Orleigh Court

Orleigh Court is a two-story manor house with slate stone walls and a medieval great hall topped by a hammer-beam roof from the late 1400s. The stone construction and roof structure show skilled craftsmanship from that era.

The estate first appears in records from the 10th century when Anglo-Saxon Ordwulf held it and gave it to Tavistock Abbey in 975. It later became an established English manor house with lasting medieval features.

Ten carved heraldic beasts known as the Orleigh Dogs sit atop the hammer-beam ends and show medieval craftsmanship at its finest. These figures reflect the family's connection to their home and its heritage.

The building has been divided into residential apartments for private occupants and sits within roughly eight acres of shared grounds. Keep in mind that it is now a private residence and viewing is limited to the exterior and surroundings.

The roof space provides shelter for a colony of roughly 300 lesser horseshoe bats, making it an important wildlife haven. These bats use the timber structure as their natural home and roosting place.

Location: Buckland Brewer

GPS coordinates: 50.97830,-4.23820

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:41