I would love to have copies of both of the items you describe. What are the chances?

Phil Kempthorne
Houston, TX

I’ve been very surprised by what I’ve discovered so far about the history of the major property-owning families in north Cornwall and in Devon – they seem to have travelled between London and their various country residences quite frequently, despite the enormous discomfort involved. I’ve written a little bit about this in connection with Lady Mary Chudleigh of Ashton on my other website, ‘Literary Places’: http://www.literaryplaces.co.uk/

Much as I’d like to do more research on Tonacombe I can’t really justify it right now as Hawker is my main concern. However, I seem to remember that I came across quite a lot of information online while I was writing this article so if you search the web for the families concerned you should find some things of interest. According to the book ‘Morwenstowe Since Stuart Times or A History of Morwenstowe after the Restoration’ by Rev. F. C. Hamlyn, in the 15th century Tonacombe was in the possession of the Jordan family and in the early 16th century John Ley alias Kempthorne married Thomasin, daughter and heiress of Robert Jordan of Tonacombe.

Of course the Grenvilles were at Stowe so the area was by no means a social backwater. Some other manors and mansions listed by Hamlyn ‘in the period of Morwenstowe’s prosperity’ are Lee, Cleave, Eastway, Stanbury, Cornekey and Marsland.

Sorry I can’t be more helpful just now. If I do find out any more I’ll certainly let you know.

One is the advertisement when the house was offered for “To let furnished for a term of years” in 1937. There is a photograph and descrpition of the house.

The second is an original five page article with 14 photographs published in Country Life dated 11th November, 1933.

If of interest I would be happy to forward on approval for your inspection.
Kind Regards Barbara Swindlehurst