In 1603 an important sighting of the manor of Dencehaye within the manor of Bolham appears. Described as four messuages, eleven cottages, one water mill and sixty acres of land. William Sandys had held a lease but alas he had died leaving an heir in minority, and the wardship of the estate was sold to Sir William Parker, Lord Monteagle. The fourth Earl of Bath was succeeded by three daughters. Dorothy married Thomas Lord Grey, their heir was Thomas, who succeeded his Grandfather as the second Earl of Stamford. The other daughter Anne, married secondly Sir Christopher Wrey and their heir was Sir Bouchier Wrey.
From Clayhidon in the parish of Hemyock hundred at the time of Sir Frances John Popham, chief Justice of the Kings Bench death in 1607 it was recorded that he left a great deal of wealth in property and monies to his son Francis, reputed to be around ?10 000 p.a was a family name and Littlecote was inherited by three Francis Pophams between 1607 and 1735; ( 1) 1573 - 1644, (2) 1645 - 1674, (3) 1682 - 1735. Hidone, held by Otelin from Baldwin the Sheriff. In 1166 it was held by John de Hidon. It then descended in the Hidon family with Hemyock, being passed to the Dinham family in 1292.
In 1303 Margaret de Dinham held half a fee in Hydon and in 1346 it was held by another Margaret de Dinham, widow of John, of the honor of Okehampton. Like Egg Buckland by Plymouth the church is an ancient structure of a tower has five bells and contains sever monuments to the Hals, Collins, and other families. In the 1400’s it was St Mary’s, after the reformation St. George was the patron saint, by the mid 1700’s it was St. Peter’s and it reverted to St. Mary’s in the 1760’s. The southern aisle was formally a chantry dedicated to St. Katherine.
Branscombe is a land including Dean and Weston by patrons of the vicarage and is mantled with ivy and vines from an ancient residence. The church (St. Winifred) is a cruciform structure with five bells. The Stuckey and Bartlett families were long seated at Weston Barton. Edge Barton was anciently the seate of the Branscombes, one of whom was sheriff of the county for five years, in the reign of Edward III. At Newton Ferrers, where once stood the ancient chapel of St. Toly (Olave), the Holy Cross church has a tower and five bells.