There is no manor in town

aI NOTICED that the Manor View housing development in the town states 'Houses with views towards the manor'.

I informed the developer's representative that there is no manor house in Okehampton town and that the terms being used are historically inaccurate but I was told that it was a good selling point.

The historical facts are that Okehampton Castle, built by Baldwin of Exeter and mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086), was the seat of the Lord of the Manor until it was dismantled by Henry VIII.

The house referred to by the developer as the manor was built in the 19th century by Mr Albany Savile who purchased a large amount of land and erected the mansion known as Oaklands — at first called Sweetlands. Is it not therefore misleading to name and promote the site as Manor View?

Sandra Sutton

Upcott Hill

Okehampton