Molland
Encyclopedia
Molland is a civil parish
and small village
located on the southern slopes of Exmoor
in North Devon
, England
.
The former manor
of Molland, largely co-terminous with the parish boundary, continues in existence as a large private estate under the ownership of Mrs Clare McLaren-Throckmorton
(b.1935), of Coughton Court
, Alcester, Warwickshire, the niece and sole heiress of Sir Robert George Maxwell Throckmorton, 11th Baronet
(1908-1989), whose family inherited the manor in 1732 from the family of Courtenay of Molland
, a cadet branch of the House of Courtenay
, Earls of Devon
, which had inherited Molland in the 15th c. from the family of Botreaux
. The estate comprises 6,250 acres, 1,700 of which are accounted for by Molland Moor, and includes 40 residential properties forming most of Molland village, 13 farms, the London Inn public house and additional land lettings.
of West Molland. The font is Norman and the altar rails are ca. 1700.
West Molland was the house of the Courtenays
; it is one mile west and though apparently Georgian has Tudor features incorporated at the back. The sixth Throckmorton Baronet
assumed the additional surname of Courtenay in 1792 on inheriting the Courtenay estates of Molland, through his mother. However, none of his successors have used this surname.
To the memory of ye Right Worshipfull John Courtenay of West Molland, Esq'r (He married Margarite the daughter of Sir John Windham
of Orchard Windham
in the county of Somerset, Knight, by whom he had two sonnes and fouer daughters, viz John, James, Katherine, Elizabeth, Margarite & Grace) He departed this life the 26th day of February Anno Dom(ini) 1660. To the memory also of the Right Worshipfull John Courtenay Esq'r sonn of the above named John Courtenay. He departed this life the 24th day of April Anno Dom(ini) 1684. On a roundel under: To the memory of Margarite ye wife of ye above named John Courtenay & daughter of Sir John Windham of Orchard Windham by the Lady Johan his wife who was daughter of Sir Henry Portman of Orchard Portman in ye county of Somerset, Knight. Shee departed this life the first day of October 1684. His second son James died at his residence in Meshaw
in 1683, in which parish church there exists a mural monument to his memory in the style of the Molland monuments. He was however buried in Molland Church in the grave of his first wife Susanna Sandford, whose slate tombstone can be seen in the floor of the north aisle. In this same grave is also buried James's second wife Elizabeth Lynn(d.1700), who married James as her second husband and who erected the Meshaw monument. She married thirdly Philip Shapland of Swimbridge, as her slate mural monument on the east wall of the north aisle of Molland Church attests.
is a mural monument with the following wording: To the memory of James Courtnay (sic) Esq.r. 2d son of John Courtnay of Molland in this county, Esq.r. who died at Meshaw House the 27th of March 1683 & was buried among his ancestors in Molland Church in ye grave of his first wife Susanna ye daughter of Henry Sandford of Ninehead Flory
in ye county of Somers.t, Esq.r. His 2d wife & relict (being also relict of Lewis Rosier of Swymbridge
in this county, Gent.) was Elizabeth daughter of Will. Lynn Esq.r of Southwicke
in Northha.ton.re
who to ye lasting memory of her Lord did this too slender monument afford, for in her judgement she could scarce approve so mean an offering for so great a love. Were it as great and lasting too as she could wish ye me(m)ory of his love should be, this marble would out live eternity.
The gravestone of his first wife Susanna Sandford can be seen in the floor of the north aisle of Molland Church. She was the daughter of Henry Sandford(d.1644) of Nynehead Court
, Somerset (whose gravestone exists in the chancel floor of Nynehead Church), by Mary Ashford, heiress of Burlescombe
, Devon. The originator of this monument at Meshaw was James Courtenay's second wife Elizabeth Lynn(d.1700), daughter of William Lynn of Southwick Hall
, 11 miles SW of Peterborough
, which family resided there between 1442 and 1840. Elizabeth had married James Courtenay as her second husband, having first married Lewis Rosier(d.1676) of Swimbridge, whose monument can be seen in St James's Church, Swimbridge.After James's death she married thirdly Philip Shapcote of Knowstone
. Very curiously Elizabeth was buried, according to her wishes, in the same tomb in Molland Church as her second husband James Courtenay, who had already been buried therein together with his first wife Susanna Sandford. This is made clear by her mural slate memorial tablet im Molland Church on the east wall of the north aisle which reads as follows: To ye memory of Mrs Shapcote ye wife of Philip Shapcote of Knowstone Esq. who was second wife & relict of James Courtenay Esq. and now lyes in (thistle?) interr(ed) in ye same grave with him according to his passionate desires & her pro(mise) to him in testimony of their mutual love. Obiit 12.o Nov. 1700. On the slate are engraved the arms of Shapcote 3 dovecotes impaling
Lynn Gules, a demi-lion rampant or. The crest over the escutcheon, which would normally be that of the husband, is here a demi-lion rampant, the crest of Lynn.
and last in the male line of Courtenay of Molland, great-grandson of John Courtenay(d.1660). He was the son of John Courtenay(d.1724) (son of John Courtenay(d.1684) by Mary Stucley, daughter of John Stucley of Affeton Castle
by Elizabeth Coode) by Amy Clifford(d.1693), a daughter of Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford(d.1673) of Chudleigh
. He had no children, nor did five other of his siblings, but one of his sisters, Mary Courtenay(bapt.1/2/1687), married William Paston of Horton Court
near Chipping Sodbury
, Gloucestershire, and their daughter Anne Maria Paston married Sir George Throckmorton(1721-1767), son of Sir Robert Throckmorton, 4th baronet. Molland manor thus passed into the Throckmorton family.
Underneath lyes interr'd the body of the Honourable John Courtenay Esq. who departed this life on the eleventh day of December 1732 aged 44. This monument was erected at the appointment of the Honourable Margaret Courtenay, relict of the said John Courtenay Esq. daughter and sole heiress to John Giffard late of Brightley in this county, Esq. "As good, as great, but living amongst sinners was translated" Wisdom
4th chap'r. Underneath and on the left hand of the abovesaid Jn. Courtenay Esq. are reposited the remains of Margaret (his late wife & widow) who departed this life August the 30th 1743.
of 1086 records 3 entries for Molland, 2 in South Molton hundred and 1 in North Molton hundred. The latter does not relate to the manor and village of Molland, but to a separate manor about 7 miles to the NW, now memorialized byn the name of Higher Molland Farm and Molland Cross nearby it. This manor in North Molton hundred was held by Tetbald, son of Berner, who was the father-in-law of Odo. The 2 entries for Molland in South Molton hundred relate to a former ancient division of the present manor into 2 parts: One part listed under the demesne
of the king, the other under the lands of Geoffrey de Montbray
(d.1093), Bishop of Coutances, both in the county of "Devenesira" or "Devrescira". These two divisions of Molland became known as "Molland Bottreaux" after the Botreaux
family and "Molland Champeaux" now memorialized by Champson Farm, between Molland Church and West Molland Barton.
Molland is at the southernmost extent of the grazing range of the Exmoor Red Deer
herds, and there is much valuable woodland cover which forms a semi-permanent residence for deer in the form of the several commercial conifer woodland stands within the parish. These deer are hunted a few times each year according to a regular schedule by the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, which traditional activity is believed to keep the bloodlines well-mixed and healthy due to the effect such hunts have of dispersing stags and hinds to join and breed with far-off herds on Exmoor to the north.
, which is not a native British plant, but one which is native to the Pyrenees Mountains and other mountainous regions at a similar latitude. The clumps appear well-established and were possibly introduced several centuries ago, but are in all cases only found on the tops of hedgerows and not in meadows or waste-land. This suggests deliberate planting by human hand. The plant is thought by some to have been introduced by members of a religious community said to have maintained a park within the parish, now memorialized by a private residence named "Abbot's Park". However to assign any religious symbolism to this yellow variety of lilly would be difficult to justify as the essential symbolic element of the Virgin Mary's White Lilly is its whiteness, denoting purity. Due to the widespread locations of the plant within the parish, beyond the boundaries of such park and unlikely to have spread by natural dispersal of its heavy seeds, it would seem to have been planted at the direction of a person who possessed proprietorial rights over the entire former manor, which suggests direction by a lord of the manor
, or possibly by his wife, who wished to beautify the manor. It is thus probable that the original bulb was brought back from the Pyrenees by a former lord of the manor.
The shoot was leased to the shotgun manufacturer Holland & Holland
from 1998 to 2005.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and small village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located on the southern slopes of Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
in North Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The former manor
Manor
-Land tenure:*Manor, an estate in land of the mediaeval era in England*Manorialism, a system of land tenure and organization of the rural economy and society in parts of medieval Europe based on the manor*Manor house, the principal house of a manor...
of Molland, largely co-terminous with the parish boundary, continues in existence as a large private estate under the ownership of Mrs Clare McLaren-Throckmorton
Clare McLaren-Throckmorton
Clare McLaren-Throckmorton , known professionally as Clare Tritton, QC, is a British barrister and descendant of the Throckmorton Baronets. She is the current tenant of the Throckmorton family's main residence, Coughton Court near Alcester in Warwickshire, England, now owned by the National Trust...
(b.1935), of Coughton Court
Coughton Court
Coughton Court is an English Tudor country house, situated on the main road between Studley and Alcester in Warwickshire. It is a Grade I listed building....
, Alcester, Warwickshire, the niece and sole heiress of Sir Robert George Maxwell Throckmorton, 11th Baronet
Throckmorton Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for different branches of the Throckmorton family, 6th. cousins, both descended from Sir John Throckmorton, Under-Treasurer of England temp. King Henry VI. Both titles, which were in the Baronetage of England, are now extinct...
(1908-1989), whose family inherited the manor in 1732 from the family of Courtenay of Molland
House of Courtenay
The House of Courtenay was an important dynasty in medieval France originating from the castle of Courtenay in the Gâtinais , going back to the 10th century. The dynasty descended from Athon, the first lord of Courtenay, apparently himself a descendant of the Counts of Sens and from Pharamond,...
, a cadet branch of the House of Courtenay
House of Courtenay
The House of Courtenay was an important dynasty in medieval France originating from the castle of Courtenay in the Gâtinais , going back to the 10th century. The dynasty descended from Athon, the first lord of Courtenay, apparently himself a descendant of the Counts of Sens and from Pharamond,...
, Earls of Devon
Earl of Devon
The title of Earl of Devon was created several times in the Peerage of England, and was possessed first by the de Redvers family, and later by the Courtenays...
, which had inherited Molland in the 15th c. from the family of Botreaux
Baron Botreaux
Baron Botreaux is a title in the Peerage of England, created in 1368.The title was created by writ of summons, by Edward III to William de Botreaux, 1st Baron Botreaux in 1368....
. The estate comprises 6,250 acres, 1,700 of which are accounted for by Molland Moor, and includes 40 residential properties forming most of Molland village, 13 farms, the London Inn public house and additional land lettings.
Church of St. Mary
The church is dedicated to St Mary and is of the 15th century. The interior is Georgian: there is a three-decker pulpit, box pews and the roofs are ceiled. The chancel is divided from the nave by an 18th century screen and there are many monuments to the CourtenaysHouse of Courtenay
The House of Courtenay was an important dynasty in medieval France originating from the castle of Courtenay in the Gâtinais , going back to the 10th century. The dynasty descended from Athon, the first lord of Courtenay, apparently himself a descendant of the Counts of Sens and from Pharamond,...
of West Molland. The font is Norman and the altar rails are ca. 1700.
West Molland was the house of the Courtenays
House of Courtenay
The House of Courtenay was an important dynasty in medieval France originating from the castle of Courtenay in the Gâtinais , going back to the 10th century. The dynasty descended from Athon, the first lord of Courtenay, apparently himself a descendant of the Counts of Sens and from Pharamond,...
; it is one mile west and though apparently Georgian has Tudor features incorporated at the back. The sixth Throckmorton Baronet
Throckmorton Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for different branches of the Throckmorton family, 6th. cousins, both descended from Sir John Throckmorton, Under-Treasurer of England temp. King Henry VI. Both titles, which were in the Baronetage of England, are now extinct...
assumed the additional surname of Courtenay in 1792 on inheriting the Courtenay estates of Molland, through his mother. However, none of his successors have used this surname.
John Courtenay(d.1660)
This monument is situated on the north wall of the north aisle. John Courtenay(d.1660) was the son of Charles Courtenay and Ann Coles.To the memory of ye Right Worshipfull John Courtenay of West Molland, Esq'r (He married Margarite the daughter of Sir John Windham
John Wyndham
John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer who usually used the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes...
of Orchard Windham
Orchard Wyndham
Orchard Wyndham is a historic house parts of which date from medieval times near Williton, Somerset, England.There is evidence of occupation of the site from Roman and Saxon times....
in the county of Somerset, Knight, by whom he had two sonnes and fouer daughters, viz John, James, Katherine, Elizabeth, Margarite & Grace) He departed this life the 26th day of February Anno Dom(ini) 1660. To the memory also of the Right Worshipfull John Courtenay Esq'r sonn of the above named John Courtenay. He departed this life the 24th day of April Anno Dom(ini) 1684. On a roundel under: To the memory of Margarite ye wife of ye above named John Courtenay & daughter of Sir John Windham of Orchard Windham by the Lady Johan his wife who was daughter of Sir Henry Portman of Orchard Portman in ye county of Somerset, Knight. Shee departed this life the first day of October 1684. His second son James died at his residence in Meshaw
Meshaw
Meshaw is a village and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. Its nearest town is South Molton, which lies approximately north-west from the village. The village lies just off the B3137 road. Meshaw also lies on the same B3137 road as Witheridge which is approximately 4.7...
in 1683, in which parish church there exists a mural monument to his memory in the style of the Molland monuments. He was however buried in Molland Church in the grave of his first wife Susanna Sandford, whose slate tombstone can be seen in the floor of the north aisle. In this same grave is also buried James's second wife Elizabeth Lynn(d.1700), who married James as her second husband and who erected the Meshaw monument. She married thirdly Philip Shapland of Swimbridge, as her slate mural monument on the east wall of the north aisle of Molland Church attests.
Monument of James Courtenay(d.1683) at Meshaw
In the church of MeshawMeshaw
Meshaw is a village and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. Its nearest town is South Molton, which lies approximately north-west from the village. The village lies just off the B3137 road. Meshaw also lies on the same B3137 road as Witheridge which is approximately 4.7...
is a mural monument with the following wording: To the memory of James Courtnay (sic) Esq.r. 2d son of John Courtnay of Molland in this county, Esq.r. who died at Meshaw House the 27th of March 1683 & was buried among his ancestors in Molland Church in ye grave of his first wife Susanna ye daughter of Henry Sandford of Ninehead Flory
Nynehead
Nynehead is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Tone, south-west of Taunton and north-west of Wellington, in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 416.-History:...
in ye county of Somers.t, Esq.r. His 2d wife & relict (being also relict of Lewis Rosier of Swymbridge
Swimbridge
Swimbridge is a village in the English county of Devon. It is situated south-east of Barnstaple and twinned with the town of St.Honorine Du Fay in Normandy, France. The name Swimbridge originates from the clegyman Sawin Birige. Sawin was a founder of a chapelry at Swymbridge in Saxon times...
in this county, Gent.) was Elizabeth daughter of Will. Lynn Esq.r of Southwicke
Southwick, Northamptonshire
Southwick is a small village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is approximately north of the town of Oundle and is set in a valley of the river Nene. The village falls within the Non-Metropolitan District of East Northamptonshire, which itself lies within the East Midlands region...
in Northha.ton.re
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
who to ye lasting memory of her Lord did this too slender monument afford, for in her judgement she could scarce approve so mean an offering for so great a love. Were it as great and lasting too as she could wish ye me(m)ory of his love should be, this marble would out live eternity.
The gravestone of his first wife Susanna Sandford can be seen in the floor of the north aisle of Molland Church. She was the daughter of Henry Sandford(d.1644) of Nynehead Court
Nynehead
Nynehead is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Tone, south-west of Taunton and north-west of Wellington, in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 416.-History:...
, Somerset (whose gravestone exists in the chancel floor of Nynehead Church), by Mary Ashford, heiress of Burlescombe
Burlescombe
Burlescombe is a village and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 911. The village is about south west of Wellington in Somerset....
, Devon. The originator of this monument at Meshaw was James Courtenay's second wife Elizabeth Lynn(d.1700), daughter of William Lynn of Southwick Hall
Southwick, Northamptonshire
Southwick is a small village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is approximately north of the town of Oundle and is set in a valley of the river Nene. The village falls within the Non-Metropolitan District of East Northamptonshire, which itself lies within the East Midlands region...
, 11 miles SW of Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, which family resided there between 1442 and 1840. Elizabeth had married James Courtenay as her second husband, having first married Lewis Rosier(d.1676) of Swimbridge, whose monument can be seen in St James's Church, Swimbridge.After James's death she married thirdly Philip Shapcote of Knowstone
Knowstone
Knowstone is a village and civil parish situated in the North Devon district of Devon, England, halfway between the Mid Devon town of Tiverton, Devon and the North Devon town of South Molton.The hamlet of East Knowstone lies due east of the village....
. Very curiously Elizabeth was buried, according to her wishes, in the same tomb in Molland Church as her second husband James Courtenay, who had already been buried therein together with his first wife Susanna Sandford. This is made clear by her mural slate memorial tablet im Molland Church on the east wall of the north aisle which reads as follows: To ye memory of Mrs Shapcote ye wife of Philip Shapcote of Knowstone Esq. who was second wife & relict of James Courtenay Esq. and now lyes in (thistle?) interr(ed) in ye same grave with him according to his passionate desires & her pro(mise) to him in testimony of their mutual love. Obiit 12.o Nov. 1700. On the slate are engraved the arms of Shapcote 3 dovecotes impaling
Impalement (heraldry)
In heraldry, impalement is the combination of two coats of arms side-by-side in one shield or escutcheon to denote union, most often that of a husband and wife, but also for ecclesiastical use...
Lynn Gules, a demi-lion rampant or. The crest over the escutcheon, which would normally be that of the husband, is here a demi-lion rampant, the crest of Lynn.
John Courtenay(d.1732)
On the east wall to the north of the chancel is situated a mural monument to John Courtenay(d.1732) the last Courtenay lord of the manorLord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
and last in the male line of Courtenay of Molland, great-grandson of John Courtenay(d.1660). He was the son of John Courtenay(d.1724) (son of John Courtenay(d.1684) by Mary Stucley, daughter of John Stucley of Affeton Castle
Affeton Castle
Affeton Castle is a surviving late-medieval gatehouse near East Worlington, Devon, England which overlooks the Little Dart River in Devon and was originally built from grey rubble stone by the Stucley Baronets in around 1434. Originally part of a large manor complex, this castellated gatehouse, 60...
by Elizabeth Coode) by Amy Clifford(d.1693), a daughter of Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford(d.1673) of Chudleigh
Chudleigh
Chudleigh is a small town in Devon, England located between the towns of Newton Abbot and Exeter.Chudleigh is very close to the edge of Dartmoor and bypassed by the A38 road in 1972. It began life as a small wool market town, though the nearby Castle Dyke is an Iron Age Hill Fort which demonstrates...
. He had no children, nor did five other of his siblings, but one of his sisters, Mary Courtenay(bapt.1/2/1687), married William Paston of Horton Court
Horton Court
Horton Court is a stone-built manor house situated in Horton, near Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, England. The building has been a National Trust property since 1949....
near Chipping Sodbury
Chipping Sodbury
Chipping Sodbury is a market town in the county of South Gloucestershire, south-west England, founded in the 12th century by William Crassus . The villages of Old Sodbury and Little Sodbury are nearby...
, Gloucestershire, and their daughter Anne Maria Paston married Sir George Throckmorton(1721-1767), son of Sir Robert Throckmorton, 4th baronet. Molland manor thus passed into the Throckmorton family.
Underneath lyes interr'd the body of the Honourable John Courtenay Esq. who departed this life on the eleventh day of December 1732 aged 44. This monument was erected at the appointment of the Honourable Margaret Courtenay, relict of the said John Courtenay Esq. daughter and sole heiress to John Giffard late of Brightley in this county, Esq. "As good, as great, but living amongst sinners was translated" Wisdom
Book of Wisdom
The Book of Wisdom, often referred to simply as Wisdom or the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon, is one of the deuterocanonical books of the Bible. It is one of the seven Sapiential or wisdom books of the Septuagint Old Testament, which includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon ,...
4th chap'r. Underneath and on the left hand of the abovesaid Jn. Courtenay Esq. are reposited the remains of Margaret (his late wife & widow) who departed this life August the 30th 1743.
Domesday Book
The Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 records 3 entries for Molland, 2 in South Molton hundred and 1 in North Molton hundred. The latter does not relate to the manor and village of Molland, but to a separate manor about 7 miles to the NW, now memorialized byn the name of Higher Molland Farm and Molland Cross nearby it. This manor in North Molton hundred was held by Tetbald, son of Berner, who was the father-in-law of Odo. The 2 entries for Molland in South Molton hundred relate to a former ancient division of the present manor into 2 parts: One part listed under the demesne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
of the king, the other under the lands of Geoffrey de Montbray
Geoffrey de Montbray
Geoffrey de Montbray , bishop of Coutances , a right-hand man of William the Conqueror, was a type of the great feudal prelate, warrior and administrator at need....
(d.1093), Bishop of Coutances, both in the county of "Devenesira" or "Devrescira". These two divisions of Molland became known as "Molland Bottreaux" after the Botreaux
Baron Botreaux
Baron Botreaux is a title in the Peerage of England, created in 1368.The title was created by writ of summons, by Edward III to William de Botreaux, 1st Baron Botreaux in 1368....
family and "Molland Champeaux" now memorialized by Champson Farm, between Molland Church and West Molland Barton.
Red Deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
herds, and there is much valuable woodland cover which forms a semi-permanent residence for deer in the form of the several commercial conifer woodland stands within the parish. These deer are hunted a few times each year according to a regular schedule by the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, which traditional activity is believed to keep the bloodlines well-mixed and healthy due to the effect such hunts have of dispersing stags and hinds to join and breed with far-off herds on Exmoor to the north.
Molland Lilly
Many of the remote hedgerows within the parish contain isolated clumps of Lilium pyrenaicumLilium pyrenaicum
Lilium pyrenaicum is native to montane regions, mainly the Pyrenees, from Spain and eastwards, with the range extending into the Caucasus. It grows up to 1.3m high. It bears up to 12 Turks-cap shaped flowers. These are yellow, orange or red, and unpleasantly scented.-References:*Patrick M...
, which is not a native British plant, but one which is native to the Pyrenees Mountains and other mountainous regions at a similar latitude. The clumps appear well-established and were possibly introduced several centuries ago, but are in all cases only found on the tops of hedgerows and not in meadows or waste-land. This suggests deliberate planting by human hand. The plant is thought by some to have been introduced by members of a religious community said to have maintained a park within the parish, now memorialized by a private residence named "Abbot's Park". However to assign any religious symbolism to this yellow variety of lilly would be difficult to justify as the essential symbolic element of the Virgin Mary's White Lilly is its whiteness, denoting purity. Due to the widespread locations of the plant within the parish, beyond the boundaries of such park and unlikely to have spread by natural dispersal of its heavy seeds, it would seem to have been planted at the direction of a person who possessed proprietorial rights over the entire former manor, which suggests direction by a lord of the manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
, or possibly by his wife, who wished to beautify the manor. It is thus probable that the original bulb was brought back from the Pyrenees by a former lord of the manor.
Game bird shooting
The shoots of Molland and West Molland are deemed amongst the 25 best shoots in the world by Alex Brant, and are renowned especially for high birds, pheasants and partridge. Of the whole 6,250 acres of the Molland Estate, the West Molland shoot uses 2,000 acres. The shoots which are long-established have been let-out by the Molland Estate since 2005 to Bettws Hall Shooting Estates, a commercial shoot operator based in Wales.The shoot was leased to the shotgun manufacturer Holland & Holland
Holland & Holland
Holland & Holland is a British gun-maker based in London, England. They offer hand-made sporting rifles and shotguns. H&H holds two Royal Warrants.-History:Holland & Holland was founded by Harris Holland in the year 1835....
from 1998 to 2005.
Archives
Archive historical documents relating to Molland covering dates c. 1230-1880 are held by Warwickshire Archives ("Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive"), under ref DR5. The collection was deposited in instalments by Sir Robert Throckmorton between 1936 and 1960 having been accepted by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in lieu of inheritance tax in 1997.Further reading
- Pole, Sir William. Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon. Republished London, 1791
- Cleaveland, Ezra. A Genealogical History of the Noble and Illustrious Family of Courtenay, Exeter, 1735, part 3, pp.278-9, Courtenay of Molland
- Brant, Alex. World's 25 Best Shoots, 2009, includes Molland and West Molland Shoot