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The Andrews Pages Picture Gallery : Devon
A selection of photographs, prints and postcards. Some have personal or family connections
 
Powderham Castle, about 1845
Powderham Castle

POWDERHAM CASTLE, DEVONSHIRE,

Drawn & Engraved for DUGDALE's ENGLAND & WALES Delineated
Line engraving, artist and engraver not known


This is what Dugdale had to say:

"Powderham Castle is an ancient structure, originally built for the protection of the coast ; it contains some very spacious apartments, furnished in a most splendid manner, and decorated with paintings of considerable merit. The park and plantations are about ten miles in circumference ; the Belvedere tower, occupying an elevated position above the castle, commands several elevated and extremely beautiful views"[1].

There is another, somewhat more informative, description from approximately the same date as the engraving was published:

"Star Cross is a very pretty village and sea-port, situated on the River Exe ; about 8 miles S. S. E. from Exeter, 7 N. from Teignmouth, and 4 N. from Dawlish : it is in the parish of Kenton, and hundred of Exminster. The chief attraction of this place, besides its pleasant situation, in 'Powderham Castle', the noble seat of the Earl of Devon ; supposed to have been originally built by Isabella de Fortibus, the last descendent of the great family of Rivers, who died in the reign of Edward I. This castle was much improved by the late Lord Courtney. The park, grounds, and plantations of 'Powderham', occupy a space of nearly ten miles in circumference. Upon the summit of the highest ground is 'Belvidere', a lofty tower of triangular shape, with an hexagonal turret rising at each corner, erected by Lord Courtney, in 1773; this building commands a great variety of the most beautiful scenery, and is itself a conspicuous object from the British Channel"[2].


The above antique steel engraving was published in "Curiosities of Great Britain. England and Wales Delineated: Historical, Entertaining, and Commercial", alphabetically arranged by Thomas Dugdale, Antiquarian, assisted by William Burnett. Published in 11 volumes by J. Tallis, London c1845. Also in 4 volumes by L. or J. & F. Tallis, also in 2 volumes by L. Tallis, 1854-60. Two of the Devon engravings are published on this web site. There are 7 Devon line engravings in total, all anon, apart from the title (not on this web site). Hand tinting added at a later date.
In the collection of, provided by and © Ann Andrews.
Intended for personal use only.

References:

[1] Dugdale, "England and Wales Delineated", Volume 9, page 1341.

[2] "Pigot & Co.'s Directory of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, ... Devon ..., Gloucestershire", 1844. [Part 1]


Also see on this web site:
Gentleman's Magazine Library : Devon, which has an entry about Powderham




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