Pynes House

Pynes House
Pynes House
Location within Devon
General information
Town or city	Upton Pyne, Devon
Country	England
Coordinates	50°45′22″N 3°32′28″W / 50.756104°N 3.540979°W / 50.756104; -3.540979
Completed	c. 1700
Design and construction
Architect	Inigo Jones

Pynes House is a Grade II* listed Queen Anne style country house built by Hugh Stafford between 1700 and 1725, situated in the parish of Upton Pyne, Devon, 3 miles northwest of the historic centre of Exeter.

The house has four-storeys containing 10 bedrooms, 10 attic rooms, 6 reception rooms and covers 21,000 square feet (2,000 m²). It is at present set in grounds of 37 acres, most of the ancient estate having been sold off. The building is primarily made of bricks to a square plan, with Portland stone dressings. The roof is slate, with four large brick chimney stacks. An 1827 account relates that "Pynes House contains some valuable pictures, particularly a fine Van Dyke, in the eating-room, and several excellent family portraits".

The renovations at the house in 1789 inspired a poem to be written by Sebastian Emmett, called Written on Viewing the Improvements at Pynes-House, the Seat of Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, Bart. Near Exeter. 1789. It talks about the house and the design of the gardens, but also alludes to the character of the nation at the time.