Combe House, medieval in origin, was owned by the Putt family from 1614 to 1844 when it was bequeathed to a married daughter Margaretta Marker nee Putt. The house was remodelled in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries though Soane's proposals - initially for additions and alterations and then for an entirely new house were not carried out. His client was Reymondo Putt (1773-1812) - (Reymondo being a Spanish forename).

Soane's proposals for alterations and additions ([1] to [19)] made c. March 1805 to c.February 1808 became increasingly extensive until a new build was inevitable , drawings for which were made in 1811. Presumably the old house would have remained and the 'mansion' built on a fresh site within the estate. The drawings ([20] to [40] are all for a two storey, five by five bay house with a portico. Except for the porticos (for which there were several designs) the plans do not vary so that the placing of door and windows is constant but there is a choice of the 'trimmings' mainly an Ionic order and /or lesenes (pilaster without base or capital). The result is a convenient and gentlemanly house in the country very different from the existing Combe House. The Reverend Thomas Putt who succeeded to the estate in 1812, rejected Soane's proposed alterations and made his own. See (on line) Historic England, Combe House for a full account of this Grade 1 house (now a hotel).

Literature

B.Cherry and N.Pevsner, Devon, 1991, pp.282-3; D.Stroud, Sir John Soane architect, 1996, pp.85, 268; P.Dean, Sir John Soane and the country estate, 1999, p.191. See also: Historic England, Combe House (on line)



Jill Lever
August 2016