deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. % 0-10 hours.

31.29 1.23 16/7 203 51.7 47.3 56.0 51.6 26.6 79.3 83.0 6.2

31.00 1.31 27/8 189 52.3 46.3 57.1 51.7 24.0 79.0 81.0 7.0 1813.0

Princetown 67.66 2.08 31/8 199 45.5 41.1 51.7 46.4 14.0 75.9 88.8 6.7

(Benton) 22.58 .79 27/4 176 51.1 45.1 57.0 51.0 22.5 Torquay Obs. 25.24 .85 31/8 173 52.3 46.2 57.9 52.1 23.4

(Livermead) 27.48 .95 31/8 178 53.4 45.3 58.4 51.9 23.2 79.7 78.0...

24.77 .87 26/8 185 51.9 47.0 56.051.5 23.4 81.0 81.0 5.7 1824.0 6

THE WYSES AND TREMAYNES OF SYDENHAM.

BY MRS. G. H. RADFORD.

(Read at Launceston, 28th July, 1909.)

ALL old houses are interesting, but very few, one might venture to say none in this neighbourhood, are as intrinsically interesting as is Sydenham in the parish of Marystowe. Its own beauty, "the best preserved Elizabethan mansion in that part of Devon," its beautiful surroundings, the background of woods and the rippling river in front, the atmosphere of peace and beauty without and within the mansion, all contribute, and nothing jarring or modern disturbs, so that it is easy to fancy oneself back in the time of the first Stuart King as the old iron gate clangs behind us. And yet it has not the dry lifeless air of a show-housethere is nothing of the museum about Sydenham; it is a home, lived in and loved, and there lies its charm. We are, I believe, to have the pleasure and privilege of seeing this beautiful old house, and therefore a few facts both as to the building and its former owners may be interesting.

The name of Sydenham is found in Domesday; the late Mr. R. N. Worth1 and the Rev. O. J. Reichel 2 concur in assigning Sidreham, held by William under Judhel of Totton (p. 571 of the printed Devonshire Domesday), to "Little Sydenham," alias Siderham Maury or Maristowe. Maristowe appears as Seynt Marie Stou or Stowe in 1266.3 The Manor of Sydenham had been the property of the "dignous" 4 family of Wyse since the reign of Henry IV; the mansion house is mentioned in the will, dated 22 January, 1563-64, of John Wise, who left five sons and five daughters; the son and heir Thomas being only eighteen

1 "Suggested Identifications of the Domesday Manors of Devon."

2 The "Domesday Hundreds," Part II.

3 Page 154, Bp. Bronescombe's Register, ed. by Preb. Hingeston-Randolph. 4 Westcote, p. 362.

he entreats his loving friends William Harris of Hayne (brother-in-law), Roger Tremayne of Collacombe, John Dynham of Wortham, etc., to look after the estates. The heir grew up, entered into his estates and married Mary, daughter of Richard Buller of Shillingham, dying in his turn on 27 January, 1592-93.1 He left three sons and one daughter; the eldest son William, who was over twenty-two years at his father's death, died without issue, and the second son Thomas succeeded to the family estates.

This son is the most important of the Wyses of Sydenham. He had plenty of ready money, gained, perhaps, in London while he was a younger son. Much land came to him by his marriage with Margery, "daughter and sole heyre of Robert Stafford of Stowford and Zenobia, daughter of Philip Dennis of Petrockstowe.2 The marriage took place before her father's death, 20 March 1603-4, the ante-nuptial settlement being dated 1 March, 1599-1600. Thomas Wyse was made a Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of James I, Sheriff for the County in 1612.

If the following had occurred while he was Sheriff, it might have had unpleasant consequences. At a Court of Survey of the Duchy of Cornwall, held at Okehampton, 15 August, 1608, the Jury " do present that William Chaste by his owne confession kild a stagge with a pece or gun nere a month since about Blacktorrebeare (which is part in the forest of Dartmoor and part in Venvill) and that he did it for Sir Thomas Wyse and delivered the same to the said Sir Thomas at his house at Sidenham, at which tyme he told him that he had kild the same dere in the fforest." 3

He was M.P. for Bere Alston in 1621, his fellow-member being Thomas Keightley, merchant, of London; but what is more important in considering the history of Sydenham, he was a great builder, and had evidently plenty of money to carry out his desires.

He rebuilt Sydenham, and the front of the house is very much as he left it. It is in the shape of the letter "E," a fashion begun in compliment to the Virgin Queen, which seems to have outlived her. The Wyse arms, with their

1 Inq. P.M., 35 Eliz., Part I, No. 55. Will dated 14 January, 1592–93. 2 Visitation of the County of Devon in 1620.

Her first cousin married Julian, daughter and co-heiress of Hugh Osborne of Iddesley, whence come the present Earls of Iddesleigh.

3.66 "Documents printed by the Dartmoor Preservation Association," Vol. I,