Fore Street, Bishopsteignton showing the Manor Inn
1836
The building, for many years, was best known as The Manor Inn, with adjoining cottages, barns and outhouses. It has stood in the central part of Fore Street for about 200 years. The land and properties initially belonged to Rev. Comyns who was Lord of the Manor of Bishopsteignton and Radway.
The first known records of the building show it as the UNION INN, this is on the 1836 tithe map tenanted to, but not occupied by George Knill, a gentleman of independent means who lived in the village. When he died in 1849, he left £10,000 equivalent to £1,500,000 in 2024.
Photograph of West Gate Farm, Fore Street, Bishopsteignton
The buildings possibly started life as some type of farm or agricultural buildings. There was a tenement farm and farmhouse to one side, where the Methodist Church now stands. The gateway to the farm was where the church driveway still remains today, was known as West Gate.
Tapley House land also stretched from Radway Hill along Manor Road and down to the rear of the Fore Street buildings. The Properties opposite the Inn, from number 23 to 31 Fore Street, had also started life as farm buildings, possibly belonging to Tapley Park Farm.
The name of the building went from The Union Inn to The New Inn to Manor Inn. Over the years the road it was on, also changed between Fore Street to Post Office Street and back again.
River view from Tapley Gardens
The Hill Family were part of the Manor Inn for 50 plus years with David Hill, building a very busy, profitable and diverse business. There were many happy events during their time but also some sad and shocking episodes; we start with tenants of Manor Inn prior to David Hill taking over in 1861.
1841
The property, now named as ‘THE NEW INN’ is shown to be rented to Thomas Mann, Inn Keeper, and Elizabeth his wife with their 15-year-old son John. There is no record of the exact year Thomas took over the building but he remained there until 1844. Having left the Manor Inn Thomas, now a widower he is working as a gardener. In 1861 records show he is lodging with Sarah Pile (widow), the Inn Keeper of the Commercial Inn Bishopsteignton.
1844 – 1851
Henry and Eliza Pethyrbridge (sometimes spelt Petherbridge) took over the tenancy of the New Inn and became the Innkeepers. Without any indication as to why. On 9th September 1848, Henry advertised:
The ‘New Inn’ to let with immediate possession. The taker being required to take the stock and fixtures and part of the furniture at a valuation.
In 1851 records show Henry and Eliza are still living at The New Inn, together with their six children, Henry 12, Eliza 10, Emma 8, Ann 6, Mary 4, and Rhoda 1.
1851 – 1861
Henry and Jane Martin are now recorded as the tenants and Inn Keepers of the New Inn. They could have taken over any time after 30th March 1851 which is when the 1851 census showed them working as servant and cook at Rectory House, Stokeinteignhead. We know Henry was born in Stoke Gabriel and Jane in South Pool, Devon. While at The New Inn, they took in visitors including William and George Hannaford, both ‘artificial marine makers’. In 1871 Henry and Jane are recorded as retired and living on Radway Hill.
1861 and into the 1900s: Over 50 Years of the Hill Family at The Manor Inn
David and Louisa Hill took over the tenancy of the now ‘MANOR INN’ in late 1861. In 1871 David is recorded as Licensed Victualler and Brewer. At that time their three children are living with them, William David Budd age 10, Caroline Mary Louisa age 8, Christopher John age 3.
David Hill, born 1828 in Ashreigney, Devon and Louisa Warren, born 1829 in Chudleigh, were married in Bishopsteignton in 1859. When first married they lived in 22 Jane Street, West Teignmouth which is where their first child William David Budd was born. Their children all married in Bishopsteignton. Caroline to Frederick Pook in 1884, William to Alice Underwood and Christopher to Jessie Annie Downing in 1891.
In 1881 David Hill is now recorded as Inn Keeper of the Manor Inn and a Farmer. (He had added the tenancy of Ashwell Farm to his business ventures.)
David Budd Hill (1828-1897)
During David Hill’s time as landlord, many important dinners. meetings and historic events were celebrated at the Manor Inn. For example, it was reported that:
A luncheon was held on 23rd September 1886 for dignitaries following the opening of the new Bishopsteignton Water Works. The Rev Ogle, representing the Lord of the Manor said, “I believe the supply will prove an inestimable blessing to the inhabitants, and probably be the means of warding off epidemics from which the village has not been entirely free over the years”.
There were wedding celebrations and other very influential social gatherings. For example, it was reported that:
In the afternoon of the 13th September 1866, following the wedding ceremony, held at St John the Baptist Church of Caroline Rose Templer of Lindridge House and at the invitation of Lieut. Templer, Lord of The Manor of Bishopsteignton. A number of the tenants of Lindridge Estate sat down to a dinner at the Manor Inn.
Coach outing from the Manor Inn
In January 1890. Teignmouth petty sessions, granted David Hill an extension for the 23rd until two o’clock, being the Tradesmen and Cabmen’s Suppers.
Over several years, the Manor Inn was also used for holding sales, auctions and rentals of many Bishopsteignton properties, land, and house contents. David also held the role of Property Agent for some of the houses.
On the 27th Feb 1890, it was the Manor Inn building that was up for sale, to include the Inn, outbuildings and the land freehold. It was advertised as LOT 9:
The fully licensed Inn and premises known as The Manor Inn with productive garden and land in the rear, yard, stabling and four small dwelling houses.
Cost started at £1000 and was withdrawn from the sale when the bids for the house did not go above £2000. [approx. £322,000 in 2024]. The tenancy remained with David Hill.
Just a month later on 28th March 1890 David Hill died aged 63 years. He left his family a personal estate of £1228. 16s. 3d. [approx. £198,000 in 2024]. His eldest son William David Budd, took over the tenancy to keep the Manor Inn business running for David’s widow, Louisa. The family had already decided to give up Ashwell Farm. So, it was announced that on 21st April 1890 at 2pm. An auction would be held at Dawlish, (Dawlish Market Day) and notice read:
On sale will be steers, cows, calves, pigs, horses, cider pound and 20 bags of Champion and Magnum Bonum potatoes. These can be viewed on the morning of the sale by arrangement with the Manor Inn.
Newspaper Cutting with reference to Ashwell Farm, Bishopsteignton
Christopher John Hill (1868-1944)
In 1891 William David Budd Hill is recorded as Brewer and Licensed Victualler of the Manor Inn. His mother Louisa and brother Christopher, a grocer, remain living at the Inn.
It was in the year of 1891 that William David Budd Hill married Alice Underwood. She was originally from, Newport, Isle of Wight but had at that time been living in Teignmouth. They went on to have two children, Louisa Mary Georgina (1894) and Marion Alice (1897).
Also, in 1891 William’s brother, Christopher John Hill married Jessie Annie Downing from Teignmouth. They went on to have four children. Winifred Caroline (1893). Christopher Frank (1898). Edith Elizabeth (1900). Edward George (1903).
On the 20th February 1897. William David Budd Hill took out a mortgage to buy the Manor Inn building, outbuildings and land. The price paid is not recorded.
The Manor Inn and Cottages Threatened by Fire
It is recorded that on May 16th 1894 about 9pm a fire was discovered in an outbuilding at the back of the Manor Inn but not part of the Inn’s property. A telegram was despatched to Teignmouth for the Fire Brigade, then afterwards to the Newton and Highweek Brigades. Teignmouth men connected their stand pipe to a nearby Hydrant and Newton fed their engines from a well. Water was firstly directed to the thatched roofs surrounding the Inn. The fire was under control in a couple of hours without any damage to the adjoining property. With the thatch being kept very wet and all danger of any fresh outbreak being over, the Brigades were able to leave about 1.30am.
A piece of fire brigade historical information: This was the first time Teignmouth Fire Brigade had the opportunity to test the advantages of PETT’s PATENT HOSE CARRIER. It is a metal elbow pipe that can be attached to the top of the fire ladder, the hose nozzle can be easily directed at any angle by the fireman with the weight of the hose being supported by the ladder.
William Pett was a fire officer at Exeter.
Newspaper Cutting with reference to The Manor Inn
William David Budd Hill died unexpectedly 8th June 1897 age 37 years leaving his wife, £172. 8s. 0d. [approx. £28,000 in 2024]
Following his death, Frederick William Pook a local builder and brother-in-law to William, (Frederick had married William’s sister Caroline), took over the running of the Manor Inn on behalf of Alice and her children and to hold the licence. Frederick never lived on the premises.
He employed Winifred Jane Denton (a widow) as manageress, to look after the Inn and to support William’s widow Alice and her two daughters Louisa and Marion. David’s widow, Louisa (mother of William Budd), is now staying with her daughter and son-in-law, Caroline and Frederick Pook at Smith Hill, Bishopsteignton.
Fredrick William Pook (1860-1924)
Caroline Mary Louisa Pook (nèe Hill) (1861-1951)
Alice Hill’s suicide is big shock for the Hill Family and for the village.
Alice Hill of the Manor Inn and widow of William David Hill died 20th July 1900 aged 44.
Her body was found in the river a few yards below Floor Point. She had left her cap and apron on a wall not far from where she was discovered. Alice had left a note at her residence. The post mortem showed a normal birth had taken place within the past three weeks. Alice had been away for about two weeks prior to her death. It is probable that the baby was born safely during that time. As no-one knew where she had been, the baby was never located. Caroline Mary Louisa Pook, identified the deceased as that of her sister-in-law aged 44 who had been a widow for seven years. It was reported that:
The Inquest verdict is ‘suicide while temporarily insane.’ Alice was well respected in the village, she leaves two young children, Louisa and Marion. Alice left her eldest daughter Louisa Hill, £1201. 1s. 1d. [approx. £185,000 in 2024]
Winifred Denton continues to be employed by Frederick Pook as manageress of the Manor Inn. She looks after William’s daughters Louisa and Marion who remain at the Manor Inn. In 1901 David John Pook, a builder’s apprentice and son of Frederick and Caroline is also staying at the Inn.
The 1901 census records that Christopher and Jessie Hill, having moved from the Inn now own the grocery shop on Fore Street, (now known as the Supply Stores). They later moved to Delamore Dairy and Woodbine Cottage.
The widow of David Hill, Louise Hill, died 02 May 1902, aged 72 years, while living at Smith Hill with her daughter and son in law. She left £83. 13s. 0d. [approx. £13,500 in 2024] to her daughter Caroline Pook.
Village store, ‘Old Post Office’. Woodbine Cottage is visible further up West Street on the left.
This article highlighted the story of the Manor Inn from 1836-1902
and will be continued in Part Two – in 1902 with the continuing presence of the Hill Family at the Inn, so watch out for the next article.
This article was assembled by Dawn Rogers and the Bishopsteignton Heritage Hub team.
Hill and Pook family photos provided kind courtesy Bob Stewart.