Fursdon family celebrates 750 continuous years at Fursdon Estate, Devon
David Fursdon, wife Catriona and his children are part of a Devonshire family which has continued in an unbroken line for 23 generations over 750 years, a period of time that has seen 37 monarchs come and go.
- David makes a welcoming speech.
- It is quite a small tree but it seems to be taking two grown men and one woman to make sure the job is done well!
At the beginning of June they were joined by the Bishop of Exeter – himself representing an office that dates back nearly 960 years – and more than 60 invited guests at the Fursdon Estate, Cadbury, Devon to start the Fursdon 750 celebrations, where the Bishop planted a commemorative Sweet Chestnut tree. Adding to the celebrations is that David was nominated High Sheriff of Devon in March this year. The last member of the Fursdon family to take this office was George Fursdon in 1752.
Very few families in Britain, let alone the world, have enjoyed the Fursdon family’s long history. It is even more exceptional when you consider that Walter de Fursdon, who took his name from the hills of Mid Devon, settled at Fursdon in 1259 only a year after the Oxford Parliament, before the ravages of the Black Death and before Columbus’ discovery of America or Drake’s defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Of the celebrations, David Fursdon said, ‘We feel it is fitting that the Bishop of Exeter will launch the celebrations to mark 750 years of the Fursdon family residing at Fursdon. We are very proud of our ancestry and family history and will raise a glass to the generations who have lived on this lovely estate while, at the same time, looking forward to the role that we can play in an uncertain future.’
How has the family survived? Was it the Dragon of Cadbury Castle, mentioned in a survey of Devon in 1626 as guarding treasure on the Estate and known to protect the family at time of dire need, driving Cromwell’s troops away during the Civil War? Was it the influence of Grace Fursdon, widowed in the Civil War, who supposedly reappears annually on the anniversary of the execution of Charles 1?
Certainly the family has needed luck in marriage, warfare, business, family affairs and inheritance. The line nearly died out in the 18th century when a little boy, George, was at the age of 1, the only heir to the Estate. Family members served in the Hundred Years War, the Napoleonic Wars, in Greece and Hong Kong in the 19th Century and in the First and Second World Wars. They have had their heroes and villains, successes and failures. The fortunes of agriculture have been fundamental and there have been diversifications such as a disastrous venture into copper mining in the 19th Century and a better one into tourism in the 20th.
They have suffered sadness in the premature loss of children, parents, wives and husbands. On the other hand they have known the satisfaction of looking after one of the loveliest landscapes in Britain with the confidence to plant trees for future generations to enjoy.
The house has reflected developing needs and tastes over the years; from a central hall house of late medieval times where everything happened in one room, to the stylish and fashionable 18th century Georgian country house, to its current incarnation as part family house, part business where commercial functions have competed with children’s indoor rugby for space.
The family has retained a keen interest in politics and maintained relationships with politicians but have not become directly involved in politics themselves, preferring to observe and understand the forces that might shape their destiny rather than become embroiled in the minutiae and intrigue of political life with all the attendant risks to the stability of the family and the land.
Despite this the Estate covers only a fraction of the land that it once encompassed but the family is still there in the form of David and Catriona Fursdon and their three sons, Oliver, Tom and Charlie not to mention Lottie the labradoodle, Ruby the chestnut mare and a collection of other animals.
Read what the Times said about the celebration.
Photo captions, clockwise from top left:
- Part of the Fursdon home team on the day.
- David being interviewed for local television.
- David and the Bishop of Exeter who launched the 750 anniversary.
- The Bishop plants a sweet chestnut tree as a symbol of continuity.
