History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

INTRODUCTION. 1
A later writer has this graphic description of this spot. "Adjacent
to the churchyard rises that noble mount called Montacute, the base
of which contains near twenty acres. Its form is conical and its
ascent very steep, the top terminating in a fiat of half an acre whereon
stands a round tower sixty feet in height and crowned with an open
ballustrade. On this tower is a flag-staff fifty feet high, on which a
flag is occasionally displayed floating fifty-six yards in the air and
exhibiting a grand and picturesque appearance.
The summit of this tower, being so highly elevated above the level
of the central part of the country, affords a rich and extensive pros-
pect extending westward to the hills below Minehead and Blackdown
in Devonshire and north eastward over Taunton, Quantock Hills,
Bridgewater bay, the Channel, and coast of Wales.
To the north, Brent-Knoll, the whole range of Mendip, the city of
Wells and Glastonbury-Torr. Eastward, Creeche. Southward over
the Dorsetshire Hills to Lamberts Castle near Lyme, the whole a
circle of above 300 miles in which on a clear day 80 churches are
distinguished.
This hill is planted from bottom to top with oaks, elms, firs and
sycamores the intermingled foliage of which (especially in the
autumnal season) forms a rich and beautifully tinted scenery."
While this was the original home of the Montagues, the seat of
their barony was at Shepton Montacute a villa at no great distance
from Montacute. This parish contains the hamlets of upper and
lower Shepton, # Knolle, and Stoney Stoke, and was held by Drogo
de Monte-acuto and his direct descendants until the time of King-
Henry VIII. when Sir Thomas Montacute leaving no male issue,
this estate was divided between three sisters.
Drogo de Monte-acute also held of Robert Earl of Moriton, the
following Manors. The manor of Yarlinton. (For description see
at Sir Simon Montacute, 8th generation). Sutton Montacute, a small
parish six miles east from Ivelchester, lying in a fruitful woody vale
under the south west brow of Cadbury castle, with other high hills
toward the east. It contains thirty houses which compose a long
street in the turnpike road from Ivelchester to Castle Cary.
Thulbeer, (ancient name Torlaberie).
* In Drogo's time, in demesne are two carucates, 8 servants, 8 Villanes (farmers), 5 cottagers,
3 ploughs, 2 mills, one not rated, the other pays seven shillings and sixpence. There
are 30 acres of meadow, and wood ten furlongs long and four furlongs broad.