Clapps Tenement was held on a 1,000 year
Chief Rent Leasehold from the Duke Estate in the
16th. Century. It is believed that it was granted
to Thomas Dwyer. By 1602 it had passed to the
Clapp family, who held the lease until 1836 when
it was sold back to the Rolle Estates who were
then Lords of the Manor.
The original house was probably built in the
1570/80’s as a single storey cob/thatch cross
passage cottage. John Clapp bought the lease and
rebuilt it adding a first floor and the lateral
stack on the front dated JC 1627 to replace the
fire in the main hall. This stack has a Fire
Window built into it.
The Clappe family first appear in the Otterton
Manor in the Lay Subsidy of 1332. Roger Clappe is
paying tax of 10d on goods and chattels he owns.
By the 1524 Subsidy John Clappe is living in
Bicton Manor. The Otterton Malte Book of 1613
lists John Clapp living in “Clapps” and paying the
high sum to the Parish of £3.4/-.
No further reference has been seen of the Clapps
until the 1781 Land Tax Return and the family had
probably lived at “Clapps” for much of the time
between. However as they prospered they had moved
out leaving a tenant farmer in possession and the
1781 Return lists Clapps Tenement assessed at £20
with Jacob Bishop as the occupier. He died in
1814, aged 91. In the meantime the 1800 L.T.
Return shows William Clapp as the owner and Jacob
Skinner the occupier and the tax has increased to
£4. William Clapp , ironmonger, died in 1826 and
“Clapps” passed to Revd. John Clapp of Alphington.
A year later he granted 2 x 14 year leases 1) to
Richard Robbins of Clapps tenement and 22 acres
for £48pa in March 1827 and 2) to James Chick – 3
fields of 7 acres for £15 in September. In
November 1832 Revd.Clapp, who was now Rector of
Coulston, Wilts, mortgaged Clapps tenement for
£500 to William Lewis of Grays Inn,
London.gent.
25th.March 1836 Revd.John Charles Clapp
Conveyed the 1000 year Lease of Clapps Tenement
with 36 ½ acres to John, Lord Rolle for the sum of
£2,100. Richard Robbins and James Chick were each
granted tenancies on Rack Rents, replacing their
leases. Robbins annual rent was £73 pa which
included 5 fields. By 1842 he was in arrears with
his Rent and his rent and he probably gave up the
fields as rent was reduced to £25pa by 1848.
Richard Robbins then continued at Clapps until his
death in 1867 age 96, His son Hermon probably
worked the farm for his father but predeceased him
in 1859. Another son Sherman lived in the premises
next to Clapps and was a wheelwright. The family
continued with Clapps to 1873 when William Gooding
was renting the house at £8pa. He was probably
living here until 1885. when Thomas Till a carrier
had his business there.
Between 1892 and 1894 Clapps was probably empty
and is known to have been used as a Methodist
Chapel before the Chapel on the Green was built.
In July 1894 James Dowell took over the tenancy.
He had been involved in fighting at South Farm in
1888 and had been hoping to take Davey’s farm at
East Budleigh at the time and as a result was
refused by the Estate and was requested to quit
his house at North Star, where he was Potato
Dealer. He was succeeded by his son Frederick
until 1919, when he moved to Watering Farm. He
renamed the farm Basclose in 1912 after two closes
on Anchoring Hill which he was farming.
In 1902 Charles Vilday, was a fish then pig dealer
and coal merchant living on the Green, Otterton
and he moved into Basclose in 1924. He is
remembered for breaking horses in on The Green and
his capacity for cider. After his death in 1953
his son Victor continued his business and also did
a milk round with horse and cart. He died in 1955
and his widow left Basclose leaving it empty and
became derelict and was condemned. However Mrs
Ursula Brighouse, who was a pioneer in the
preservation of old houses, in 1959 took a 99 year
lease on the premises from the Estate. At a cost
of about £4,000 she made renovations and
improvements to the house.This achieved a great
deal of publicity in National and local
newspapers. Mrs.Brighouse lived for many years in
Woodbury and in 1981 published a comprehensive
history of Woodbury. Basclose was leased in 1960
to a schoolmaster who boarded pupils. About this
time the author Mary Wesley is known to have lived
there. In 1962 Dr.Richardson of Whimple took the
Lease and his mother lived there to 1975. In 1976
the Doctor bought the Freehold and for 11 years it
was let on short or holiday lets. In July 1987
Clement Pointer bought the Freehold- offered at
£135.000. Sold to Robin Barlow in 1998- offered at
£275.000. Sold again in 2007 – offered at
£695.000.
NOTE; The name Bass Close appears on a 14 year
lease dated 14 th. May 1801 which was granted to
Matthew Goodyear Palmer of Otterton, innholder
(The Kings Arms) as a farm let “ALL one close of
ground called Bass Close, Bass Close orchard and
two little gardens adjoining the Bass Close in
Parish of Otterton Rent £12pa.”. The 1911 Estate
Map shows it divided into Upper and Lower Basclose
