Blooming June
Rupert D’Oyly Carte and his wife, Lady Dorothy, adopted a novel approach to holiday house hunting back in the 1920s. They were sailing their yacht between Brixham and Dartmouth and passed pretty Pudcombe Cove; they liked it so much they bought it, along with the land that ascended from it. They then set about the task of building a house there under the guidance of their architect, Oswald Milne.
This was no easy task as the family had not only to build a road to it but also a temporary railway to bring the stone up the steep gradient from the cove to build the house. The house is literally the product of its location - Pudcombe stone was used in its construction. It was the ultimate holiday house with spacious, light rooms and an attractive Art Deco influenced interior.
The family and their guests spent their weekends playing tennis and shooting, riding, fishing or swimming in their own private cove in which they had constructed a concrete pool complete with bathing hut. In the evenings the house was in party mood, displaying a touch of elegance and luxury. They were ably assisted by their staff which included a butler, housekeeper, housemaid, cook and chauffeur.
The garden showcases Rupert and Lady Dorothy ‘s particular talents, he loved water features and she enjoyed roses and hydrangeas. As a consequence Coleton Fishacre has a stunning garden with many rare and tropical plants. The special micro climate allows for much exotic planting including succulents from the Canary Isles and tree ferns from New Zealand. The garden is beautiful in every season and, in July, the hydrangeas are particularly lovely. Their billowing swags of rich and pale blue flowers echo the tones of the summer sea.
Although built as a country home, Lady Dorothy lived in the house as her primary residence by the later 1920s. After the Cartes' divorce in 1941, their daughter, Bridget D'Oyly Carte, took over the house, which her father, who lived in London, would visit for long weekends. She sold the house in 1949, after his death, to Rowland Smith, owner of the Palace Hotel in Torquay.
Coleton Fishacre was acquired by the National Trust in 1982 as part of its Project Neptune, with an eye to completing the South West Coast Path in that area. The garden was opened to the public immediately, while the house was let to tenants. The Trust finally opened the house to the public in 1999.
Blooming June
Rupert D’Oyly Carte and his wife, Lady Dorothy, adopted a novel approach to holiday house hunting back in the 1920s. They were sailing their yacht between Brixham and Dartmouth and passed pretty Pudcombe Cove; they liked it so much they bought it, along with the land that ascended from it. They then set about the task of building a house there under the guidance of their architect, Oswald Milne.
This was no easy task as the family had not only to build a road to it but also a temporary railway to bring the stone up the steep gradient from the cove to build the house. The house is literally the product of its location - Pudcombe stone was used in its construction. It was the ultimate holiday house with spacious, light rooms and an attractive Art Deco influenced interior.
The family and their guests spent their weekends playing tennis and shooting, riding, fishing or swimming in their own private cove in which they had constructed a concrete pool complete with bathing hut. In the evenings the house was in party mood, displaying a touch of elegance and luxury. They were ably assisted by their staff which included a butler, housekeeper, housemaid, cook and chauffeur.
The garden showcases Rupert and Lady Dorothy ‘s particular talents, he loved water features and she enjoyed roses and hydrangeas. As a consequence Coleton Fishacre has a stunning garden with many rare and tropical plants. The special micro climate allows for much exotic planting including succulents from the Canary Isles and tree ferns from New Zealand. The garden is beautiful in every season and, in July, the hydrangeas are particularly lovely. Their billowing swags of rich and pale blue flowers echo the tones of the summer sea.
Although built as a country home, Lady Dorothy lived in the house as her primary residence by the later 1920s. After the Cartes' divorce in 1941, their daughter, Bridget D'Oyly Carte, took over the house, which her father, who lived in London, would visit for long weekends. She sold the house in 1949, after his death, to Rowland Smith, owner of the Palace Hotel in Torquay.
Coleton Fishacre was acquired by the National Trust in 1982 as part of its Project Neptune, with an eye to completing the South West Coast Path in that area. The garden was opened to the public immediately, while the house was let to tenants. The Trust finally opened the house to the public in 1999.