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Affeton Castle is a converted late-medieval gatehouse near East Worlington, Devon, England. It was formerly part of the fortified manor house of Affeton, built by the
Stucley family Stucley or Stukley may refer to: * Stucley Baronets, an extant title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom *George Stucley, 1st Baronet (1812–1900), a British Conservative Member of Parliament * Lewis Stukley (died 1620), Vice-admiral of Devons ...
in about 1434, and situated on the side of a valley of the
Little Dart River The Little Dart River is a tributary of the River Taw in Devon, England. It joins the Taw a mile west of Chulmleigh. The Little Dart rises near Rackenford. It flows west past Witheridge and through a deep wooded valley between Chawleigh and ...
. The manor house was destroyed in the English Civil War of the 1640s, and by the early 19th century the gatehouse was in ruins. It was restored between 1868-9 by
Sir George Stucley, 1st Baronet Colonel Sir George Stucley Stucley, 1st Baronet DL (17 August 1812 – 13 March 1900), known as George Buck until 1858, was a British Conservative Member of Parliament. Life Buck was born in 1812, the son and heir of Lewis William Buck (1784†...
for use as a shooting box or hunting lodge; in 1956, it was converted to form the private home of Sir Dennis Stucley, 5th Baronet. The castle, approximately 60 feet (18 m) by 22 feet (6.7 m) in size, is protected as a Grade II* listed building.


History

Affeton Castle formed part of a large fortified manor house built from grey rubble stone by the
Stucley family Stucley or Stukley may refer to: * Stucley Baronets, an extant title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom *George Stucley, 1st Baronet (1812–1900), a British Conservative Member of Parliament * Lewis Stukley (died 1620), Vice-admiral of Devons ...
in about 1434. Affeton
manor Manor may refer to: Land ownership *Manorialism or "manor system", the method of land ownership (or "tenure") in parts of medieval Europe, notably England *Lord of the manor, the owner of an agreed area of land (or "manor") under manorialism *Man ...
was at one time also a parish with its own parish church, but was later merged into the parish of West Worlington. The manor house was almost entirely demolished in the English Civil War, the only part left standing was the gatehouse, which fell into ruin. A large farmhouse known as Affeton Barton was built over the foundations and cellars of the manor house. The ruinous gatehouse was converted in 1868–9 to a
shooting box Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missiles can b ...
for the use of the
Stucley family Stucley or Stukley may refer to: * Stucley Baronets, an extant title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom *George Stucley, 1st Baronet (1812–1900), a British Conservative Member of Parliament * Lewis Stukley (died 1620), Vice-admiral of Devons ...
of
Hartland Abbey Hartland Abbey is a former abbey and current family home to the Stucley family. It is located in Hartland, Devon. The current owner is Sir Hugh George Copplestone Bampfylde Stucley, 6th Baronet. History Hartland Abbey was built in 1157 and co ...
and Moreton House, Bideford, and later became known as Affeton Castle. The Stucley family acquired the Affeton estate when Hugh Stucley, Sheriff of Devon in 1448, married the heiress Catherine de Affeton. It measures approximately by . It formed a major part of the defences of the house, and incorporates a tall arch, now partly filled in to form a smaller front door, through which persons and vehicles passed to gain access to the inner courtyard. The gatehouse was restored in 1868-9 by
Sir George Stucley, 1st Baronet Colonel Sir George Stucley Stucley, 1st Baronet DL (17 August 1812 – 13 March 1900), known as George Buck until 1858, was a British Conservative Member of Parliament. Life Buck was born in 1812, the son and heir of Lewis William Buck (1784†...
(1812-1900) - originally called George Buck, until he became the first of the Stucley baronets - to create a shooting-box for grouse shooting on nearby Affeton Moor within the estate. The castle was inherited by Lt.-Col. Sir William Stucley (1836–1911), Sir Edward Stucley (1852–1927) and Sir Hugh Stucley, 4th Baronet (1873–1956), who lived at Moreton House. The 4th Baronet gave Affeton Castle to his son, Sir Dennis Stucley, 5th Baronet (1907–1983), in 1947. In 1956, Moreton Hall was sold off, and Affeton Castle became the main private residence of the Stucley baronets. Sir Dennis installed two bathrooms in the castle, where previously there were none.Stucley, 1976, no page given Sir Hugh Stucley, 6th Baronet (born 1945), lives in the castle in the 21st century, which is not open to the public, unlike the family's other larger residence at
Hartland Abbey Hartland Abbey is a former abbey and current family home to the Stucley family. It is located in Hartland, Devon. The current owner is Sir Hugh George Copplestone Bampfylde Stucley, 6th Baronet. History Hartland Abbey was built in 1157 and co ...
.Lauder, p.149; Stucley, 1976 He has added an extension housing a nursery wing and additional bedrooms.


See also

* Castles in Great Britain and Ireland * List of castles in England


References


Bibliography

*Emery, Anthony. (2006)
Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, 1300–1500: Southern England.
' Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. . * Lauder, Rosemary. (2002) ''Devon Families''. Tiverton, UK: Halsgrove. . *Pettifer, Adrian. (2002)
English Castles: a Guide by Counties
'' Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. . *Stucley, Dennis. (1976) "A Devon Parish Lost, A new Home Discovered", in ''Transactions of the Devonshire Association'', no. 108, pp. 1–11. * Vivian, J. L. (ed) (1895) ''The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 and 1620.'' Exeter, UK: H.S. Eland. {{OCLC, 3674935. Castles in Devon Grade II* listed buildings in Devon Former manors in Devon