Exmouth historian: The Rolle family

If there is one family that Exmouth owes much to for its development, it is the Rolle family, and in particular to Baron Rolle of Stevenstone and the Hon. Mark Rolle.

The family can trace its earliest association with Devon to Tudor times, when an ancestor called George Rolle, a lawyer, purchased Stevenstone Manor near Great Torrington in North Devon. It is from this manor that Stevenstone Road in Exmouth is named.

L: Stevenstone House (Wikimedia Commons). R: Stevenstone Road (Google Maps)

Trefusis Terrace in the town comes from the Trefusis family of Cornwall, who married into the Rolle family later in the 18th century.

Bicton came into the Rolle family when Sir Henry Rolle married Anne Denys of Bicton in 17th century.

The Hon. Mark Rolle

The Hon. Mark Rolle was born Mark George Kerr Trefusis in 1835 to Charles Trefusis, 19th Baron Clinton and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Clinton (nee Kerr).

Hon. Mark Rolle (Wikimedia Commons)

In 1842, Mark Rolle inherited the Great Torrington Estate from his late uncle, John Lord Rolle, Baron Rolle of Stevenstone who, although he married twice, had no children.

Lord Rolle did much for the foundations of Exmouth during his lifetime by building the Plantation, Madeira Walk, the original sea wall, the Beacon, several schools and the original Holy Trinity Church.

John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle (Wikimedia Commons)

He died at Bicton House and he left in his will the Bicton Estate to his widow. The Great Torrington estate was left to Mark Trefusis on condition that he change his name to Rolle which he did by royal licence in 1852.

The Hon. Mark Rolle married Lady Gertrude Douglas (1838-1924) in 1860, the daughter of the Earl of Morton, and they had two children, Mary Frances and Gertrude Emily.

It was the Hon. Mark Rolle who really developed the town in the 19th century. In 1865 The Rolle Estate Act was passed which gave the trustees the ability to grant leases on buildings for 99 years, there followed an era of building in the town starting with the development of Rolle Street in 1868.

The Hon. Mark Rolle died in France in 1907 where he had gone to recover from illness. He is buried at the Church of St James the Less in Huish, being the main seat of the Trefusis family.

He does, however, have a monument to him at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth. There are other monuments at places in Devon associated with him.

Link with Clinton Devon Estates

He had no sons, only daughters - and on his death his estates passed to his nephew Charles, 21st Baron Clinton. He, however, had to sell many of these estates to meet death duties, including Stevenstone House which was shortly after demolished.

As a result, the family decided to concentrate its holdings in East Devon around the Bicton Estate. He died in 1957.

The Clinton Devon Estates is now responsible for these estates and can trace its origins back to 1299. Today, the estates are run by trustees in partnership with Lord Clinton and his family.

It is the largest private landowner in Devon, owning many farms, commercial properties and industrial estates. Bicton House and Gardens are open to the public and there is the Bicton Arena which holds many equestrian events.

John Gendall, Bicton, seat of the Right Honorable Lord Rolle, c. 1820, engraving (Wikimedia Commons)

Next time we will look at a turbulent time in Exmouth's history and see how this led to the development of Rolle Street and the town and the part The Hon. Mark Rolle played in this.

This has only been a brief introduction to the Rolle family and Clinton Devon Estates who have and continue to play such a large part in the life of the town and surrounding area.

If you would like to know more please visit the museum's website at www.exmouthmuseum.com or you can email Mike at [email protected]

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Ed: This is the 12th part of Mike Menhenitt's 'Walking Through Exmouth History' series. Use the links below to read previous articles:

Part One: The beginnings of Exmouth, from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age

Part Two: Exmouth in the Iron Age - and the arrival of the Celts

Part Three: Roman coins and Viking raids

Part Four: The impact of the Norman conquest, and how places in Exmouth got their names

Part Five: How Exmouth became a fashionable seaside resort in the 18th century

Part Six: How the docks brought prosperity to Exmouth - and then became the marina

Part Seven: The coming of the railway

Part Eight: Turnpikes, toll houses and inns in Exmouth

Part Nine: Jobs your ancestors had in the town through the ages