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Portledge-Home of the Coffins in England by Capt. J. E. Lacouture
LAST MAY, on our annual visit to Devon and Cornwall in England, my wife and I decided it was high time that we visit Portledge, legendary estate of the Coffin family. At the time we were staying in the Watch Tower of Compston Castle, a National Trust property, and home of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a founder of the British Empire and a half brother of Sir Walter Raleigh. From Compston, in southeastern Devon, to Portledge, located in western Devon on the Atlantic, four miles southwest of Bideford in the town of Alwington on the Clovelly-Bideford road, it is little more than an hour's drive. Turning off the main road at the gatepost with the small Portledge sign, it is a half-mile drive through a lovely wooded area and down across a meadow with grazing sheep to the splendid old manor house of Portledge. The imposing front doorway, which used to lean into the old Great Hall, has remained virtually unchanged since it was first built about 1234. The Spanish armor in the doorway was brought back by an early Richard Coffin from the English campaigns in Holland against the Spanish in the 16th century. The main part of the present mansion is a splendid example of 17th century architecture in a magnificent setting, surrounded by beautiful parkland, about % mile from the sea. The old Great Hall has lost its Minstrel Gallery which was moved over 100 years ago to Alwington Church-a lovely old 15th century church, containing many monuments to the Coffin Family and in whose church yard many of the Coffins are buried. The old entrance courtyard was roofed in and made into a new Hall, complete with gallery, in the middle of the 18th century. The dining room is ornate with a beautifully plastered ceiling, large wall mirrors with gilded frames, a lovely carved fireplace, and magnificent silver candelabra on the sideboards. There is also a belfry and a Spanish Armada courtyard, which features timbers from Spanish galleons wrecked on the nearby coasts during the Armada. Throughout the mansion are many fine pieces of antique furniture, Coffin ancestral portraits, Spanish Armada guns, carved stone coats of arms, and beautifully carved panelling. For some time now Portledge has been converted into a charming and historic hotel by the Coffins. One reason for this was to raise money to pay the inheritance and estate taxes. This enables them to retain the property, which has been in the family continuously since the days of Henry II (1154-1189). Portledge, as a hotel, contains 30 bedrooms, most with bath, a luxury cocktail bar, a heated swimming pool, a good bathing beach, which may be reached by a picturesque walk through the woods. Tennis courts, a mini-golf course, and table tennis is available. There is an excellent dining room with dancing and music on many occasions.
