Orcheton, Modbury

Orcheton (anciently Orcharton, etc.) is an historic estate in the parish of Modbury in Devon. The present house, known as Great Orcheton Farm is situated 1 1/2 miles south-west of Modbury Church.

The Domesday Book of 1086 lists ORCARTONE as the 65th of the 79 Devonshire holdings of Robert, Count of Mortain, uterine half-brother of King William the Conqueror. Robert's tenant was Reginald de Vautort (died post 1121), 1st feudal barony of Trematon in Cornwall, one of his major followers, who held from Robert numerous manors in Devon and Cornwall, including the manor of Modbury. Reginald de Vautort's principal seat was Trematon Castle in Cornwall, also held from Robert, Count of Mortain, which became the caput of the feudal barony of Trematon. Orcheton and Modbury thus descended as possessions of the Honour of Trematon.

The de Orcharton family took its surname from its seat, as was usual. The last holder was John de Orcharton, whose daughter and heiress was Isabella de Orcharton (died 1249), first wife of Geoffry Pridyas, as younger son of Richard Predieux (died 1250) of Prideaux Castle, near Fowey, in Cornwall.

The Book of Fees (c.1302, contents earlier) lists Geoffrey de Pridias as holding Orcherdton, as a member of the manor of Modbury, from the Honour of Trematon. The Prideaux family is believed to be of Norman origin and to have first settled in England at some time after the Norman Conquest of 1066 at Prideaux Castle, near Fowey, in Cornwall. It abandoned that seat and moved to Devon, where it spread out in various branches, earliest at Orcheton. Later branches were seated at Adeston, Holbeton; Thuborough, Sutcombe; Soldon, Holsworthy; Netherton, Farway (see Prideaux baronets); Ashburton; Nutwell, Woodbury and Ford Abbey, Thorncombe and at Prideaux Place in the parish of Padstow, Cornwall, where the Prideaux-Brune family still resides today. It was one of the most widespread and successful of all the gentry families of Devon, and as remarked upon by Swete (died 1821), exceptionally most of the expansion was performed by younger sons, who by the custom of primogeniture were expected to make their own fortunes.

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