Coffins, mid-20th century
In the 1600s and early 1700s “Coffin” seems to have been the more usual form of the name. It then became “Coffins”. When George Lambert MP married in 1904 and brought his bride back to Coffins, she did not like the funereal associations of the name and thereafter it has usually been spelt “Cofyns” or “Coffyns”. The etymology is uncertain. But there is a large and ancient Devon family called Coffin, and it may be that a Coffin once owned the property (there is or was for instance a Coffins in Sowton associated with the Coffin family).
Coffins was part of the Manor of Spreyton that belonged to the Talbots in the Middle Ages. The farm would have been rented out to bring income to the lord of the manor. At some point, ownership of the Manor and of the farms belonging to it was split between three people, each of whom would have taken a share of the rental of the farm. By the 1600s, one half of Spreyton Manor, including Coffins, belonged to the Trend family of Chagford (who had probably acquired it from the Kelly family); one quarter to the Kelly family of Kelly in West Devon; and one quarter to the Wise family of Sydenham, who sold it to a Spreyton family called Risdon in 1657.
From the mid-1600s onwards, Coffins was leased by its three landlords to the Hore family; William Hore is for instance recorded as paying rent for the property in a 1644 document in the Devon Record Office. The Hores no doubt had to sign separate leases with each of the part-owners (property arrangements in those days made plenty of work for the lawyers). There is a document showing that, in 1655, a widow called Jane Hore paid John and Agnes Baron £60 for the residue of a lease on half the property for 99 years from the death of Raph Hore, determinable upon the lives of Jane Hore and her son Thomas. Raph Hore was probably an elderly relation, the only remaining life on the property, and the new 99-year lease was no doubt to ensure the property remained with the Hore family after his death.
After Jane’s death, the leasehold passed to her son Thomas. By the mid 1700s, another Thomas Hore, probably the son or grandson of the previous one, still had the leasehold of the property. He appears to have become quite grand (in 1743 he was described as “Esquire”, ie one above “gentleman” and two above “yeoman”). He was recorded in the parish records as being the churchwarden for Coffins in 1712 and 1714 (landholders took it in turn to be churchwarden), so it is possible that he lived there. In about 1744 he moved to Nymph in South Tawton, and from then on the property had other tenants.In 1767, for instance, the tenant was Samuel Honeycombe.
There are a number of memorials to the Hore family in Spreyton church, including one to Thomas Hore of Nymph who died in 1746. An earlier Thomas Hore, probably the son of Jane, was one of the churchwardens whose names were inscribed on one of the Spreyton bells in 1678.
In the 18th century, many of the big manorial landlords were selling off parts of their estates, and the Hores seem to have taken advantage of this to purchase as much of the freehold of Coffins as they could. In 1744 Thomas Hore purchased the freehold of a half share of Coffins and the Deerparks (fields now belonging to Coffins but which presumably had earlier been in different ownership) from John Trend of Chagford, for £130. And in 1755 Agnes Hore (probably the widow of Thomas) acquired the freehold of a further quarter share from Arthur Kelly of Kelly for £99. Thomas’s daughter, also Agnes, married into the Trist family of Totnes, and Coffins then passed into their hands. In 1777, Hore Browse Trist (Agnes’s son) acquired the final quarter of the freehold from the Rev. Richard Hole, a rich cleric who had inherited the Risdons’ quarter share in the property.
The Trists let the property to first John and then Christopher Coplestone. Hore Browse Trist died intestate in 1791 and his extensive estate (mostly in other parts of Devon) became the joint property of his three infant daughters. When they reached adulthood, they obtained an Act of Parliament to enable them to divide the properties between them, and Coffins was bestowed by this Act on Tryphena Trist. The property was then sold to George Cann of Falkedon, probably in two stages, the first half in the 1790s; and the second half in 1803 (for £600). George Cann was a bachelor, and in his will he bequeathed his property to his nephew George Lambert Gorwyn. But, probably because he made his will before the purchase of the second half of the freehold, Coffins passed by the law of intestacy to his brother John Cann of Fuidge, from whom George Lambert Gorwyn purchased it in 1808, again for £600.The various bits of the freehold continued to be subject to various conditions and reservations imposed by previous owners when they sold them on. Thus the hunting and fowling rights continued to belong to the heirs of Richard Hole. It is not clear if the Lambert Gorwyns purchased the hunting rights from the Holes at a later stage, or if they were just forgotten about.
The new owner, George Lambert Gorwyn (1763-1837), lived at Falkedon, and also owned the neighbouring farms of Croft and Rugroad. He seems to have farmed the land at Coffins, while letting the house or using it to house his farm labourers. In 1812, according to parish records, Robert and Grace Sampson were living there. By 1814 Samuel Powlesland, a farm labourer, and his wife Mary were there.In 1820 two other families are recorded as living there: John Crotch, schoolmaster, and his wife Elizabeth and John Northam, another farm labourer, and his wife Grace.These people may not all have been living in the house; they may have been in a cottage or cottages that belonged to the property (there is reference, for instance, in a document to a “Ball Park Cottage” on the estate).
There is a poignant gravestone belonging to the Crotch family in Spreyton churchyard. It reads:
THISstone is erected to mark the
spot
where are deposited the
remains
of the numerous family of John
and Elizabeth Crotch. Late of
Coffins in this parish: which
family
Were removed at an early and premature Age
From this transitory life
To live thereafter in a happier
state.
Maria, daughter of the
above
John and Elizabeth Crotch was
here
buried on the 21st day of
December 1808
Aged 1 year.
Also Mary Ann, daughter of the
above was here buried the 2nd
day of February 1809 aged 18
days
Also Elizabeth, daughter of the
above
Was here buried on the 5th day
of August 1820 aged 11 days.
Crotch grave
George Lambert Gorwyn had an unsatisfactory son, also called George.George senior put him and his family into Coffins in the 1820s, presumably in place of the Crotches and Northams. Whether because of this, or because George junior was just thoroughly unpopular, the villagers turned him out of Coffins by force, dumping all his belongings at Spreyton Cross (from where the local blacksmith is alleged to have stolen his china). By the time of the 1841 census Samuel Powlesland is back at Coffins and another agricultural labourer, Joseph Pyke, was also living there with his family. Probably both men worked for the Lambert Gorwyns.
When George Lambert Gorwyn senior died in 1837, he passed over his unsatisfactory son, and left Coffins – along with several other farms – to his grandson, yet another George Lambert Gorwyn (1818-1885). During the 1850s Coffins was rented to another member of the Powlesland clan, a farmer called Samuel with a wife called Miriam. By 1861 these Powleslands had left and, according to the census Coffins was occupied by two farm labourers called John Tucker and John Vanstone and their families.In 1863 there is a tender from a John Cole offering £150 a year for the “Coffins, Crosspark and Rugroad estates”. Nothing seems to have come of this, however, and shortly afterwards Coffins was let to another tenant farmer, John Hooper, who was a churchwarden at Spreyton in 1865. Hooper was described in 1861 as a farmer of 245 acres, so it seems likely that he was also leasing Rugroad or Croft from George.
The third George Lambert Gorwyn quarrelled with all and sundry and seems to have been just as disliked as his father. He lived at Trayhill in Hittisleigh, but in about 1880 a man who had a grudge against him set fire to a woodrick at Trayhill and burnt the place down. George had to move elsewhere, and he chose Coffins, moving there in 1881 with his wife and two young children. He died only 4 years later, leaving his estate to his 19-year-old son George Lambert (the family had by this time dropped the Gorwyn). George Lambert (the future 1st Viscount Lambert, 1866-1958) was an exceptional man. He was a highly efficient farmer and he also entered politics at an extremely young age, becoming a Devon County Councillor at the age of 22; an MP by the age of 25; and a junior Minister at 38. He remained an MP until 1945, when he was made a peer. He lived all his life at Coffins (although he also acquired a house in London near Parliament).
The house at Coffins was a traditional cob and thatch long-house, probably built originally in the late 15th or 16th century, although no doubt with subsequent alterations. In 1905, following his marriage, George Lambert completely revamped the house. He also had the garden landscaped and a tennis court built, turning what was a fairly basic farmhouse into a gentleman’s residence, suitable to put up guests like Winston Churchill (who once stayed the night and to his hosts’ embarrassment was caught short in the night only to discover that the servant had forgotten to put a chamber-pot in his room).
Coffins before its makeover
Coffins after its makeover
George’s eldest son, again yet another George Lambert, replaced his father as the local MP in 1945. He remained the MP until 1958 when his father died and he inherited his father’s peerage. He also lived at Coffins with his family. He retired abroad and handed over the house and estate to his son, the last of an unbroken line of six George Lamberts to own the property. Tragically, young George died in a car accident, and the estate was sold in 1972.
The acreage of Coffins today is a lot larger than it was in the past. In 1655, it was described as “1 messuage [ie house]; 1 kitchen; 1 stable; 1 barn; 1 curtilege and garden and orchard; 20 acres of land [ie arable land]; 14 acres of meadow; 20 acres of pasture; and 80 acres of furze and heath” – ie a total of 134 acres, quite a large farm for the period. At the beginning of the 19th century, it was about 176 acres. In the early 1900s, George Lambert MP purchased some neighbouring fields round Cramphay, and he also attached some fields to Coffins that previously formed part of the neighbouring farms of Spreytonwood, Stockhay and possibly Rugroad (all of which the Lamberts also owned), so that by the 1950s its area was 226 acres.
The house was renamed Spreyton House in 2016.
May 2009. Amended January 2017.
Agreement of 1655 made in Court, whereby John and Agnes Baron acknowledge Jane Hore’s right to one half of Coffin for 99 years from the decease of Raph Hore, determinable upon the deaths of Jane Hore and her son Thomas. She pays £60 and a peppercorn rent. The property is described as 1 messuage; 1 kitchen; 1 stable; 1 barn; 1 curtilage and garden and orchard; 20 acres of land; 14 acres of meadow; 20 acres of pasture; and 80 acres of furze and heath in Deerparks, otherwise Dureparks, Coffin and Spreyton.Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
List of rents due in the manor of Spreyton in 1664.Devon Archives ref:158M/M42
Conveyance of 1683 between (1) Alexander Trend of Chagford, yeoman; (2) George Palmer of Lyons Inn Middlesex; and (3) William Asshe. Alexander Trend conveys to Palmer and Asshe a half of Bobeer, late in the possession Ann Cadlake but now in possession of Alexander Trend; a half of Coffins now or late in the possession of Alexander Trend; a half of Courtisbeer, late in the possession of John Hore but now in that of Alexander Trend; and a half of Bush now or late in the possession Alexander Trend. (This could be a mortgage arrangement). Devon Archives ref: DD 34202.
George Cann, at a public survey held for the sale of the said premises, agreed to buy them for £650. HBT accordingly conveys them to him and undertakes to produce on demand:
Lease and release of 25 and 26.3.1803 whereby Tryphena Trist of Totnes, spinster, conveys a half part of Coffins to George Cann Esq. of Falkingdon for £600. The conveyance mentions that this half share of the property belonged to Browse Trist formerly of Totnes, Clerk, who died intestate on 13.12.1791 leaving 3 infant daughters, Elizabeth Ayshford Trist, Susanna Hore Trist and Tryphena Trist. Susanna died in May 1793, still an infant and intestate. Elizabeth married (while still a minor) Lewis John Marie Haussoullier. There was then a case before the High Court of Chancery on 22.6.1797 between Lewis and Elizabeth, Gillory Pigott and John Taylor (trustees of Elizabeth’s marriage settlement) as complainants and Agnes Hore Champernowne and Tryphena as defendants. Following this and various other legal proceedings, the inheritance of the two remaining daughters was divided between them, the half share of Coffins among other properties being allotted to Tryphena. Tryphena reached the age of 21 on 5.7.1802 and agreed on 2.7.1802 with Geo. Cann to sell him the half of Coffins.The premises are described as consisting of a farmhouse, garden and outbuildings (1 acre); and the fields of Bewton (3 acres), Cross Park (2 acres), Cross Park Orchard (2), Thorne Park (8), Great Meadow (6), Little Meadow (1), Powesland’s Garden (2 roods), the Moor (5), Ellen’s Close (12), Gallows Stile (8), Long Close (6), Furze Park (11), Slade (8), Church Park (6), Lower Moor (10), New Park (18), Ball Hill (22) and another Ball Hill (7), Lower Deer Park (8), Adjoining Lower Deer Park (10), Higher Deer Park (16), and Adjoining Higher Deer Park (3 acres). Royalty and waste and liberty of hunting and fowling on a quarter of the premises are reserved to Richard Hole, the said quarter having been conveyed to Hore Browse Trist (deceased), the brother of Tryphena’s father by deeds of lease and release of 25 and 26.4.1777, at that time being in the tenure of Thomas Cooper and/or Samuel Honeycombe, tenants to Richard Hole. There is also a yearly reserved rent of £3 payable to Richard Hole and his heirs.
Counterparts signed by Tryphena Trist. Witnesses John Taylor jun. and Wm. Kinsman.
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
Lease and release of 29 and 30.1.1808. The lease is the standard 1-year one for 5s and a barley corn rent to prepare for the releaseof a half part of the messuages and lands called Coffinsby John Cann of Fuidge, nephew of John Cann of Fuidge deceased, to George Lambert Gorwyn of Falkedon, gentleman, against a payment of £600. The release recites that John Cann the uncle inherited as heir at law the half part of Coffins from his brother George Cann of Falkedon, a bachelor who died intestate as to this property (and John Cann being his eldest brother and heir-at law). John Cann the uncle left it to John Cann the nephew by a codicil dated 15.4.1805, annexed to his will of 13.3.1798. John Cann then contracted to sell it to GLG. Coffins is described as late in the possession of George Cann and now in the possession of GLG.The conveyance is subject to the royalty and waste and liberty of hunting and fowling rights of Richard Hole, Clerk, late of the City of Exeter upon the one fourth part of the property that was granted to one Hore Trist Browse Esq., deceased, the eldest brother of Browse Trist, Clerk, by indenture of lease and release dated 25 and 26 April 1777 and late in the tenure of Thomas Hooper and/or Samuel Honeycombe as tenants to Richard Hole. JC undertakes that the property is indemnified against the Dower and Thirds in Common Law of Rebecca, wife of JC if she should survive himThe fields of Coffins are listed [perches excluded]: farmhouse together with court, curtileges and outbuildings 1.5acres; Bewdon 3.5 acres; Crosspark 2 acres; Crosspark Orchard 2 acres; Thorne Park 8.75 acres; Great Meadow 6.25 acres; Little Meadow 1.5 acres; Powlesland Garden 0.5 acres; The Moor 5 acres; Ellens Close 12 acres; Gallows Stile 8.75 acres; Long close 6.5 acres;Furze Park 11.75 acres; Slade 10.5 acres; Church Park 6.2 acres; Lower Moor 10.5 acres; New Park 18.75 acres; Ball Hill 22.5 acres; Ball [?] 7.25 acres; Lower Deerpark 8.75 acres; Adjoining Lower Deerpark 10.25 acres; Higher Deerpark 16.75 acres; Adjoining Higher Deerpark 8.75 acres.
Signed John Cann. Witnesses: ?JR Southmead and Jno. Harvey.
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
1848-51: plans and accounts mainly relating to the building of a new linhay and to the drainage and surveying of various fields at Coffins. There is also an apparently unrealised plan for altering the building. [10 items]
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
Lease of 26.6.1863: indenture between (1) George Lambert Gorwyn of Cullompton, gent.; (2) John Hooper of Spreyton, yeoman; and (3) Rowland Hooper of Coldridge, yeoman, whereby GLG leases to JH for 10 years a messuage and farm called Coffins and Cross Park field, in all about 187 acres; and all those lands of 60 acres, part of Rugroad, with the cottages and farm buildings in Spreyton now in the occupation of Samuel Powlesland and Samuel Powlesland the younger, except for the coppices, underwood, browse, frith and furze in the coppices; all the stones now in heaps; the trees and sticks likely to become timber, and mineral and game rights. The tenant was required not to take more than two crops of corn or grain running, and to sow at least 20 acres of turnips per annum. He was forbidden to plough meadow or old pastureland without consent (and had to pay £20 extra rent for every acre so ploughed), and in the last five years to plough or till Bowdown, Crosspark, Little Bramblefield, Homer Moor, Yonder Moor, Western Allens Field, Gallows Stile Moor, Deer Park Moor or Homerslade on Coffins or the Deer Park on Rugroad. He was also forbidden in that period to dispose of or carry off “any Reed; unthrashed corn, pulse or grain; hay; straw; haulm, dung, manure, ashes, soil or compost” but to use it for the improvement of the premises. In the last year of the tenancy after November, he was also required not to graze the pasture with anything except sheep after November. He was forbidden to “pin any moles or vermin against the walls of the premises” ,nor keep any dogs (except sheepdogs) or pigeons, turkeys or gallinae. In the last three years he was required to “leave 20 acres of arable land out of tillage … upon which the lessor…may enter and prepare for wheat; also will properly harrow and brush in the grass seeds to be sown with the spring corn in the last year of the said term, which seeds are to be provided by the said lessor … upon ten days notice that the same are required; and will not depasture the young grass after 29 September in the last year”.
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
List of fields and acreages, probably late 19th century.
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
Undated bill, probably late 19th century,for works on Ball Hill cottage (presumably a now demolished cottage that was part of Coffins as there is a Ball Hill field at Coffins).
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
1904-5 correspondence about alterations to house and gardens at Coffins, mainly from the Exeter architects Harbottle & Reed. [27 items + 10 drawings in 2 envelopes]
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
Copy of note of 21.7.1913 from GL to W. Isaac, The Barton, Spreyton, about an alteration to the hedge by the side of the garden at Coffins on the Cramphay field bordering Bewdown, taking about ¼ acre of Isaac’s land, and Isaac’s reply agreeing.
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
Copy of schedule attached to a lease of 28.11.1957 whereby the Rt. Hon. Viscount Lambertleased Coffins (226 acres) to his son the Hon George Lambert MP for £150 a year.
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.
1969 valuation of the house at Coffins (£14,000), and covering letter of 17.3.1970 fromRawlence and Squarey, surveyors, to 2nd Viscount Lambert, together with a copy of a letter from Rawlence and Squarey about the property involved in trust arrangements between Viscount Lambert and his son (3 documents).
Devon Archives: Lambert estate papers.