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HISTORY
Earliest records name a Saxon
named Alsi as being the landowner of Doddiscombsleigh prior
to 1066. The first record of Town Barton is in the Domesday
Book of 1086 when Doddiscombsleigh was known as Terra Godeboldi
under the reign of one Godbold the Bowman. Town Barton was
the Capital Barton (Manor House) for Godbold's Domesday Estates.
This makes it one of the very rare instances of a property
truly being specifically traceable to where a Domesday owner
dwelt.
Over the centuries, of course, the old house has undergone
remodelling and rebuilding. Sir Ralph de Doddescomb lived
in the house from 1216-1272 causing the village name to be
changed from Legh Peverel to Doddiscombsleigh. Sometime between
1327 and 1377 the last male Doddescomb died, leaving five
daughters. The manor was divided up by marriage and then had
five Lords.
The original house of Town Barton and land of the Nobody Inn
was in the possession of one of these five Lords. In 1591
a rich Exeter merchant Robert Parr bought "messuages, landes,
pastures, commons, groves, marishes, woodes,rentes etc in
Doddiscombsleighe and Bridford" from a James Woodeye, gentleman.
Previously the Deeds were owned by his father Peter and before
him a Robert Holbeme in 1570.
The cottage that is now The Nobody Inn was one of these "dwelling
houses or messuages" in 1837. The Inn has had a curious role
in the parish. It did not formally become an Inn until 1838.
However from the early 1600's at least it was virtually the
village's unofficial Church House. It was originally called
Pophill Howse but details seem untraceable until 1752 when
it is owned by Stephen Diggines "the carpenter". Stephen and
his son Stephen did carpentry work for the church and his
house continued to be a centre for parish affairs and de facto
inn and meeting place.
Pophill House did not become "The New Inn" until after Stephen
Jr. died in 1837. To today it has continued to be an Inn.
Since then the Inn has only changed ownership five times and
always to people who love the history, the beautiful village,
good food and wine and always give a warm welcome to their
customers.
For
all restaurant and accommodation bookings and enquiries please
contact us on tel: 01647
252 394
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