Peters Marland - Winscott House

Winscott House

The manor of "Winescote" was one of thirty-one manors, including "Mirland" (Peters Marland) and "Tuchbere" (Twigbeare), held by Roald Dubbed as listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, at which time he held it in demesne. It paid tax for one virgate of land, and had land for 3 ploughs. Winscott House was built or re-built in 1865 and was demolished after 1931. It should not be confused with Winscott in the nearby parish of St Giles in the Wood, the historic residence of the Devon historian Tristram Risdon (d.1640). Winscott was a seat of the Stevens family also of Velstone and Cross, the latter existing today as a large Georgian mansion in the parish of Little Torrington, about 2 miles south of Great Torrington. Richard Stevens (d.1776) of Winscott was MP for Callington in Cornwall between 1761 and 1768, over which seat the Rolle family of Stevenstone held much influence. He was the chief agent in charge of the Devon and Cornwall estates of Lady Orford, née Margaret Rolle (1708/9-1781), daughter and sole heiress of Samuel Rolle (1646–1719) of Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe. She was married aged fifteen to Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (d.1751), son of Robert Walpole (d.1745) the first prime minister. His daughter Elizabeth Stevens (d.1792) married firstly Robert Awse of Horwood House, Frithelstock, and secondly in 1782 John Cleveland (1734-1817) of Tapely, MP for Barnstaple 1766-1802.

In 1850 Winscott was the residence of John Curzon Moore-Stevens Esq., the Archdeacon's son. In 1865, following his father's death, he rebuilt it at a cost of over £7,000 to the design of William White (1825-1900), FSA, with yellow brick from the nearby Marland clay works. He also rebuilt the nave and chancel of St Peter's Church, Peters Marland, in 1865, also to the designs of William White. The new house was approximately 100 ft square. It was demolished shortly after 1931.