12th and 13th centuries This manor was held in
demesne by William Portitor, the king's door-keeper, at the time of the taking the
Domesday Survey. It was held as the king's
jail for the county of Devon. in grounds of Bicton House The lord of Bicton held responsibility for managing the jail, but it was removed from Bicton House to Exeter. It was purchased in the 16th century of the Coplestones by Sir Robert Denys (1525–1592) of nearby Holcombe Burnel, who built a new
manor house and created one of the county's first enclosed deer parks. Sir Robert Denys's son, Sir
Thomas Denys died and his daughter Anne Denys received the manor. She had married Sir Henry Rolle (d.1616) of
Stevenstone, Devon Henry and the former Miss Deny's son, Dennis Rolle, Esquire died in 1638, leaving a son who died in his infancy John and Florence had four sons, the eldest son was the grandfather of Henry was made Baron Role in 1748 and died in 1750 without issue and the title became extinct. Wyatt also designed the Lodge, built at the same time. The site was described about 1820 to have a "commanding full view of the British Channel" and ancient beech and oak trees within the estate's park. The mansion, with two extensive wings, held an extensive collection of art, including works by
Rembrandt and
Ruysdael. It looked over the village of
Otterton, with its little church, and the "lovely peep" between the
Saltern and the ocean. A
Gothic lodge is located at the main entrance, followed by a rustic inner lodge. Another entrance is by a "neat cottage-lodge." An
obelisk is seen from most parts of the ground.
John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle married the Hon. Louisa Trefusis, a relative and second daughter of Robert Trefusis, 17th
Baron Clinton. He died without issue in 1842. (1836–1907), then aged 6, the nephew of his second wife Louisa Trefusis (1794–1885) (daughter of
Robert George William Trefusis, 17th Baron Clinton (1764–1797)), and second son of the 19th
Baron Clinton. On his inheritance in 1852 he changed his surname to Rolle; he died without issue in 1907, his heir being his nephew
Charles John Robert Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 21st Baron Clinton (1863–1957). == Agricultural college ==