Tithe 1111 Rent 203
The house stands on
site of part of Otterton Fair, which had been held
on the Green twice annually since the Middle Ages
and last held in 1884. By 1790 Stephen Hollett,
carpenter/builder had leased the site , at that
time known as “The Shambles” ie. in the past where
a butchers stall stood. This was also where the
Fair “Standings” were kept – tables, stalls,
hoardings etc. used on Fair Days.
Hollett would have used the site as his builders
yard. He was also paying a rent to keep timber on
the Green. He is known to have built the cottages
on the south side of the Green. By 1822 the
Holletts had built Stables and Gig House 31ft.x
15ft. and a house adjoining at the west end of the
site. From 1861 the tenancy changed to Rack Rent
(House & Workshop). The Holletts left the
premises in 1864 and by 1866 it is described as in
ruins.
In 1893 Rolle Estates had offered the site to the
Weslyan Methodists for a Chapel. In the late
1880’s they had been offered a cottage on the
north side of the Green, but the lease held a
clause forbidding Religious use. The Estate had
offered them Basclose, temporarily. The Chapel was
built and opened on Wednesday 6th. June 1894 with
a sermon by Revd. George Bowden D.D. of the Bath
District. Tea was served under the Chestnut Trees
on the Green at 5pm. Revd, Marmaduke Riggall,
Minister at the Temple Methodist Church, Budleigh
Salterton, was the driving force in getting the
Chapel built and Robert Curwen ARIBA was the
architect. He had worked with Sir Giles Gilbert
Scott and had designed Churches in Bristol, Colwyn
Bay, Sunderland, Axminster and Chard. He designed
the three identical chapels at Otterton, Colaton
Raleigh and Farway. – all L shaped and seating
100.
During the early 20th. century a healthy
congregation was maintained but after World War 11
it declined and the Chapel was closed for worship
in the 1960’s the last service being a Harvest
Festival.
The local newspaper of 27th. August 1965 carried a
headline “Preacher involved in ugly incident” The
Chapel was still open for services at this time
and worshipers cars were parked in front of the
Mill House garage. Mr.Derrick who lived there
could not get out when the service was on. As a
result there was a “punch up” after the service
had finished.
It is not known when the Chapel was sold for
private development but residents have been in
1980’s Mrs. Phillis Reeves: 1995 Mrs. Sandra
Blomberg: 2001 Sidney Stuart: 2004 Brian Major,
who renamed “Chapel House”.
