Castle Hill, Filleigh

Castle Hill, Filleigh, Devon, as built by Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Clinton, whose arms, quartering Clinton, are shown at top right
Castle Hill in 2014. The architectural "sham castle" is on the hill behind
Engraving of Castle-Hill, 1830
Castle Hill in 1880, south facade, published in Morris's "Country Seats"
Arms of Fortescue: Azure, a bend engrailed argent plain cotised or. Latin canting motto: Forte Scutum Salus Ducum ("A Strong Shield is the Salvation of Leaders").[1]
Castle Hill, main range, viewed from SW

Castle Hill in the parish of Filleigh in North Devon, is an early Neo-Palladian country house situated 3 miles (5 kilometres) north-west of South Molton and 8 mi (13 km) south-east of Barnstaple. It was built in 1730 by Hugh Fortescue, 14th Baron Clinton (1696–1751), who was later created in 1751 1st Baron Fortescue and 1st Earl of Clinton, the son of Hugh Fortescue (died 1719), lord of the manor of Filleigh, Weare Giffard, etc., whose family is earliest recorded as residing in the 12th century at the manor of Whympston in the parish of Modbury in South Devon. The Fortescue family became major land owners, influential in British and West Country history. Castle Hill is a rare example in Devon of an 18th-century country mansion "on the grand scale".[2]

The house was substantially reconstructed following a disastrous fire in 1934. It was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1967. The park and gardens are Grade I listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[3] Today the property is leased by Eleanor, Countess of Arran (born 1949), the granddaughter of Hugh Fortescue, 5th Earl Fortescue (1888–1958).

  1. ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.461
  2. ^ Cherry, p.247
  3. ^ Historic England. "Castle Hill (1000120)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 February 2016.