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Bed & Breakfast in the wilds of Dartmoor
The Manor at Sampford Spiney has
existed in various forms since before the Domesday book
came into existence. Probably the earliest mention of the
house is in 1028, and then it is mentioned in 1086 as
belonging to William de Polloi. At the beginning of the
reign of Henry II (1154-1189) the Manor belonged to one
Gerard de Spineto, Lord of Sampford. This family remained
at the manor for some generations, it is thought that
their family name eventually led to the Parish being
Sampford Spiney, rather than the singular Sampford. The
first published occurrence of this name is in 1281 when
the Parish is referred to as "Samford Spinee"
In 1581 the house came into the hands of the famous Westcountry seafarer, Sir Francis Drake. It is thought he obtained the house for £500 as part payment of a wager. It is unlikely that he ever lived in the house itself, but he is believed to have spent part of his honeymoon in another house in the village of Sampford Spiney.
After Drake’s death the house passed into the hands of his second in command, Jonas Bosenham. However this came under attack from Drake’s family, and Bodenham eventually sold the house to Sir Francis’ brother Thomas.
The manor was rebuilt in 1607, then restored again in 1935, and for a while became known as Hall Farm, due to its owner the Rev John Hall Parlby. Following Parlby's departure from the farm it was allowed to fall into disrepair. Since 1987 the present occupants have carried out extensive renovation, and Sampford Manor is now a small holding and Bed & Breakfast, though retains all the character of its colourful history.