 In 1560 at Colyford, Devon, he purchased from Sir William Petre, principal Secretary of State to Queen Mary, the "house, materials and furniture" of Old Shute House, Colyton, for £300.This property thenceforth became the main seat of the family until it was given to the National Trust shortly after 1955.In 1562 he acquired from Petre a lease for 1,200 years of the Shute estate, the freehold of which was not purchased until 1788 by his descendant the 6th Pole baronet.