centuries the house was at times divided into two and again fell into a poor state of repair. It was bought by Dampier Whetham in 1910 who uncovered the old Tudor hearths and put the house into sound structural condition. In the 1920s he let the house to the William-Powlett family, descendants of Amias Paulet, who purchased the property in 1935, and occupied it until 2002. In 2002 the house was inherited by Rupert Thistlethwayte, a nephew of the last of the William-Powletts, and a furniture maker. He restored it to its previous splendour and introduced modern comforts such as heating and additional bathrooms, as well as contemporary furniture of his own designs to complement the antique furniture. Sir Simon Jenkins in his book England's Thousand Best Homes described the house thus: "The courtyard...with statues of Henry VIII and his three monarch offspring, Edward, Mary and Elizabeth...is one of the treasures of Devon." Statues Four statues dating from 1617 survive, standing over the doors in the courtyard, and represent Kings Henry VIII, Edward VI and Queens Mary and Elizabeth I. Further reading Rogers, William Henry Hamilton, Haydon of Woodbury and Ottery St. Mary, Exeter, 1901 References External links Country houses in Devon Historic house museums in Devon Gardens in Devon Ottery St Mary Grade I listed houses in Devon