Pilton House, Pilton

Pilton House, near Barnstaple, Devon, built in 1746 by Robert Incledon[1] (1676-1758)
Crenellated mansion house on or near site of Pilton House, detail from an undocumented[2] 18th century (?) oil painting (see below) now in the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, showing a distant view from the west bank of the River Taw, of the adjacent towns of Barnstaple and Pilton
18th century view of Pilton (left) and Barnstaple (right), divided by the small River Yeo, flowing into the broad River Taw (foreground). Left: St Mary's Church, Pilton; Pilton Bridge over the River Yeo. The centrally placed crenellated white mansion house appears to represent Pilton House. Right: St Peter's Church, Barnstaple, with spire; Barnstaple Long Bridge over River Taw. Undocumented[3] 18th century (?) oil painting now in the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
Robert Incledon (1676-1758) builder of Pilton House in 1746. Portrait by Studio of Thomas Hudson (1701–1779), collection of Barnstaple Town Council, displayed in Barnstaple Guildhall

Pilton House in the parish of Pilton, near Barnstaple, North Devon, Ex31, is an historic grade II listed Georgian mansion house built in 1746 by Robert Incledon[1] (1676-1758), twice Mayor of Barnstaple, who was from nearby Braunton. It is situated almost in the centre of the ancient town of Pilton, but had formerly extensive grounds covering at least 20 acres, which extended down "Pilton Lawn", now built over, to the River Yeo. It later served as the residence for various Members of Parliament for Barnstaple, for which it was well suited being only a 10-minute walk from the centre of that town, yet in a secluded situation with extensive grounds, and sufficiently large and grand for entertaining borough officials and electors.

  1. ^ a b Reed, Margaret A., Pilton: Its Past and Its People, Barnstaple, 1985, p.143; Listed building text [1]
  2. ^ Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon has no information, whether regarding provenance, date or subject matter, on this very large painting hanging on the wall of the first floor, which dominates the staircase of the museum building in Barnstaple. The house depicted is a central element in the composition
  3. ^ Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon has no information, whether regarding provenance, date or subject matter, on this very large painting hanging on the wall of the first floor, which dominates the staircase of the museum building in Barnstaple. The house depicted is a central element in the composition