The Royal Connection

Queen Elizabeth 11.  Platinum Jubilee. 2022.  

Many a monarch and close relatives have close links to Devon going back through the centuries. As a seafaring nation inevitably Devon played a big part.  The Britannia Royal Naval College is built on land given to Sir Walter Raleigh by Queen Elizabeth 1st. The foundation stone of the current building was laid by Edward V11 in 1902 and the current heir to the throne, Price Charles was a graduate sub lieutenant in 1971. 

The Duchy of Cornwall, owned by Prince Charles, owns large swathes of Dartmoor and other estates in the county. The young Princess Victoria spent some of her childhood in Sidmouth whilst many towns enjoy royal patronage. The Queen as head of the Church of England has visited Exeter Cathedral on more than one occasion including distributing the Maundy Penny from Exeter Cathedral  in 1983. 

Architecture is described in periods by the name of the monarch. The industrial revolution in the 19th century during Queen Victoria’s reign is evident in every town and village, not only in domestic architecture but commercial enterprise -Isambard Kingdom Brunel for instance is notable for the Tamar Bridge crossing and the former rectory in Rewe in the Exe valley. 

Across the county, in many a village, there are gracious Georgian rectories - mostly sold by the Church in the latter twentieth century replacing them with more modest and less costly homes. Many a thatched cottage and farmhouse create the idyllic image of the rolling Devon countryside, built of stone and cob dating from medieval times – and from Elizabeth 1st to Elizabeth 11.  

 The Manor House, Bradninch:  A majestic Grade 1 listed family home dating back to 1547 when thee local MP made it his home. Evolving in the 17th and 18th century to the stunning property we see today it stands in seven acres of impressive gardens and grounds, designed by Jill Billington and Mary Payne MBE, the focal points being one of the oldest Lucombe oak trees known and the centrepiece being the lake.   A house fit for royalty - Charles 1 slept here in 1644 - and I am sure our current monarch would find it very comfortable.  To adhere to up to date requirements there is an indoor a swimming pool, garaging, all mains services and fibre optic broadband – I doubt Charles 1 would have expected any of these!  Strutt and Parker are the selling agents 

( www.struttandparker.com 01392 423651)

So, from the castles in the county going back a thousand years to the cottages owned by The Duchy of Cornwall Devon’s architectural link with royalty threads through the ages and is integral to the structure of the county. Whether castle or cottage home is the foundation of our lives - “It’s all about coming home.”