Orchard Wyndham is a historic manor near Williton in Somerset, centred on the synonymous grade I listed manor house of Orchard Wyndham that was situated historically in the parish of Watchet and about two miles south of the parish church of St Decuman's, Watchet. Parts of the manor house are medieval. It has been owned for more than 700 years by the prominent Wyndham family, who continue there as of 2015.

History

There is evidence of occupation of the site from Roman and Saxon times. The estate was originally called "Orchard", possibly a corruption of the Saxon family name "De Horcherd". In the 12th century the family of Elfric de Orchard held another nearby manor in Somerset, now called Orchard Portman which was inherited by the Portman family. In 1448 the estate passed into the hands of the Sydenham family of nearby Combe Sydenham, and was thenceforth known as Orchard Sydenham. The Sydenham family originated at the manor of Sydenham near Bridgwater, Somerset. Elizabeth Sydenham (died 1571) inherited the house and in 1528 married Sir John Wyndham (died 1573), from Norfolk. The descent of Orchard Wyndham in the Wyndham family is as follows:

Description

The house was designated by English Heritage in 1969 as a Grade I listed building, while the Bailiff's House, Lodge, remains of the walled garden and gate are also listed. The Giant's Cave which is also known as the Blue Grotto, within the grounds, is a landscape feature in the form of a ruin, dating from the mid 18th century. It consists of large undressed blocks of red sandstone, irregularly placed in sections of wall about 2.5 metres high.

Estate

Today the estate retains substantial local landholdings and also land at Ilton, Somerset, where the "Wyndham Estate" is the largest employer in the village and where the public house is called the "Wyndham Arms". This land was formerly part of the Merryfield estate which the family inherited from Nicholas Wadham (died 1609) of Edge, Branscombe, Devon and Merryfield, Ilton, Somerset.

Return of Owners of Land 1873

The Return of Owners of Land, 1873 (as corrected in 1883) revealed the holdings of Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham and Dinton in total as 23,708 acres worth £37,420 per annum as follows:

Principal historic estates

The principal historic estates of the family were as follows:

Sources