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Jordan de Todwilla was the first lord of this Manor, mentioned in deeds of 1214 and 1223.  It seems that the name (also Todwell or Tudwell) is derived from ancient springs or 'wells' which bubbled up in a pond in a field across the road from the house. Eventually these springs were directed underground, and with other springs in the Kersbrook valley, provided the pure water supply of which Budleigh Salterton was so justly proud.  It is thought that the springs were once tidal, and they are described in Risdon's Survey of Devon as follows:-

"In a field in front of the house is the Tid Well, maintained by springs which continually well and boil up ... These springs are so warm, as when all other adjoining are frozen, they are free of ice in the coldest weather there is, in which seasons abundance of fowl flock hither to the no little pleasure and profit of the place."

The Todewill family lorded the Manor for 300 years. It then passed into the St. Clere family by marriage. The St. Clere tomb lies opposite that of the Weighs in All Saints' Church, East Budleigh, beneath their pew which bears the St. Clere arms.

Gabriel, the last of that family to live at Tidwell, seems to have been an eccentric character. He went through the family fortune and allowed the house to fall into ruin. His heiress married a Mr. Arscott, who rebuilt the house in 1620. The estate remained with this much respected family for more than 100 years, and they in their turn were interred in All Saints' beneath the altar.

In 1730 the Manor was bought by a barrister from Exeter named Waldron, who built the Tidwell House that we see today. The property was finally acquired by Lord Rolle in the last century.

There is a curious legend attached to Tidwell, pertaining to the time of Gabriel St. Clere. He is said to have declared "that neither he, nor his family could prosper while one stone stood upon another of that house, in which so many sins had been committed".

About that time, it was rumoured that in the fishponds were found "a dead man, booted and spurred, and the bones of diverse children" (Polwhele).

Author: Elizabeth Campbell. Extracted from Sketches on local History – The Lower Otter Valley © 1984 Otter Valley Association. See publications page of web site for full list of publications available for purchase.

References
Dennys, Joyce & Daniel, Betty (1961) Budleigh Salterton Past and Present. (Album compiled for the W. I.; in Budleigh Salterton Public Library and Fairlynch Museum)
Gibbons, Maria (1887) Budleigh Salterton in 1809. (Transcript in Fairlynch Museum)
Pigot, J. (1830) Directory of Cornwall and Devon. (Pigot & Co.)
Polwhele, R. (1797) History of Devonshire. Reprinted in 1977 from 1797 ed. by Cadell (Kohler & Coombes)
Risdon, Tristram (ca. 1714) Survey of the County of Devon. Reprinted 1811 (Rees & Curtis)
Sheppard, Lilian (1972-77) Historical Jottings; in East Budleigh Parish News.
White, W. (1850) History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire. (Simkin, Marshall & Co.)
White, W. (1878-9) History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire. (Simkin, Marshall & Co.)

Other Documents at Fairlynch Museum: Morris & Co.'s Commercial Directory of Devonshire 1870; M. Billing's Directory and Gazetteer of the County of Devon 1857; Kelly's Directories of Devonshire 1890 to 1914; diverse Guide-Books for Budleigh Salterton.

I would like to thank the Misses Joy and Elizabeth Gawne for all their help in my research, and to express my gratitude for the facilities available for it at Fairlynch Museum.
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