The Manor after the Domesday Book

 

The manor, Anestinga, mentioned in the Domesday Book later belonged to the Corbets according to Lyson's Magna Brittanica (Vol.6, Devonshire 1822).

It subsequently passed to the family of Crewes or Cruwys, from whom it obtained the name of Anstey Cruwys. Robert de Crues was patron of the benefice in 1263 when William Poylen (or Paulen) was appointed rector.

It continued, for five descents, to be the residence of the younger branch of the Cruwys family, the co-heiress of which brought the estate to the Nortons and Pollards. The last of the Cruwys family to hold the benefice was John Cruwys at the time that Sir Robert Prust was appointed rector.

From the Nortons, it descended to the Prous's of Chagford, and through Chalvedon to the Beres of Huntsham.

The manor appears afterwards to have been divided. In the reign of James I (1603–1625), the family of Molford held one-fourth of East Anstey, alias Anstey Cruwys, of the heirs of Lord Dinham. The Dinhams were an old Devonshire family residing at Hartland and Hemyock Castle. The title became extinct on the death of John, Lord Dinham in 1502, his heirs being his three sisters.

After that earlier researchers found nothing more about the manor.

In medieval times manors would have a "sele" or hall or residence or would be described as a "wic" – a nobleman's house or manor. Attached to these seles or wics would be a "barton" – an enclosed courtyard in which were housed ricks (for the hay) and general stores associated with farming. (Barton has survived in the name of homesteads all over Devon including East Anstey).

The barton was for some time in the ownership of the Acland family. The Earl of Carnarvon, who acquired it in marriage with the daughter and heir of Sir John Acland Bart, conveyed it to the Rev. John Norris; (in 1822 it was owned by John Norris). The Norris family seems to have had a strong connection with the village in those times as the Rev. George Poole Norris was rector from 1816–1869.

The barton of Lillescombe or Liscombe belonged in the early 19th century to the Byam family and from then to at least two generations of the Stawell family, the Rev Thomas Stawell and the Rev W.M.Stawell. The Stawell family were in 1822 principal landowners in West Anstey.