lynton lynmouth guesthouse
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Richard de Redvers, who obtained the great barony of Okehampton from Wm. II., was created Earl of Devon by Henry I., and the title was held by his descendants till the death of Baldwin, the eighth earl, in 1262, when his sister and heiress, Isabel de Redvers, succeeded as Countess of Devon. She married Wm. de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle, and left only a daughter, who died without issue, in 1293. Hugh Courtenay, the sixth Baron and first Viscount Courtenay, of Powderham Castle, being descended from the sister of Baldwin de Redvers, was created Earl of Devon, in 1335, and died in 1340. Thomas, the sixth Earl, of the Courtenay family, was attainted and beheaded in 1461, when all his honours were forfeited. Humphrey Stafford, Baron Stafford of Suthwicke, was created Earl of Devon, in May, 1469, but was beheaded in the August following, when the title again became extinct; but it was restored to the Courtenays in 1485, when Edward Courtenay, grandson of Hugh, the third earl, was created Earl of Devon. He died in 1509, and was succeeded by his grandson, Henry, who was created Marquis of Exeter, in 1585, but being attainted and beheaded in 1539, all his honours became forfeited. His son, Edward, was restored in blood and honours, after suffering a long imprisonment in the Tower, and was created Earl of Devon, in 1553, but dying without issue, in 1556, the title became extinct.
In 1603 Charles Blount, eighth Baron Mountjoy, was created Earl of Devon, but dying without lawful issue, the earldom for the sixth time became extinct. It was not revived till 1831, when Wm. Courtenay, Viscount Courtenay, the late Earl of Devon, established his claim to the earldom, by the decision of the House of Lords, as heir of Edward, who was created Earl of Devon, in 1553. He succeeded as Viscount Courtenay, in 1758, and died in 1835 when he was succeeded by his nephew, the present Rt. Hon. Wm. Courtenay, Earl of Devon and Viscount Courtenay, who was born in 1777, and was the eldest son of the late Rt. Rev. Henry Reginald Courtenay, D.D., who was Bishop of Exeter in the early part of the present century. The Earl resides at Powderham Castle, ancient seat of his family, and his eldest son Viscount Courtenay, resides at the beautiful marine residence called the Moult, near Salcombe.
The ancient family of Courtenay took their name from the town of Courtenay, in France. Reginald, the immediate ancestor of the English branch, came to England with Henry II., in 1151, and having married the heiress of Robert de Abrincis, hereditary sheriff of Devon, Baron of Okehampton, and governor of Exeter Castle, his eldest son succeeded to those honours, and married a daughter (and eventually heiress,) of Wm. de Redvers, Earl of Devon. Reginald was Baron Courtenay, by tenure, in the reign of Richard I., and one of his descendants was created Viscount Courtenay, in 1762. Though they have suffered many reverses of fortune, the Courtenays have for many ages been a numerous, wealthy, and highly distinguished family in Devon. Wm. Courtenay, a distinguished prelate of the 14th century, was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1381 till his death, in 1396. Richard Courtenay, LL.D., was Bishop of Norwich from 1413 till 1415, and like his uncle, the Archbishop, was a violent opponent of Wickliffe's followers. Peter Courtenay, D.C.L., became Bishop of Winchester, in 1478, and died in 1492.