Bicton

BICTON is a parish and village on the west side of the river Otter, 4 miles W.S.W. of Sidmouth and 11 miles E.S.E. of Exeter, and is in St. Thomas's union, Exeter county court district, Woodbury petty sessional division, Eastern division of the county, East Budleigh hundred, Exeter archdeaconry, and Aylesbeare deanery. Its parish, which includes Yettingham hamlet, had 181 inhabitants (88 males, 93 females) in 1871, living in 32 houses, on 1294 acres of land. BICTON is the seat of Lady Rolle, the relict of the late Lord Rolle, who died without issue in 1842, in the 92nd year of his age. At Domesday Survey, this manor was held. by William Portitor, by the service of keeping the king's gaol for the county of Devon. After passing to various families, it was purchased in the 16th century of the Coplestons by Sir Robert Dennis, who rebuilt the old mansion, enclosed a deer park, and made it his chief residence. His grand-daughter carried Bicton in marriage to Sir Henry Rolle, ancestor of the late Lord Rolle. The county gaol was removed from Bicton to Exeter in 1518, but it was not until 1787 that the lord of Bicton was exonerated from the custody of the prisoners. The Rolles have another seat at Stevenstone, and were for a long time a numerous, wealthy, and distinguished family. Sir Samuel and Sir Henry Rolle were firm supporters of the Parliamentary cause during the war of the 17th century. The latter was appointed chief justice in 1648 and died in 1656. Sir John Rolle, K.B., was a zealous friend of Charles II., and made him large remittances during his exile. He was created K.B. at the Restoration. His grandson, John Rolle, Esq., was offered an earldom in the reign of Queen Anne, but refused it. The property now belongs to the Hon. Mark Rolle, nephew of the late Lord Rolle. BICTON CHURCH was erected in 1851 by Lady Rolle. In the old church, which was taken down on the completion of this, was an elegant monument of Dennis Rolle, Esq., with effigies of himself and lady in statuary marble, richly habited. He died in 1638, aged 24, and was celebrated for his ready wit and the generosity of his disposition, and is noticed in a poetical epitaph written bv Dr. Fuller, author of ' The. Worthies.' The rectory, valued in K.B. at £12 13s. 4d., and now at about £250, is in the patronage of Lady Rolle, and incumbency of the Rev. G. H. Kempe, M.A., who has a neat residence, commanding a fine view of the coast and the ocean. The glebe is 50 acres, and the tithes were commuted in 1844 for £170 16s. 11d. per annum. At Yettington is a Voluntary Elementary School, built in 1847 by Lady Rolle, in the Swiss style of architecture.

The nearest POST OFFICE is at East Budleigh.