Tiverton Castle takes stock of rare painting of former resident the First Earl of Devonshire (From This is The West Country)
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Tiverton Castle takes stock of rare painting of former resident the First Earl of Devonshire
1:23pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Devon By Mid Devon Star Reporter
Tiverton castle owner Alison Gordon, who bought the painting at an antiques fair
A RARE painting of the first Earl of Devonshire has gone on display at the medieval peer’s former home, Tiverton Castle, after the building’s owners spotted the artwork at an antiques fair.
Alison Gordon, who inherited the castle in the mid-1980s, bought the artwork at Powderham Castle.
The painting, an early 18th Century copy, depicts Edward Courtenay, who lived at the castle following years in prison in the Tower of London from the age of 12 after his father, Henry, the first Marquis of Exeter, was implicated in a plot against King Henry VIII.
He was eventually given his freedom when Queen Mary I came to the throne in 1553 and later lived aboard – he died in mysterious circumstances in Italy in 1556, aged 29.
His death marked the end of the senior line of Courtenays at the castle, which was then inherited by descendants of his four great aunts and later bought by various families down the ages.
Alison, who has lived at the castle with husband Angus since 1994, said: “We’re thrilled to have this picture at Tiverton Castle and it will be on show to the public.”
