 There is no evidence of a previous house having occupied the site of the present one.Poltimore House was built by Richard Bampfylde(1526-1594), who started the works in 1550.There is no record of when the house was completed, although when Richard died in 1595, he bequeathed the house to his son, Amyas Bampfylde (d.1626), in his will.