The Greenwood Penny's of High Bickington

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Robert Greenwood-Penny and his wife Sarah, (always known as Siddie), were the largest land owners after the Pyncombe estate in the latter half of the 19th &early 20th Centuries. They moved to High Bickington in 1883 and lived on the Nethergrove estate until their deaths, Sarah/Siddie on 26th May 1904 and Robert on 27th January 1905. They had four children including Robert Augustus their eldest, who was 12 when they first moved to Nethergrove. He later went on to follow his father's footstep's as a psychiatrist and was superintendent of the female wing of the Devon County Mental Hospital at Exminster. Robert's brother Sidney was also in the medical profession and the two were students together in London.

Siddie was an accomplished horsewoman who also had a passion for cycling. She was also a talented wood carver and the fronts of the choir stalls in the church are her handiwork, although she died before they were fully completed. Husband Robert was a keen sportsman and took great care of his estate. He was also churchwarden for the reverend Wansbrough from 1897 until his death in 1905, a school governor and member fo the Taw and Torridge Board of Conservators.

A June 1st 1905 advertisement for the sale of the Nethergrove Estate reads as follows:

By Order of the Administrator of R. Greenwood-Penny, Esq., Deceased DEVONSHIRE
Within two Miles of Portsmouth Arms Station (L. and S.W.R.), between Exeter and Barnstaple, close to a good village, Church Post and Telegraph Office.
The singularly Beautiful and Attractive FREEHOLD, RESIDENTIAL, SPORTING AND AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, known as the "NETHERGROVE ESTATE", High Bickington, comprising the handsome Stone-Built and Slated Residence " NETHERGROVE", situated in an elevated but sheltered position in its own charming grounds, commanding panoramic views of delightful scenery, approached by two carriage drives (one with lodge entrance), and containing dining, drawing, morning and billiard room, 9 bed and 2 dressing rooms, store rooms and offices, with stabling and outbuildings, ornamental grounds, fruit and vegetable gardens, vinery, peach house, and conservatory, pasture, orchard and arable lands, and coverts and plantations in hand, together with WARD'S COTTAGE, and 6 acres of meadow land, in all about 93a. 1r. 0p.
 
MIDDLEWOOD AND NORTHWOOD FARMS, with farmhouse, cottage, ample buildings and about 117 acres of useful pasture, arable and orchard lands, coverts, and plantations, conveniently situated for roads, stations and markets, with excellent farmhouse and modern buildings, all let to good tenants.
The whole estate extends to about 316 Acres 1 Rood 30 Poles. It is heavily timbered, and the coverts are well stocked with game. Excellent salmon and trout fishing is obtainable in the River Taw, within 1½ miles of the Residence, and several packs of hounds hunt the immediate district. Also Cheif Rent amounting to £1 12s 10d per annum.
WHITTON AND LIANG will offer the above Estate by Auction, first as whole, and if not sold, then in 3 lots, at the New London Hotel, Exeter, on Friday June 23rd, at 3.30 precisely (unless previously sold privately).
Particulars and Conditions of sale, with orders to view, may be had of the Auctioneers, 24 Gandy Street, Exeter: or of Messers. WOODHOUSE AND DAVIDSON, Solicitors, 10 and 11, Lime Street, London, EC

As yet we don't have information on who bought the property but a few years later the house was reduced to about half it's original size by a devastating fire. Never the less, the property is still quite grand and still commands wonderful views over the Taw valley to Exmoor. The land has not changed too much, the orchards have gone, as has happened all over the country, much to it's detriment; However, the valley is still quite wooded albeit a little reduced since the time of the sale, and much of the land is now in private ownership by other's along with the original tied properties of Wards Cottage, Middlewood and Northwood farms. It may be that the land was sold in three lots as detailed in the sale?

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