- Parkland and gardens
- Walled Kitchen Garden
Holcombe Court is the finest Tudor house in Devon. Early C16, partly rebuilt in the mid C16, major late C16 modernisations, some late C17 modernisations. It was built for the Bluett family who lived there until 1857. It was then brought by the Reverend W. Rayer who largely rebuilt the service wings and extensively modernised the rest between 1859 - 63. Holcombe Court and the church of All Saints form an uncommonly attractive group on the hill, close together yet separated by a wall with a cicular dovecote. The village climbs up to house and church. The south front of Holcombe Court is the most spectacular example of the Tudor style in Devon. In most respects Holcombe Court is a house on the compact courtyard plan usual in the county, only on a slightly more generous scale. The exception is the big buttressed tower over the entrance. The concept is still in the tradition of the fortified manor house, but the tower is a showpiece not intended for defence. Built for the Bluett family in the early C16 with some remodelling completed by the 1590’s; the north and west ranges were rebuilt in solid Victorian Tudor c.1859-68 by John Hayward for the Rev. W. Rayer. White(1850) noted that it was an’ ancient manor house, which is in the Gothic style, with a tower. The west wing was taken down in 1845 and the rest of the mansion has been lately repaired.’ The approach to the house from the Victorian entrance archway is given a pleasant informality by the attractive circular dovecote. Beyond this the stables, mostly C19, but incorporating older work; on the hill slope above, a walled garden (the wall dated 1748 and partly lined with brick inside), entered between gatepiers with pineapples. West of the house a C19 balustraded terrace with steps down to a small lake.
Holcombe Court listed Grade I ; cellar and woodsheds to north west, stables and coach house to east, kitchen garden walls to north, front terrace walls 20m. to south east and south west, front wall and gateway listed Grade II ; dovecote and adjoining stable yard walls all listed Grade II*.
Cherry & Pevsner: The Buildings of England – Devon, 1989: 486
T Gray: The Garden History of Devon, 1995: 124-25
T Gray: Devon Country Houses and Gardens Engraved Vol I, 2001:
