Bittadon

Bittadon is a village, civil parish and former manor in the North Devon district of Devon, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 45. The village is about seven miles north of Barnstaple.

During the reign of King John (1199–1216) the manor was held by the de Bittadon family, which took its surname from the manor. They remained seated there for six generations. The later descent of this family was as follows:

The Lovering family next acquired Bittadon, by means unknown. John Lovering held it during the reign of King Henry VI (1422–61) and Thomas Lovering held it during the reign of King Henry VII (1485–1509). A possible descendant of this family was John I Lovering (died 1675) of Huxhill in the parish of Weare Giffard, and of Hudscott, Chittlehampton, a merchant.

The Luttrell family purchased Bittadon following the tenure of the Loverings. This was a junior branch of the Luttrells of Dunster Castle in Somerset, and also held in the 17th century the nearby Devonshire manor of Saunton, purchased from Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester (1563–1625), a younger son of the Chichester family of Raleigh, Pilton, near Barnstaple.

In about 1635 Bittadon was held by the Chichester family, the senior branch of which was seated at Raleigh, Pilton, near Barnstaple.

The Pointz family of Northcote, Bittadon, was a junior branch of the ancient and prominent Norman family of Poyntz, feudal barons of Curry Mallet in Somerset and later of Iron Acton in Gloucestershire. Little is known about the Pointz family of Devon. In the 16th century Edward Pointz, "son and heir of Richard Pointz" married Margaret Chichester, a daughter of Amias Chichester (1527–1577) of Arlington in North Devon, by his wife Jane Gifford. It is not recorded where Edward Pointz resided. A mural monument survives in Bittadon Church of a later Edward Pointz (died 1691). and shows the arms of Poyntz of Iron Acton, Barry of eight or and gules, and the Poyntz canting crest of a clenched fist (French: poing). The Pointz arms were later quartered by the Barbor family of Fremington, as is visible on several funeral hatchments in Fremington Church.

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