.
He died 12 October 1662 and was buried at Stockleigh English. His wife was buried at Stockleigh English, 10 March 1643/4.
Bellew, Henry (1614-96). Eldest son of Philip Bellew (c.1585-1662) and his wife Joan, daughter of John Quicke of Stockleigh Pomeroy (Devon), baptised at Stockleigh English, 8 March 1613/4. He married, 15 April 1635 at Stockleigh English, Jane Burgon, but apparently had no issue.
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father in 1662.
He died 1 November 1696 and was buried at Stockleigh English, 5 November 1696. His wife's date of death is unknown.
Bellew, William (1622-1700). Third son of Philip Bellew (c.1585-1662) and his wife Joan, daughter of John Quick, baptised at Stockleigh English, 14 August 1622. He married, 2 September 1650 at Stockleigh English, Rose How/Hall, and had issue:
(1) William Bellew (1660-1724?) (q.v.);(2) Philip Bellew (1663-96), baptised at Yarnscombe (Devon), 14 April 1663; died 18 May and was buried at Yarnscombe, 30 May 1699;(3) Henry Bellew (d. 1720); married and had issue at least one son (Henry (d. 1712)); died 1 March and was buried at Stockleigh English, 8 March 1720.
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his brother in 1696.
He died 25 September 1700 and was buried at Stockleigh English. His wife's date of death is unknown.
Bellew, William (1660-1724?). Eldest son of William Bellew (1622-1700) and his wife Rose How/Hall, born 19 May and baptised at Yarnscombe (Devon), 6 June 1660. He married, 7 October 1696 at Great Torrington, Anna, daughter of William Eyre of Great Torrington (Devon), and had issue:
(1) Henry Bellew (c.1697-1752) (q.v.).
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father in 1700.
He is probably the William Bellew of Exeter whose will was proved in 1724. His wife's date of death is unknown.
Bellew, Henry (c.1697-1752). Only recorded son of William Bellew (1660-1724?) and his wife Anna, daughter of William Eyre, born about 1697. He married, 14 April 1725 at Barnstaple (Devon), Frances (1698-1770), daughter of William Barbor of Lary and Raleigh (Devon), and had issue:
(1) William Bellew (1727-72) (q.v.);(2) Capt. Henry Bellew (c.1728-91) (q.v.);(3) Frances Bellew (1730-70), baptised at Stockleigh English, 25 February 1729/30; married, 17 January 1757 at Satterleigh (Devon), Horatio Hele (1726-84) of Great Torrington, surgeon, but had no issue; buried at Stockleigh English, 2 September 1770;(4) Anna Bellew (b. 1731), baptised at Stockleigh English, 7 April 1731; perhaps died young;(5) Roger Bellew (b. 1733), baptised at Stockleigh English, 17 May 1732; died without issue;(6) Peternell (Petronella) Bellew (1734-62), baptised at Stockleigh English, 1 October 1734; died unmarried and was buried at Stockleigh English, 16 April 1762;(7) Elizabeth Bellew (1736-1801), baptised at Stockleigh English, 5 January 1736/7; died unmarried, 14 October 1801;(8) twin, John Bellew (1739-1821) (q.v.);(9) twin, Sarah Bellew (b. 1739), baptised at Stockleigh English, 22 February 1738/9; perhaps died in infancy.
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father, probably in 1724.
He died 12 October and was buried at Stockleigh English, 15 October 1752. His widow was buried 2 September 1770.
Bellew, William (1727-72). Eldest son of Henry Bellew (c.1697-1752) and his wife Frances, daughter of William Barbor of Lary and Raleigh (Devon), baptised at St Kerrian, Exeter, 29 October 1727. He married, 30 December 1755 at Great Torrington (Devon), Mary (c.1734-57), daughter of Rev. Thomas Morrison of Yeovale, and had issue:
(1) Thomas Bellew (1756-89) (q.v.).
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father in 1752.
He died 9 March and was buried at Stockleigh English, 14 March 1772. His wife was buried at Stockleigh English, 27 December 1757.
Bellew, Thomas (1756-89). Only child of William Bellew (1727-72) and his wife Mary, daughter of Rev. Thomas Morrison of Yeovale, baptised at Cheriton Fitzpaine (Devon), 10 October 1756. He died unmarried and without issue.
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father. At his death the estate passed to his uncle, Capt. Henry Bellew (c.1728-91).
He died after a sudden illness, 22 June 1789, and was buried at Stockleigh English, where he is commemorated by a monument erected by his uncle.
Bellew, Henry (c.1728-91). Second son of Henry Bellew (c.1697-1752) and his wife Frances, daughter of William Barbor of Lary and Raleigh (Devon), born about 1728. Joined the Royal Navy in 1743 (Midshipman, 1747; Lt., 1756; Cdr., 1762; Capt., 1771; retired 1779). He married, 25 March 1770 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire (USA), Anne (1743-1802?), daughter of John Tasker (d. 1761) of Marblehead, Massachusetts (USA) and widow of Thomas Wentworth (c.1740-68) of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but had no issue.
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his nephew in 1789.
He died 18 April and was buried at Stockleigh English, 23 April 1791; his will was proved in the PCC, 14 May 1791. His widow is said to have died in 1802, perhaps having returned to America, as there seems to be no record of her death in England.
Bellew, John (1739-1821). Fourth and youngest son of Henry Bellew (c.1697-1752) and his wife Frances, daughter of William Barbor of Lary and Raleigh (Devon), baptised at Stockleigh English, 22 February 1738/9. Surgeon in Barnstaple (Devon). He married, 13 April 1763 at St Paul, Exeter (Devon), Philippa Le Comte (d. 1811), an heiress, and had issue:
(1) Frances Bellew (1764-1840), baptised at Barnstaple, 12 April 1764; lived latterly at Exeter; died unmarried, 22 December, and was buried at Holy Trinity, Exeter, 30 December 1840; left a will favouring her niece Caroline (1807-65) which was contested by her niece Frances (1806-69);(2) John Pillet Bellew (1767-1815), baptised at Barnstaple, 27 February 1767; died unmarried in the lifetime of his father, and was buried at Stockleigh English, 23 September 1815;(3) Henry Bellew (1768-1806), baptised at Barnstaple, 9 August 1768; surgeon and apothecary in Barnstaple; mayor of Barnstaple, 1805-06 but died in office; married, 30 August 1802 at Barnstaple, Elizabeth (1772-1826), daughter of William Cottell, and had issue two daughters who died in infancy; died in the lifetime of his father, 6 March, and was buried at Barnstaple, 12 March 1806;(4) William Bellew (1771-1826) (q.v.);(5) Philippa Bellew (1774-1841), baptised at Barnstaple, 5 January 1775; an epileptic who lived in the care of her sister Frances and was described as 'an imbecile'; died unmarried, 6 February 1841.
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his brother in 1791. He purchased a house in Exeter as a dower house for his wife and daughters, should they survive him.
He died 20 October was buried at Stockleigh English, 27 October 1821; his will was proved in the PCC, 28 November 1821. His wife died 26 January and was buried at Stockleigh English, 1 February 1811.
Bellew, William (1771-1826). Third, but eldest surviving, son of John Bellew (1739-1821) and his wife Philippa Le Comte, baptised at Barnstaple (Devon), 21 April 1771. An officer in the Royal Navy (Lt., 1793). He married, 8 December 1798 at Knowstone (Devon), Prestwood Love (1772-1854), daughter of Rev. John Froude (1743-1803), rector of Knowstone and Molland (Devon), and had issue:
(1) Louisa Philippa Bellew (1800-33), born 5 December 1800 and baptised at Stockleigh English, 27 April 1806; married, 22 August 1829 at St James Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), Edward Pain (1804-91) (who m2, 29 September 1835 at Heavitree, Exeter (Devon), Edna (1811-51), daughter of Joseph Davy and had further issue three sons and one daughter, and m3, 3 October 1861 at Cossington (Som.), Octavia Georgiana (1828-83), daughter of Edmund Broderip, and had further issue one daughter), son of Solomon Pain of Axbridge (Som.), and had issue one son and one daughter; died in London and was buried at St James Piccadilly, 13 March 1833;(2) William Henry Bellew (1802-15), born 20 April and baptised at Stockleigh English, 27 April 1802; died young, 10 June, and was buried at Stockleigh English, 15 June 1815;(3) John Prestwood Bellew (1803-62) (q.v.);(4) Frances Bellew (1806-69), born 25 February and baptised at Aylesbeare (Devon), 17 July 1806; she was said in the 1860s to have a gambling habit; she fell out with her sister, Caroline, over their aunt's will, which she contested unsuccessfully, and later with her brother, Henry, over their sister's will, which she also contested unsuccessfully; died unmarried, 28 October, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, 1 November 1869; will proved 22 November 1869 (effects under £1,500);(5) Caroline Bellew (1807-65), baptised at Aylesbeare, 8 June 1807; described as 'vain and affected', she was evidently an accomplished self-publicist; her presence at social functions and dress were far more regularly reported in the press than was usual; in the late 1830s she persuaded her aunt, Miss Frances Bellew (d. 1840) to make her her principal heir and executor to the partial exclusion of her siblings (the will was challenged unsuccessfully); in 1842 she figured in the press as the heroine of a somewhat opaque affair which involved a man of her acquaintance gaining access to her bedroom in a Paris hotel for dishonourable and perhaps felonious purposes; next she was accused of forcing her friendship on a rich widow in Exeter with a view to becoming her heir; in 1848 there was an episode with 'a love-lorn footman' and in the 1850s she 'procured a foreign title' as Countess Bellew, which she afterwards called herself although there seems no record of it being granted; she died 24 February and was buried at Stockleigh English, 3 March 1865, leaving a will which was contested between her siblings; administration of goods granted 1 June 1866 (effects under £25,000);(6) Henry Bellew (1808-94) (q.v.).
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father in 1821, and rebuilt the house. After his death his widow moved to Exeter.
He died of apoplexy (stroke), 17 June 1826, and was buried at Stockleigh English, where he and his parents are commemorated on a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 8 August 1826. His widow died 14 February 1854; her will was proved in the PCC, 29 April 1854.
Bellew, John Prestwood (1803-62). Second, but eldest surviving son of Capt. William Bellew (1771-1826) and his wife Prestwood Love, daughter of Rev. John Froude, rector of Knowstone and Molland (Devon), born 19 July 1803 and baptised at Aylesbeare (Devon), 17 July 1806. Educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1821). In 1839 he was tried at the Devon County Assizes for assault, but acquitted. He married, 8 May 1827* at Wiveliscombe (Som.), Mary Anne (c.1807-90), daughter of William Hancock of Wiveliscombe, and had issue:
(1) John Froude Bellew (1829-91) (q.v.);(2) Louisa Philippa Bellew (1831-1909), born 31 January and baptised at Stockleigh English, 14 July 1831; died unmarried, 16 November 1909; will proved 27 January 1910 (estate £9,212);(3) Fanny Bellew (1834-1924), baptised at Stockleigh English, 23 April 1834; married, 6 September 1860 at Stockleigh English, Henry Swete Archer (1834-98) of Oldbury Lodge, Bishop's Hull (Som.), sixth and youngest son of Lt-Col. Edward Archer (1792-1834) of Trelaske (Cornw.), and had issue one daughter; died aged 90 on 14 September 1924; will proved 25 October 1924 (estate £6,268);(4) Mary Anne Carrington Bellew (1837-1905), baptised at Stockleigh English, 13 December 1837; died unmarried, 31 March 1905; will proved 10 May 1905 (estate £9,480);(5) Camilla Prestwood Bellew (1839-91), baptised at Stockleigh English, 25 November 1839; died unmarried at Brampford Speke (Devon), 27 August 1891, and was buried at Stockleigh English; will proved 8 February 1892 (effects £2,415);(6) William Legassick Bellew (1841-1901) (q.v.).
He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father in 1826.
He died 24 January and was buried at Stockleigh English, 30 January 1862; his will was proved 6 March 1862 (effects under £1,500). His widow died 2 March and was buried at Stockleigh English, 3 March 1890; her will was proved 25 April 1890 (estate £658).
* The marriage was the last conducted in the old church at Wiveliscombe before it was rebuilt in 1827-29.
Bellew, John Froude (1829-91). Elder son of John Prestwood Bellew (1803-62) and his wife Mary Anne, daughter of William Hancock of Wiveliscombe (Som.), born 15 April 1829 and baptised at Stockleigh English, 14 July 1831. Educated at Sherborne School. JP for Devon (from 1857). A Conservative in politics, he was a simple and robust hunting squire, who was at different times Master of the North Molton Harriers and the Dulverton Hunt. According to one local historian he was not a man to be crossed: “[he] drank, hunted, lied and cheated and, amongst other activities, showed his displeasure when a parishioner was disobedient by setting fire to his hayricks”, although his obituary describes him as 'a kind landlord'. He married, 8 June 1871 at Dulverton (Som.), Louisa (1847-1932), third daughter of Rev. Henry John Taylor, rector of Dulverton (Som.), and had issue:
(1) Eveline Maude Froude Bellew (1872-1965), born 10 June 1872; married 1st, 28 April 1897 at Wiveliscombe, Sidney Nutcombe-Quicke (1869-98) of Templecombe House (Som.), only son of Maj. Sidney Godolphin Quicke, and had issue one daughter; married 2nd, 16 June 1913, Prof. Reginald Crundall Punnett FRS (d. 1967) of Whittinghame Lodge, Cambridge, professor of genetics at Cambridge Univ.; died 11 July 1965; will proved 27 August 1965 (estate £43,368).
He inherited Rhyll Manor, East Anstey (Devon) in 1852 from his great-uncle, the famous hunting parson, Rev. John Froude (1777-1852) of Knowstone, who also bequeathed him his pack of harriers. He inherited Stockleigh Court from his father in 1862.
He died 16 March 1891; his will was proved 11 June 1891 (effects £3,801) His widow died 26 February 1932; her will was proved 6 April 1932 (estate £7,467).
Bellew, William Legassick (1841-1901). Younger son of John Prestwood Bellew (1803-62) and his wife Mary Anne, daughter of William Hancock of Wiveliscombe (Som.), born 22 September 1841. JP for Devon. He was unmarried and without issue.
He lived at Henspark, East Anstey (Devon); at his death this property is said to have passed to his cousin, Ernest Legassick Hancock. He inherited Stockleigh Court from his elder brother in 1891 but sold it in 1894.
He died 12 June 1901; administration of his goods was granted to his sister, Fanny Archer, 20 August 1901 (estate £32,784).
Bellew, Henry (1808-94). Third and youngest son of Capt. William Bellew (1771-1826) and his wife Prestwood Love, daughter of Rev. John Froude, rector of Knowstone and Molland (Devon), born 31 August 1808. An officer in the East Devon Volunteer Cavalry (Cornet, 1831). A director of the Wiveliscombe Slate Co. (wound up, 1880). He married, 16 June 1847, Mary Froude (1819-1902), daughter of Humphrey John Norris Bawden of South Molton (Devon), and had issue:
(1) Ada Mary Bellew (1851-82), born 5 April 1851; died unmarried, 16 February 1882; administration of her goods granted to her father, 5 April 1882 (effects £1,466);(2) Henry Bawden Bellew (1854-1904) (q.v.).
He was evidently living in Roxburghshire before his marriage. He acquired Oakhampton House alias Manor, Wiveliscombe (Som.) in 1848.
He died 19 April, and was buried at Wiveliscombe, 24 April 1894, where he is commemorated by a mural tablet; his will was proved 31 May 1894 (effects £10,563). His widow died 12 April 1902; her will was proved 12 July 1902 (estate £3,887).
Bellew, Henry (k/a Harry) Bawden (1854-1904). Only son of Henry Bellew (1808-94) and his wife Mary Froude, daughter of Humphrey Norris Bawden of South Molton (Devon), born 31 January and baptised at Wiveliscombe, 17 March 1854. Educated at Sherborne School. Landowner and farmer; a director of the Wiveliscombe Slate Co. (wound up, 1880). He married, 19 August 1885 at Trevethin (Mon.), Ada (1847-1933), elder daughter of William Llewellin of Glanwern, Pontypool (Mon.), mining engineer, and widow of Benjamin Boucher (1831-74), of Wiveliscombe, solicitor, and had issue:
(1) Mary Froude Llewellin Bellew (1886-1962), born 9 June and baptised at Wiveliscombe, 16 July 1886; married, 16 January 1909 at Holy Trinity, Chelsea (Middx), Lt-Col. Harry Egerton Norton (1876-1950) of Birdingbury Hall (Warks), eldest son of Robert Norton of Talycafn (Denbighs.), and had issue one son; died 4 December 1962; will proved 21 February 1963 (estate £22,155);(2) Col. Froude Dillon Bellew (later Trollope-Bellew) (1888-1959) (q.v.).
He inherited Oakhampton Manor from his father in 1894. After his death it passed to his widow, who evidently settled it on her daughter and son-in-law, who sold it in 1920.
He died 17 September, and was buried at Wiveliscombe, 21 September 1904; his will was proved 7 March 1905 (estate £20,322). His widow died 25 October 1933; her will was proved 8 January 1934 (estate £1,420).
Bellew (later Trollope-Bellew), Col. Froude Dillon (1888-1959). Only son of Henry Bawden Bellew (1854-1904) and his wife Ada, elder daughter of William Llewellin of Glanwern, Pontypool (Mon.) and widow of Benjamin Boucher of Wiveliscombe, solicitor, born 22 February and baptised at Wiveliscombe, 5 April 1888. Educated at Rugby School and RMC Sandhurst. An officer in the Somerset Light Infantry (2nd Lt., 1907; Capt. 1914; T/Maj., 1916 and A/Lt-Col, 1918) and later the Pioneer Corps (Maj. 1940; Lt-Col. 1941; retired as Col., 1945), who served in the First and Second World Wars, and was awarded the MC, 1916; DSO, 1917; and OBE, 1945. JP and DL for Kesteven (from 1937), and a member of Kesteven County Council from 1928 (Alderman, 1936). He and his wife assumed the name Trollope-Bellew by royal licence in 1920. He married, 17 October 1918 at Crowcombe (Som.), the Hon. Dorothy Nesta JP (1888-1975), only daughter of Maj. the Hon. Robert Cranmer Trollope (1852-1908) of Crowcombe Court, and sister and sole heiress of Thomas Carew Trollope (1891-1915), 3rd Baron Kesteven, of Casewick Hall (Lincs), and had issue:
(1) Thomas Fleming Trollope-Bellew (1920-93) (q.v.);(2) Anthony Froude Trollope-Bellew (1922-42), born 23 June 1922; educated at Eton; inherited the Crowcombe Court estate from his grandmother in 1934; an officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1941), who was killed in action at the Battle of El Alamein, 2/3 November 1942; administration of goods granted to his mother, 30 June 1944 (estate £603);(3) John Cranmer Trollope-Bellew (1925-38), born 29 March 1925; died young, 22 June 1938.
His wife inherited the estate of her brother at Casewick Hall (Lincs), in 1915, and was also heir to her mother's family estate at Carew Castle (Pembs.), which she apparently inherited in 1934.
He died 18 December 1959 and was buried at Crowcombe; his will was proved 31 March 1960 (estate £21,854). His widow died at Casewick, 6 March 1975; her will was proved 7 August 1975 and 4 October 1977 (estate £825,249).
Trollope-Bellew, Maj. Thomas Fleming (1920-93). Eldest and only surviving son of Col. Froude Dillon Bellew (later Trollope-Bellew) (1888-1959) and his wife the Hon. Dorothy Nesta JP, only daughter of Maj. the Hon. Robert Cranmer Trollope of Crowcombe Court (Som.) and sister and sole heiress of Thomas Carew, 3rd Baron Kesteven, born 12 April 1920. Educated at Radley College (Berks). An officer in the 6th (Territorial) Battn, Royal Lincolnshire Regiment (2nd Lt., 1939; Lt., 1945; Capt. 1947; Maj., 1948; retired 1952) and Somerset Light Infantry (Maj., 1954) who served in the Second World War in Europe and India. He was a Member of the Parts of Kesteven County Council, 1946-after 1951 and Chairman of Williton Rural District Council, 1966-69. Master of Crowcombe Basset Hounds (disbanded 1954). He married, 12 September 1951 at Stamford School Chapel, Dorothy Modwen (c.1931-2020), daughter of Martin Clive Wainwright (d. 1981) of Northfields House, Stamford (Lincs), schoolmaster, and had issue:
(1) Anthony Henry Trollope-Bellew (1953-2022), born 5 January 1953; educated at Radley; his grandmother made over the Carew Castle estate to him before 1972 and he inherited the Crowcombe estate from his father in 1993, but later sold the house; an officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1973; Lt., 1974; ret. 1978); farmer at Hurley Farm, Crowcombe (Som); Conservative member of Somerset County Council, West Somerset Council (Leader 2015-19) and Somerset West and Taunton Council, 2019-22; Chairman of Quantocks Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; married, 1990, Annabel Clare (b. 1968), daughter of Christopher Edward George Collier (1935-2018) of Ilminster (Som.) and had issue two daughters; died in an accident on his farm in the Quantocks, 28 October, and was buried at Crowcombe, 23 November 2022;(2) Thomas Martin Trollope-Bellew (b. 1956), of The Old Hall, Barholm (Lincs), born 10 March 1956; educated at Milton Abbey School (Dorset); member of Lincolnshire County Council, 1997-2017 (Chairman, 2016-17); married 1st, 9 May 1996, Maria Henrietta Joanna White, and 2nd, 2017, Rosemary Helen Woolley (b. 1959), a member of South Kesteven District Council and Lincolnshire County Council.
He inherited the Crowcombe Court estate from his elder brother in 1942, but the house itself was leased for a variety of institutional purposes. He inherited Casewick Hall (Lincs) from his mother in 1975 but sold it the following year.
He died 6 March 1993; his will was proved 23 July 1993 (estate £1,591,534). His widow died 14 March 2020; her will was proved 27 June 2021.
Principal sources
Burke's Landed Gentry, 1972, pp. 58-60; H. Meller, The country houses of Devon, 2015, pp. 952-53.
Location of archives
Bellew family of Stockleigh Court: deeds and estate papers, c.1801-1902 [Devon Archives & Local Studies 1926 B/BL]
Trollope-Bellew family of Casewick Hall: deeds, legal, family, estate and household papers relating to Casewick estate, 13th-20th cents [Lincolnshire Archives, TB]
Coat of arms
Bellew: Sable, fretty or.
Trollope-Bellew: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, sable, fretty or (for Bellew); 2nd and 3rd, vert, three stags courant argent, attired or, within a bordure of the second and (for distinction), a canton gules (for Trollope).
Can you help?
- Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
- If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.
Revision and acknowledgements
This post was first published 9 May 2023 and was updated 13 May 2023.
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