Blackborough House

Blackborough House is a historic country house in the hamlet of Blackborough, Mid Devon, about five kilometres east of Cullompton and close to the village of Kentisbeare. It is a private property rather than a ticketed attraction, but it is a notable piece of Italianate architecture set in the Devon countryside and worth knowing about if you enjoy architectural history.

What kind of building is it?

The house went up between 1838 and 1840 for George Wyndham, 4th Earl of Egremont, to designs by James Thomas Knowles senior. It is Italianate in style, built of stuccoed brick with stone dressings, and Knowles also planned the walled garden. The Earl had imagined a grand palace, but money ran short and the result was two smaller linked blocks instead. Historic England lists it at Grade II (entry 1106499), a status granted in 1987.

What happened to it afterwards?

The house soon lost its original role. During the twentieth century it served as a school and as a religious base for wayfarers, and in the Second World War it hosted training for conscientious objectors preparing for relief work. Over the decades it fell into serious disrepair, and in 2023 the Victorian Society named it among its ten most endangered buildings. The plan is to turn it into two separate homes, and restoration work has started.

The estate church of All Saints, also commissioned by the Earl in 1838, stood nearby until it was demolished in 1994 because the structure had become unsafe.

Can you visit Blackborough House?

No. The house is privately owned and is a building site, so there is no public access to the interior and no regular tours. You can see the surrounding countryside from public roads, but respect the boundaries of the estate. Check the current situation before travelling, as access may change as the restoration progresses.

How do you get there and what else is nearby?

Blackborough sits in the Culm valley, not far from Cullompton, which has a junction on the M5 (J28). A car is the easiest way to arrive, as public transport in this part of Devon is sparse. Nearby you will find footpaths in the Blackdown Hills and rolling East Devon farmland. In Cullompton itself, St Andrew's church is worth a stop for its richly decorated Lane Aisle.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Blackborough House? It was commissioned in 1838 by George Wyndham, Earl of Egremont, and designed by James Thomas Knowles senior.

Is it a protected building? Yes. It is Grade II listed by Historic England (entry 1106499).

Can I go inside? No. It is a private property undergoing restoration and is not open to visitors.

Where exactly is it? In the hamlet of Blackborough, roughly 5 km east of Cullompton, in the Kentisbeare area of Devon.