ABOUT

Northcote Through Time

Northcote Manor Farm has 34 acres of undulating pasture and woodlands and is located on the outskirts of the hamlet of Kentisbury; 4 miles from the North Devon coast and 2 miles from Exmoor.

Northcote is family run business.  Sheep roam the fields and there are plenty of walks for guests and their dogs on the farm and the adjoining footpath network.

There is history at Northcote going back around a thousand years!   It appears in the Domesday Book in 1086 when Geoffery de Montbray, Bishop of Coutances was listed as the Northcote “Tenant-in-Chief”, a steward on behalf of the Crown.  Geoffrey was said to be a close friend of William the Conqueror and he came to England as part of the Norman conquest. There was a Galfridus (Geoffrey) de Northcote, who in 1103 was described as an English knight but there isn’t a clear link between the 1086 version and the 1103 one.  Galfridus de Northcote founded the Northcote family who were influential in Devon and beyond for several centuries. 

An old ordnance survey map references the “remains of a Manor House” on the field above the Farm but it isn’t clear how this relates to the Grade II listed farmhouse. The farmhouse dates from the mid 16th century with parts possibly from the 15th century and boasts a fine Tudor fireplace with built-in bread ovens. It is likely that Northcote was more than a simple farm because it boasts a walled garden and a large, stream fed manoral fish pond. As there was more than one house carrying the “Northcote” name in North Devon more research is needed to understand where Northcote Manor Farm fits in to the story.

The barns that have been converted into holiday cottages date from the 18th and 19th century although the foundations probably date from the same time as the farmhouse.

Visits to Northcote do not need to be confined to the summer months and Spring and Autumn are great for walking cycling (on and off-road) and star gazing under the light pollution free dark skies.  There is plenty of safe space for children to play and plenty of opportunity to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet and watch the buzzards circling overhead. Northcote is very dog friendly too.

We are very aware of the special nature of Northcote and our responsibilities for sustaining the buildings and the unique environment and our long term plan is to reduce our carbon footprint to zero, which is a formidable challenge given the age of the buildings.

We hope that everyone who visits Northcote Manor Farm will enjoy their stay and will want to come again.