Bicton Church, 1842

A lithograph of Bicton Church by William Spreat (1816-1897).

First published in Picturesque sketches of the churches of Devon drawn from Nature and on Stone by William Spreat, published by C. Hullmandel, Exeter, 1842. Colour was probably applied to the lithograph later.

The label for the lithograph in the printed volume reads:

"Bickton, in the hundred of East Budleigh, and in the deanery of Aylesbeare, lies about three miles from Sidmouth. The manor is the property of the Right Hon. Lorde Rolle, who has chief country seat here. The county goal [gaol] was formerly at Bickton, under the superintendence of the lord of the manor; it was removed to Exeter in 1518. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is a small but neat building. It is striking from its romantic situation; it stands alone, overshadowed by venerable trees, and seems so secluded from the busy world, that it is eminently calculated to raise devotional feelings in the heart. In the interior is the monument of Dennis Rolle, Esq. who died in 1638, with the effigies of himself and his lady in statuary marble, richly habited. The church of Bickton was originally a chapel to Otterton. The Rev. David Hornden is the present rector, instituted 1811."

The building depicted here is the 15th century church, (Holy Trinity), which once stood at Bicton, and which was demolished, save for its tower and part of the nave, in 1850. The new church, (St Mary's), was built in the same year, and designed by the architect John Hayward (1807-1891). The project was carried out under the instruction of Lady Rolle, who also commissioned the notable Gothic Revival architect A. W. N. Pugin (1812-1852), to convert the eastern end of the old church into a mausoleum for her husband, John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle (1750-1842).

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