Drake Family Seats
The composer Edward Elgar wrote his hymn "Drakes Broughton" (hymn number 151 in the Westminster Hymnal) in 1878. It was originally entitled "Hymn Tune in F major." Elgar was particularly fond of a narrow wooded lane leading to Drake’s Broughton.
John Prince, in his "Worthies of Devon" (1701), gives the following in regard to the ancient history of Ashe:-- "Ashe was sometimes the dwelling of Quandus de Ash, the most ancient inhabitant that I find there, who gave to, or took name from the place, after whom it was given by John Lord Courtenay, Lord of the manor of Musbury, unto Henry de Esse, or Ash, who gave it to Julian (likely his daughter), wife of John de Orway, of Orway, in the parish of Kentisberr, nigh Cullompton, in this shire; whose son Thomas had issue: John, o.s.p., and two daughters, Joan, wife of John Stretche; and Phillippa, wife of Warren Hampton. Stretch left issue, that died without issue, upon which Ash fell to Hampton, who had issue: first, Joan, thrice married, to Bonvile, Sachvile and Farringdon; and, secondly, Alice, wife of John Billett, unto whom Ash was allotted; John Billett and Alice, his wife, had issue: Christian, their sole daughter and heiress, who married John Drake of Exmouth."