Courtney Project
The Courtenay Society
Description: The life and times of a gay man
The life and times of a gay man
One spring when Elizabeth Ham came from her home at Weymouth to Exeter on a visit to the Grey family she stayed at Haven Bank, the new house that had been built for them ‘ on a small Knoll on the banks of the river opposite the city, which towered upwards from the water’s edge, crowned by its beautiful Cathedral. There was then no other dwelling near and the towing path the only thing between us and the river. Often on a calm evening Anne Grey and I used to amuse ourselves by answering to conversations that
Her friends took Elizabeth on a couple of excursions, one of them to Powderham. ‘ We went in one of those open, cane-bodied Sociables then in fashion and a very pleasant drive we had. ‘ Crossing the ridge of Haldon, they arrived at Mamhead, seat of the earls of Lisburne, where the housekeeper received them. From there the three girls – Mary Grey, Betsey Grey and Elizabeth Ham – ‘ set out for a walk to Powderham Castle , then the seat of Lord Courtney. ‘
Courtney Project
The Courtenay Society