Explore Eggesford's fascinating heritage: Eggesford Barton (part of group opening with Eggesford Garden and All Saints Church)

This year Eggesford Barton's quadrangle farmstead joins the original walled kitchen gardens of Eggesford House (the former garden centre), being beautifully restored before reopening, and All Saints Church to represent the heritage of the vast aristocratic estate (at its peak over 16,000 acres) held by families of regional and national importance, such as the Reigneys, Chichesters and Fellowes, and later the Earls of Portsmouth.
The Chichesters' earlier Eggesford House was adjacent, before being relocated to today's grand Grade II building higher up the valley.
Included by historian Dr Todd Gray in his 'Devon's Fifty Best Churches', the church is Grade II* listed, with a C14/C15 tower, impressive C17 Chichester monuments, and later owner William Fellowes' C18 monument. The 1867 restoration by the 5th Earl of Portsmouth installed an unusually large family pew, and moved the remarkable Earl of Donegall monument to opposite today's north entrance, fronted by rare Georgian box pews. The churchyard holds Fellowes and Churchill chest tombs and access to the Portsmouth vault, resting place for the 4th and 5th Earls (the vault is closed for this event).
Access to the impressive walled gardens is by guided tour, every half hour.
The church hosts an enhanced local history exhibition, and recent metal detectorist finds from the Civil War and other periods.
Cakes/ refreshments available in the church; main parking by the walled gardens, or access via the Tarka Line and the Tarka Trail.

Timings

Sunday 20 September:

1100-1615

Location & directions

Eggesford Barton, Eggesford, Chulmleigh, Devon, EX18 7QU

Directions:

Leave the A377 at Eggesford Station and cross the railway line and the river Taw. The unmetalled road to the Garden, Church and Barton is the first turning left (formerly the road to the now closed garden centre). Main parking is available at the walled gardens (with disabled parking also at the church and at Eggesford Barton). Eggesford Station on the Tarka Line is about 10 minutes' walk, and the Tarka Trail passes by. Toilets available at Eggesford Barton. what3words: fond.twinkled.withdraws

Contact on day:

Jonathan Crofts

Telephone number:

+447798681707

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Nearest toilets are at Eggesford Barton, where there is also disabled parking. There is access for wheelchair users at the Barton (the exterior is open; the interior is closed). Wheelchair users will have limited access at Eggesford Garden, due to the restoration. Main parking is directly next to the Garden. There is further disabled parking at the church (where there are refreshments).

Additional information

Eggesford Barton was probably the original site of the home of the Reigneys, the first recorded owners of what became the Eggesford estate, after the Norman Conquest. There are records as far back as 1259 of a John de Reigney, and the family are also believed to have built the Church. The Barton farmhouse and outbuildings have been rebuilt over the centuries, and a lintel over a front door bears the year ‘1626’, presumably dating to the rebuilding of Eggesford House by the Chichesters, on its first site next to the church.

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