Poltimore House
Encyclopedia
Poltimore House is a sixteenth century listed Grade II* manor house
just outside Exeter
, Devon
and originally the Bampfylde family seat. It was a finalist in the first series of BBC Television
's Restoration
series in 2003.
of Exeter Cathedral
. There is no record of where the family lived for the first few hundred years, although it is thought that they lived in or near the village. There is no evidence that there was a previous house on the site of the present one.
Poltimore House was built by Richard Bampfylde, who started the works in 1550. There is no record of when the house was finished, although when Richard died in 1595, he left the house to his son, Amias
, in his will.
As Richard had been appointed Sheriff for Devon in 1576, it is considered that his grand house was complete by then. Two wings of his original house can still be seen in the present building. It is not known what form the original house took – whether it was just these two wings forming a "L", or if there was a third or even a fourth wing forming a courtyard in the middle.
Later members of the family added to the building, with the last major building works in 1908, to give the present house.
were evacuated to Poltimore House.
The House became a hospital in 1945, at first a private one which was used by the National Health Service
when it came into existence in 1948. Later it was taken over by the NHS. It closed as a hospital in 1974.
It then went through a series of owners before suffering an arson attack in 1987 and being left empty from then on. It suffered from theft and vandalism and has fallen into a state of disrepair. Poltimore House Trust was set up in 2000 to try to find a use for the house and restore it. The first phase was to encase the house in scaffolding with a roof to protect it, which was done in 2005. In 2009 the Trust secured £500,000 from English Heritage to begin the restoration process.
This range of projects is designed to bring Poltimore House and its grounds back to use as an important resource for local and regional businesses, arts and the community.
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
just outside Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and originally the Bampfylde family seat. It was a finalist in the first series of BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's Restoration
Restoration (TV series)
Restoration, Restoration, Restoration is a set of BBC television series where viewers decided on which listed building that was in immediate need of remedial works was to win a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund...
series in 2003.
Visiting
Information about visiting Poltimore House and Grounds can be found at http://www.poltimore.org/eventsEarly history
The Bampfylde family were bequeathed the village of Poltimore in 1298 by William Pontyngton, a canonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
. There is no record of where the family lived for the first few hundred years, although it is thought that they lived in or near the village. There is no evidence that there was a previous house on the site of the present one.
Poltimore House was built by Richard Bampfylde, who started the works in 1550. There is no record of when the house was finished, although when Richard died in 1595, he left the house to his son, Amias
Amias Bampfield
Amias Bampfield was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1597.Bampfield was the son of Richard Bampfield of Poltimore House and his wife Elizabeth Sydenham, daughter of Sir John Sydenham. He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 3 December 1575, aged 15. He was a student of...
, in his will.
As Richard had been appointed Sheriff for Devon in 1576, it is considered that his grand house was complete by then. Two wings of his original house can still be seen in the present building. It is not known what form the original house took – whether it was just these two wings forming a "L", or if there was a third or even a fourth wing forming a courtyard in the middle.
Later members of the family added to the building, with the last major building works in 1908, to give the present house.
Later history
It was lived in by the family until 1920, when it was put on the market with its grounds and estate. The estate was sold but not the house and grounds, which were instead leased to a girls' school and became Poltimore College. The school closed in 1939. In 1940, the boys from Dover CollegeDover College
Dover College is a co-educational independent school in Dover in southeast England. It was founded in 1871, and takes both day pupils and boarders....
were evacuated to Poltimore House.
The House became a hospital in 1945, at first a private one which was used by the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
when it came into existence in 1948. Later it was taken over by the NHS. It closed as a hospital in 1974.
It then went through a series of owners before suffering an arson attack in 1987 and being left empty from then on. It suffered from theft and vandalism and has fallen into a state of disrepair. Poltimore House Trust was set up in 2000 to try to find a use for the house and restore it. The first phase was to encase the house in scaffolding with a roof to protect it, which was done in 2005. In 2009 the Trust secured £500,000 from English Heritage to begin the restoration process.
Future plans
Poltimore House Trust published its Strategic Business Plan in 2009. It is based on an ambitious vision. By 2019 the Plan states that the renovated Poltimore House will have become:- A showcase for the Arts and Creative Industries: a venue for arts, crafts, media companies, filmmakers and software developers.
- A home for Creative Entrepreneurs: high-specification workspaces, hot-desking and studios with excellent communications.
- The Poltimore Forum: high-profile lectures, workshops and mentoring sessions will bring leading-edge thinkers to the South West.
- The Club at Poltimore House: a meeting venue for the region with super-equipped meeting spaces for briefings, networking and research.
- Intensive innovation: exposing new thinking, practice, learning, skills: linking academia, heritage, industry, technology and the arts.
- A different day out: Poltimore House will attract visitors seeking inspiration, skills and learning, networks, relaxation and fun.
This range of projects is designed to bring Poltimore House and its grounds back to use as an important resource for local and regional businesses, arts and the community.
Organizations
- The Friends of Poltimore House, Poltimore House, Poltimore, Exeter, EX4 0AU email: chairman@poltimore.org.uk
- Poltimore House Trust, Poltimore House, Poltimore, Exeter, EX4 0AU email: secretary@poltimore.org