Earlier Houses: There was an earlier house that was incorporated into a wing of the current house.

Built / Designed For: Captain Philemon Pownall

House & Family History: Captain Pownall purchased the Sharpham Estate and rebuilt the existing house using the fortune he acquired from the 1762 capture of the Spanish galleon "Ermiona" in the Seven Years' War. The house that Pownalll created is noted for its hall with a cantilevered staircase topped by an oval dome and its library with classically decorated bookcases and decorative panels attributed to Angelica Kauffman.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. I, p. 38, 1852.

Country Life: CXLV, 952, 1014, 1969.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II*

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Gilbert Yarde, until 1748. Philip Cockey, 1748-65. Captain Philemon Pownoll, 1765-70. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Captain Philemon Pownoll, 1770-80. Edmund Pollexfen Bastard, 1780-1816; Capt. John Bastard, 1816-35; John Pownoll Pollexfen Wade Bastard, 1835-41. Richard Durant I, 1841-78; Richard Durant II, 1878-86; Elizabeth Jane Durant, 1886-1906. Mary Elizabeth Trotter, 1906-43; Maj. Frederick Liddell Trotter, 1943-47. Maj. Ashley Sparke, 1947-52. Maj. Brian Andrews, 1952-62. Maurice Ash, 1962-85.

Current Ownership Type: Charity / Nonprofit

Primary Current Ownership Use: Other

Ownership Details: Since 1982 owned by The Sharpham Trust, who operate retreats here.

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Phone: 01803-732-055

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.sharphamtrust.org/

Historic Houses Member: No